SparkLore vs Arc Studio Pro: What's Different (2026)
Arc Studio Pro — 'Where Screenplays Get Finished' — a modern Final Draft alternative. Strong outlining and collaboration; AI is a pay-per-use add-on.
SparkLore — The AI writing studio that gets your novel, web serial and screenplay finished. The story bible remembers, episodes hit their length, and prose converts to script.
If you write English scripts with a team in the cloud and Fountain/FDX is non-negotiable, Arc Studio is a good-value professional tool. If you need AI drafting, Korean, a novel mode or serial episodes, SparkLore fits. SparkLore exports Fountain and FDX but has no real-time collaboration or production revision features.
Quick facts
- Arc Studio Pro
- Annual only: Free (2 scripts, watermark) / Essentials $69/yr / Pro $99/yr (students $29). AI features (Table Read, images, research) cost separate credits whose prices are not published.
- SparkLore
- from $9.99/mo · 30 free credits (about 3,000 words)
- Official site
- www.arcstudiopro.comEnglish-language screenwriters co-writing in the cloud
Feature comparison
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- Unverified
| Feature | SparkLore | Arc Studio Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Writing & memory | ||
| Story bible | Yes | Partial |
| Long-series memory | Yes | No |
| Web-novel episode mode | Yes | No |
| Script & format | ||
| Korean drama script format | Yes | No |
| US screenplay format | Yes | Yes |
| Novel-to-script conversion | Yes | No |
| Export | ||
| Fountain / FDX export | YesFountain and FDX export; EPUB too | Yes |
| DOCX export | Yes | UnverifiedOnly PDF, Fountain and FDX confirmed |
| HWP compatibility | PartialHWP-compatible DOCX layout; no native .hwp yet | No |
| Korean market | ||
| Korean UI | Yes | No |
| KRW pricing | Yes | No |
| Billing | ||
| Transparent usage pricing | Yes1 credit ≈ 100 words | No |
| Bring your own key | No | No |
| Free plan | Yes | Partial2 scripts, watermark |
| Platform | ||
| Collaboration | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | NoWorks in mobile browsers; no native app | PartialiOS/iPad on paid plans, no Android |
| Offline | No | Yes |
| Trust | ||
| No training on manuscripts | Yes | Unverified |
Pricing comparison
Competitor prices are shown in the currency of their official pricing page; tax and app-store prices may differ. A dash (—) means not applicable or unverified.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) |
|---|---|---|
Free 2 scripts, watermarked PDF | Free | Free |
Essentials $69/yr, annual only | — | $5.75/mo |
Pro $99/yr, annual only; students $29 | — | $8.25/mo |
| Plan | Monthly | credits/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscriptions | ||
Spark For hobby writers · Projects 3 | $9.99/mo | 300 |
Author For serial and novel writers · Projects Unlimited | $22/mo | 1,200 |
Studio For prolific authors and teams · Projects Unlimited | $44/mo | 3,000 |
| Credit packs (no subscription) | ||
300 Credits valid 90 days, no auto-renewal | $7.99 one-time | 300 |
1,500 Credits valid 90 days, no auto-renewal | $29 one-time | 1,500 |
30 free credits (about 3,000 words) · 1 credit ≈ 100 English words. Subscription credits refill monthly and unused credits do not roll over.
Who it's for
Pick Arc Studio Pro if
- Writers who need Fountain/FDX compatibility
- Writers' rooms editing simultaneously
- People who want a classic screenplay workflow without AI
Pick SparkLore if
- Anyone who wants AI drafting and script formatting in one tool
- Writers of Korean drama scripts or novel-to-script adaptations
- People who prefer monthly billing
Honest verdict
If you write English scripts with a team in the cloud and Fountain/FDX is non-negotiable, Arc Studio is a good-value professional tool. If you need AI drafting, Korean, a novel mode or serial episodes, SparkLore fits. SparkLore exports Fountain and FDX but has no real-time collaboration or production revision features.
Arc Studio Pro
Strengths
- Fountain and FDX export plus FDX import on every plan
- Plot Board, season outlines, branch and merge, revision management
- Real-time collaboration (free users can join a Pro invite), offline support
- Netflix and Riot logos, 500+ craft blog posts
Weaknesses
- Annual billing only — no monthly option. Free plan is 2 scripts with a PDF watermark
- No in-editor AI drafting; AI add-ons cost unpublished credits ('they don't tell you about it')
- A roughly 22-hour outage in December 2025; iOS app rated 3.4 ('a buggy mess')
- English UI only, no Android, no novel mode
SparkLore
Strengths
- The story bible is injected into every generation and flags character and setting conflicts across long series
- Web-novel episode mode — the editor knows per-platform length targets and where to cut
- Novel → Korean drama script (S#) or US screenplay conversion, with Fountain, FDX, DOCX, EPUB and HWP-compatible export
- KRW and USD pricing, Korean and English UI, and a published words-per-credit rate
- A no-training-on-manuscripts commitment written into the terms
Weaknesses
- Launched in 2026 — the community and review footprint are still small
- No native mobile app, offline mode or real-time collaboration yet
- No bring-your-own-key and no proprietary fine-tuned model
- Few plugins and third-party integrations
FAQ
Can I pay Arc Studio monthly?
No. Essentials ($69/yr) and Pro ($99/yr) are annual only. There is a 7-day Pro trial and a 14-day refund.
Are Arc Studio's AI features included?
No. Table Read, character images and the research assistant are billed through separate credits because they rely on outside providers, and credit prices are not published. There is no in-editor AI drafting.
What are the free plan limits?
Two scripts and a watermark on PDF export. An August 2025 review complained it 'isn't even a free version anymore, it's a free trial'.
Last verified
Sources
- www.arcstudiopro.com/pricing
- help.arcstudiopro.com/guides/ai-faq
- help.arcstudiopro.com/all-how-tos/how-do-i-add-credits
- www.arcstudiopro.com/blog/post-mortem-why-arc-studio-was-down
- www.trustpilot.com/review/arcstudiopro.com
- apps.apple.com/us/app/arc-studio-screenwriting/id1502887007
This page is written by SparkLore. Competitor prices and features are taken from public sources and may change. Tell us if something is wrong.
A question mark means we could not confirm it in official docs — it does not mean the feature is missing.
Compare for yourself
30 free credits (about 3,000 words) on signup. No card required.