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Story Architect
What it is
Story Architect is a writing app for screenplays, comics, plays, books, and other story forms, organized around a shared project bible. Its Free plan allows unlimited projects and documents per project, with basic writing, character, location, and world tools. Pro adds mind maps, an image gallery, presentations, a corkboard, a timeline, and five AI credits per month when billed annually. The AI assistant can paraphrase, summarize, expand or shorten text, translate, add material between paragraphs, or generate text from a prompt; these actions use credits. Creator adds real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage. The app supports offline use across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Import options include KIT Scenarist, Final Draft, Celtx, Trelby, TXT, ODT, DOCX, and Fountain; export formats include DOCX, PDF, FDX, and Fountain. Desktop and mobile project synchronization is still in development, with manual project-file transfers documented instead. The maker describes Story Architect as open core: its core source code is available under MIT, while some features are closed source and commercially licensed. Pro costs $4.17 per month, billed annually; Creator costs $8.34 per month, billed annually.
For and against
For
- Free plan allows unlimited projects and documents.
- Supports offline use on five listed platforms.
- Imports several writing and screenplay formats.
- Creator adds real-time collaboration.
- Exports include DOCX, PDF, FDX, and Fountain.
Against
- Desktop and mobile project synchronization is still in development.
- AI use consumes credits.
- Some features are closed source and commercially licensed.
The verdict
Story Architect offers a free starting tier and paid planning, AI, and collaboration tools for story projects. Its lack of completed desktop-mobile synchronization means project files may need to be transferred manually.
Who it suits
Story Architect may suit writers developing projects across screenplays, comics, plays, books, and other story forms. Pro is presented for professionals, while Creator is intended for people often on the move.
Plans and prices
Free
unlimited projects · unlimited documents per project · cover generator · folders
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
Pro
everything in Free · mind maps · image gallery · presentations
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
Creator
everything in Pro · real-time collaboration · 5 GB cloud storage · script breakdown
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
AI credits 50
50 credits · credits do not expire
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
AI credits 200
200 credits · credits do not expire
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
AI credits 500
500 credits · credits do not expire
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
AI credits 1000
1000 credits · credits do not expire
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
Pro Lifetime
Pro features · 120 AI credits lifetime
Read 15 Oct 2026 · starc.app
On the record
- AI assistant
- Built-in AI tools paraphrase, summarize, expand, shorten, insert, translate and generate text in any language.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- AI writing
- Its AI assistant can paraphrase, summarize, expand or shorten text, translate, insert text between paragraphs and generate text from a prompt; AI use consumes credits.starc.app · read 30 Sep 2026
- API and SDKs
- The reviewed official download, help and repository pages describe the desktop application and build interfaces but do not publish a product API or SDK.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Character tools
- Character profiles support biographies, relationships and visual references, with a relationship editor in paid tiers.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Creator includes real-time collaboration and review mode allows co-authors to comment, reply, resolve and edit notes.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company history
- SaaSHub reports that Dmitry Novikov began the precursor project in 2013, Story Architect was conceived in 2019 and released in 2021.saashub.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Content ownership
- The user agreement says users own what they create with STARC and permit the maker to use content only as needed to provide the service.starc.app · read 30 Sep 2026
- Developer build
- The maker publishes continuously updated developer builds for macOS, Windows and Linux and warns they may contain bugs.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The help center contains 39 articles across seven topics covering installation, workflows, features, customization, licenses, mobile use and comparisons.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- The project supports exchanges involving Final Draft, Fountain, DOCX, ODT, PDF, Celtx, Trelby and KIT Scenarist formats, with availability depending on document type.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Import formats
- The help page says STARC supports importing KIT Scenarist, Final Draft, Celtx and Trelby formats, plus TXT, ODT, DOCX and Fountain files.starc.app · read 30 Sep 2026
- Independent technology listing
- SaaSHub lists C++, Qt, Flutter and WebSockets as the technologies used to build Story Architect.saashub.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker presents Pro as a plan for professionals and Creator as a plan for people who are often on the move.starc.app · read 30 Sep 2026
- Limit: beginner usability
- A Google Play reviewer said script-format symbols were difficult for amateurs to understand and requested clearer labels.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile import and export
- Google Play reviews reported problems importing desktop projects and exporting to cloud storage, while another reviewer said upload errors persisted.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile synchronization
- An App Store reviewer complained that mobile users had to transfer files manually, and the developer said project syncing was still being developed.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: vague or low-quality tools
- A Google Play reviewer called the tools vague and lower quality than competing screenwriting software.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Location and world tools
- Paid tiers add location maps, extended location information, world maps and extended world information.starc.app · read 15 Oct 2026
The review
Overview
Story Architect is a writing and planning workspace for screenplays, comics, plays, books and other story forms, with related material organized in a shared project bible. It suits writers juggling several projects or formats who want to work offline as well as develop a story beyond the draft. The unlimited free project and document capacity is a strong starting point; the key limitation is that desktop and mobile projects do not yet sync automatically.
Key features
Free includes basic writing, character, location and world tools, with unlimited projects and unlimited documents per project. That makes it practical for writers who want to keep research and drafts together without worrying about project caps. Pro broadens the planning workspace with mind maps, a corkboard and timeline, character relationship tools, location and world maps, extended statistics, an image gallery and presentations. Those tools suit writers who plan visually or track story structure, but they are reserved for paid plans.
The AI assistant can paraphrase, summarize, expand or shorten text, translate, insert text between paragraphs and generate text from a prompt. Each action uses credits, so AI is a metered aid rather than an unlimited drafting partner. Pro includes five credits per month, while Creator includes ten; additional credit packs never expire.
Creator adds real-time collaboration, 5 GB of cloud storage, screenplay breakdown and showrunner tools. Subscribers can give co-authors access to a project on any subscription tier, although editing abilities depend on each co-author’s plan. Revision tracking is supported. Writers importing an existing project can bring in KIT Scenarist, Final Draft, Celtx, Trelby, TXT, ODT, DOCX and Fountain files; exports include DOCX, PDF, FDX and Fountain.
Offline mode is useful when a connection is unavailable, but it does not remove the cross-device friction: desktop and mobile synchronization is still in development, so moving a project between them requires a manual file transfer. The maker describes the app as open core, with core source code under MIT and some features closed source and commercially licensed. Its user agreement says users own their creations and permits the maker to use content only as needed to provide the service. The privacy policy says it uses physical, electronic and managerial safeguards and does not sell, distribute or lease personal information without permission or a legal requirement.
Pricing
The 30-day trial gives prospective subscribers time to assess paid tools. Free is billed free forever at no cost. It includes unlimited projects and documents per project plus basic writing, character, location and world tools, but no AI credits and none of Pro’s expanded planning suite.
Pro costs $4.17 a month billed annually, or $150 lifetime. It includes everything in Free, mind maps, image gallery, presentations, corkboard and timeline, and five AI credits per month (60 per year; 120 lifetime). This is the better fit for solo writers who want the planning tools; the annual allowance is finite, and collaboration is not included. Pro Lifetime is priced at $150 a month billed lifetime and includes 120 AI credits.
Creator costs $8.34 a month billed annually. It includes everything in Pro, real-time collaboration, 5 GB cloud storage, screenplay breakdown and showrunner tools, and ten AI credits per month (120 per year). It is aimed at people often on the move and writers working with co-authors, though mobile and desktop syncing still requires manual transfers.
For more AI capacity, packs cost $10 a month for 50 credits, $30 a month for 200, $60 a month for 500, or $100 a month for 1000; purchased credits never expire. For help, the pricing FAQ directs users to [email protected].
Platforms
Story Architect is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Offline mode supports disconnected work, but the unfinished desktop-mobile sync means it is a less seamless choice for anyone who frequently switches a project between computer and phone or tablet.
Who it's for
Story Architect is a good fit for writers developing several projects, especially those who want one workspace for drafting and story planning or need to work offline. Pro makes sense for solo writers who will use its planning tools; Creator is the relevant tier for real-time co-author work and its additional production tools. It is less suitable for writers who expect projects to follow them automatically across desktop and mobile.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Free supports unlimited projects and documents per project, so a large body of work does not hit a stated project cap.
- Pro: Import and export support covers several established script and document formats, including Final Draft, DOCX, PDF and Fountain.
- Pro: Offline mode and multiple desktop and mobile platforms offer flexibility for where and when to write.
- Con: Desktop and mobile synchronization is unfinished, making manual project-file transfers necessary between them.
- Con: AI use consumes credits; even paid tiers have defined allowances, so frequent use may require a separate pack.
- Con: The expanded planning suite is paid, and real-time collaboration is limited to Creator.
Alternatives
Screenwriting Software and Writing Apps are useful starting points for comparing tools by category.
Choose Celtx if a cloud-based script editor with real-time collaboration on a free plan is a better match; its free studio is limited to one project. Arc Studio Pro is worth considering for screenplay-focused work if a free tier with two scripts and watermarked PDF export is enough. Pick Beat if you want an open-source option for macOS or iOS; its macOS plan is free, while its iOS plan is €12.99 a month.
DubScript suits Android users who want unlimited scripts and scenes with all features free, accepting ads in writing mode and some screens. OpenDraft is a free alternative across mobile, desktop, web and self-hosted platforms, with no account, subscription or feature gating. ScreenWeaver offers a free screenwriter tier with unlimited projects and pages plus PDF and Final Draft export. TalkingDraft is a fit for writers prioritizing transcription: its free plan includes unlimited standard transcription but caps users at three stories before they must share for more. Revision Screenwriter is another free option for screenplay writing.
Verdict
Choose Story Architect if you want a flexible, offline-capable home for multiple story projects and are willing to pay for deeper planning, AI or collaboration tools. Its generous free project limits are the clearest reason to start here; look elsewhere if effortless desktop-mobile continuity is essential.