Ensemble vs WriterDuet: two collaborative web editors compared.
WriterDuet pioneered real-time collaborative screenwriting in the browser. Ensemble is a newer, focused take with a more generous free tier and a modern UI. Here's how they actually stack up.
Try Ensemble Free →What is WriterDuet?
WriterDuet is one of the most established collaborative screenwriting apps. It pioneered real-time co-writing in a browser back when Final Draft was the only mainstream option. Pricing today runs roughly $11.99/month for Pro, with a free tier limited to three projects and 30 days of revision history.
It supports .fdx round-trip, in-app audio/video calls for co-writing sessions, and has years of refinement behind its formatting engine. The free tier, however, has shrunk over time — and the UI carries the visual weight of its age.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Ensemble | WriterDuet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (Pro $9.99/mo) | Free tier capped; Pro $11.99/mo |
| Free-tier project limit | Unlimited | 3 projects |
| Runs in browser | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes — multi-cursor | Yes — multi-cursor |
| Industry-standard formatting | Yes | Yes |
| PDF export | Yes (free tier) | Yes (free tier) |
| Fountain import/export | Yes | Yes |
| Native .fdx round-trip | Via Fountain | Yes |
| AI-assisted shot lists | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Read-aloud / table read | Yes — 9 voices | Yes (paid) |
| Offline editing (no account) | Yes | No — account required |
| In-app audio/video call | No | Yes |
| Revision history | Full (Pro) | 30 days free, full on Pro |
Where WriterDuet is the better choice
- You need native .fdx round-trip without going through Fountain.
- You want in-app voice/video calls with your co-writer while you work.
- You're already deep in WriterDuet's ecosystem (writers' rooms, existing projects, muscle memory).
Where Ensemble is the better choice
- You're working on more than three projects and don't want to choose which ones get to be 'real'.
- You want to start writing without creating an account.
- You want a modern, minimal UI built for deep focus rather than a feature-everywhere dashboard.
- You want AI-generated shot lists from your script.
- You want full revision history on the free tier rather than 30 days.
The honest take
WriterDuet remains a great product, especially if you live inside its audio/video collab features or need .fdx as a first-class citizen. But the free tier's three-project cap is the deciding factor for many writers.
Ensemble's free tier gives you unlimited projects, anonymous editing, and a more focused UI — which is the right choice for most writers most of the time. If you only need one or two of WriterDuet's premium features, you're paying for a lot of UI you don't use.
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