Screenplay Editor vs Screenplay Formatter
Last updated: February 2026
This isn't really a comparison. Screenplay Formatter is gone. It was the most popular screenplay add-on for Google Docs, with over 1 million installs. Then it disappeared. Here's what happened.
What Happened to Screenplay Formatter?
Screenplay Formatter was the go-to screenplay formatting tool for Google Docs. Simple, free, reliable. Over a million writers installed it. Film schools recommended it. It was the default.
Then Google changed its APIs and extension policies. Screenplay Formatter stopped working. It was removed from the Google Workspace Marketplace. No announcement from the developer. No timeline for a return. Google Support threads filled up with confused users asking where it went.
As of February 2026, Screenplay Formatter is still gone. There is no sign it will come back.
What Screenplay Editor Offers
Screenplay Editor was built to fill exactly this gap. Same philosophy: a simple add-on that formats screenplays inside Google Docs. Same click-to-format approach. No markup language. No new app to learn. But with more features than Screenplay Formatter ever had.
| Feature | Screenplay Editor | Screenplay Formatter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Was free |
| Platform | Google Docs (any browser) | Discontinued |
| Real-time Collaboration | ✓ (Google Docs) | Was ✓ |
| File Format | Google Docs (.gdoc) | Was Google Docs |
| PDF Export | ✓ | No |
| .fdx Export | ✓ | No |
| Auto-format | ✓ One-click | Was ✓ |
| Character Management | ✓ Full panel | No |
| Works Offline | Via Google Docs offline | N/A |
| Learning Curve | None — click buttons | Was low |
When to Choose Screenplay Formatter
You can't. It's gone.
If you still have it installed from before, it may partially work in some documents. But it's no longer maintained, no longer available for new installs, and could break at any time with the next Google Docs update.
When to Choose Screenplay Editor
Screenplay Editor is the natural successor to Screenplay Formatter.
- You were a Screenplay Formatter user looking for a replacement
- You want the same simplicity: click a button, get formatted screenplay
- You want features Screenplay Formatter never had: character management, PDF export, .fdx export, Pomodoro timer, Boneyard
- You want an add-on that's actively maintained by a working screenwriter
- You want free, no limits, no markup syntax to learn
The successor is here.
Everything Screenplay Formatter was, and more. Free. Active. Ready.
Install Screenplay Editor — Free