Cinewright™Comparison
Budgeting and scheduling software compared
Updated 28 October 2026
Short answer
Cinewright Budgeting and Scheduling is one Mac app for script breakdown, the stripboard schedule and the budget, bought once, with free apps for iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch that link the office to the set. Movie Magic, Gorilla and Showbiz Budgeting are established desktop programs for Mac and Windows; StudioBinder, Celtx, Yamdu, Saturation and SetHero run in a web browser. Each one is sold differently and covers a different part of the work. Cinewright is finished and launches through Kickstarter in late 2026 or early 2027; nothing is on sale yet.
Updated 28 October 2026
What Cinewright adds
Built into Cinewright today, and shown in the feature table on this page as Not stated or No for the other products here, or working differently.
- One Mac app for script breakdown, the stripboard schedule and the budget: while you drag a strip, the change to the budget is shown.
- Bought once: $299 for one person on two computers, with every 1.x update included. No subscription.
- No account and no server. The licence is checked on the Mac and never needs to check in online, so the app works offline for as long as you need.
- Free companions linked to the office: CW Office for iPad and Cinewright Reader are free, and Cinewright for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is a free download whose link to the office is free. They connect through your own shared folder or the set’s network.
- Today’s Spend during the shoot: today’s and to-date costs against the budget, by department, beside cost reports with estimate to complete, weekly cost reports, cash flow, purchase orders and petty cash.
- 141 film incentive programmes in 70 jurisdictions for tax-credit estimates, each with its official source and the date it was checked.
- 16 interface languages, and call sheets in each person’s own language, with numbered revisions and the nearest hospital.
- Production finance in the same file: the financing plan, the recoupment waterfall, co-production budgets and a Bond Package for the completion guarantor.
Desktop programs, side by side
Facts about the other products come from their makers’ own websites and their App Store listings, read on 28 October 2026. “Not stated” means we did not find it there; it does not mean the feature is missing. Prices are in US dollars.
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Budgeting and Scheduling: script breakdown, stripboard and budget in one Mac app | Movie Magic Budgeting and Movie Magic Scheduling, two programs | Gorilla Scheduling and Gorilla Budgeting, as Desktop programs or Gorilla Online | Showbiz Budgeting 10; the scheduling product Cast & Crew sells is ShotLogic, for shot lists and day plans |
| Computers | Mac; Windows in development | macOS and Windows 10 or 11 (Budgeting: macOS 10.15 to 15; Scheduling: macOS 12 to 15) | Desktop: macOS 15 or later, Intel or Apple silicon, and Windows 10 or 11. Online: a web browser | macOS 12 or later, including macOS 26, and Windows 7 or later |
| How it is sold | Bought once: $299 for one person on two computers; 5 seats $1,199 (prices) | Subscription for each program: $42.99 a month, or $299.88 a year ($24.99 a month); extra seats $299.88 a year | Desktop subscription: Scheduling or Budgeting $29.99 a month or $249 a year; both (Combo Pack) $49.99 a month or $429 a year. Online: free plan, and Solo, Production and Studio plans | Desktop licence by number of installs, from 2 to 20; Showbiz Budgeting Cloud by monthly or annual plan |
| Education | $99 Education licence, for study and teaching | Academic plan $125.88 a year, with student verification | By request | By request |
| Trying it | Free mode with no time limit: the sample production and one real production | Not stated | 15-day Desktop demo; Online free plan (Scheduling: 1 project, 20 editable scenes; Budgeting: 1 budget up to a $300,000 total) | 5-day free trial |
| Account sign-in | None | EP Account, with multi-factor authentication | Online: free account to start; Desktop: not stated | Not stated |
| Without internet | Works offline, with no licence check-ins | Budgeting: data saved on the computer for seven days, synced on reconnecting. Scheduling: offline work supported, synced on reconnecting | Desktop system requirements list internet connectivity | Not stated |
| Several people at once | Shared editing (beta): several people on one production at once, with no server and no accounts, through a production folder on your own cloud service or the set’s network | Budgeting: real-time editing and comparison of budgets in the cloud (version 10.28.34, December 2024). Scheduling: one shared cloud schedule with real-time updates, presence and view or edit permissions (needs version 10.11, December 2025; announced March 2026) | Online: collaborators by plan (Production: 3 users; Studio: 15 users) | Showbiz Budgeting Cloud: online sharing with view or edit permissions; collaborators can keep working while the owner is offline |
| Budget and schedule linked | One app: schedule-linked values, and the budget change shown while a strip is dragged | Scheduling sends elements, such as background actors and quantities, to Movie Magic Budgeting | Scheduling and Budgeting sold together as the Combo Pack; both in Gorilla Online | Not stated |
| Stripboard and reports | Colour-coded stripboard, several boards per production, Day Out of Days, calendar with holidays and sunrise and sunset warnings, labour rule packs for 8 countries | Board with sub-boards for units, interactive Day Out of Days, calendar with sunrise and sunset, one-line reports, Red Flag Manager for conflicts | Stripboard and Day Out of Days; Online adds a dual stripboard and a Day Out of Days summary | Not stated |
| Fringes, globals and currencies | Fringes with cutoffs and dated rate changes, globals, the budget in another currency at your own rates | Fringes, cutoffs and globals as rule sets | Fringes, globals and several currencies with exchange rates | Fringe ranges and groups, globals, and currency links with editable rates |
| Incentives | 141 incentive programmes in 70 jurisdictions, each with its official source and the date checked | Incentive estimates linked to its Production Incentives section | Tax incentives: rebates and credits | Phases for incentive evidence |
| Actual costs | Cost reports with estimate to complete and variance, cash flow, purchase orders and petty cash | Actuals through its SmartAccounting integration | Actual expenses tracked against the budget | Actuals, petty cash, purchase orders and cost reports |
| Call sheets | Call sheets with revisions, crew and cast versions, the nearest hospital, in each person’s own language | A breakdown report by shoot day, described for building call sheets | Koala Call Sheets 3 ($49) with Desktop; included in Gorilla Online | Not stated |
| Scripts in | Final Draft (.fdx with tags), Fountain, Fade In, Highland, Celtx, PDF and scanned pages | Scheduling: Final Draft .fdx, .sex and Movie Magic Screenwriter | Final Draft .fdx, Movie Magic Screenwriter and PDF | Not stated |
| Files from other programs | Movie Magic Scheduling breakdown exports and .sex files; Movie Magic Budgeting XML and EP Vista; Showbiz Budgeting exchange files (.ubx), the file Showbiz exports, and CSV; Gorilla exports; Excel | Opens earlier Movie Magic Budgeting (.mbd) and Scheduling (.msd) files | Online: Movie Magic Scheduling and Movie Magic Budgeting imports (by plan); Excel | Movie Magic budgets; Point Zero and Powerbid actuals; payroll from Media Services, CAPS and Showbiz Timecards |
| Files out | Final Draft (.fdx) with tags, .sex (beta), Movie Magic Budgeting XML (beta), PDF, Excel, CSV, web pages, calendar files, and Export Everything | Budgeting: tab-delimited, XML, JSON, Excel and the earlier MMB7 format. Scheduling: Excel, PDF and the earlier MMS6 format | Final Draft .fdx, Movie Magic Scheduling .sex and Excel | PDF reports |
| iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch | CW Office for iPad and Cinewright Reader, free; Cinewright for iPhone and iPad; the Apple Watch slate remote | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Languages | 16 | Budgeting: other languages not supported at this time, says EP’s FAQ | Not stated | Not stated |
| Accessibility | VoiceOver (beta, being tested) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Latest version we saw | Not released yet | Budgeting 10.35.7 (8 October 2026); Scheduling 10.15a (24 September 2026) | Gorilla Studio 11.5 | Showbiz Budgeting 10 |
Web-based tools, side by side
Facts about the other products come from their makers’ own websites and their App Store listings, read on 28 October 2026. “Not stated” means we did not find it there; it does not mean the feature is missing. Prices are in US dollars.
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Mac app, with free iPad and iPhone apps | Production management in a web browser | Script writing and production planning in a web browser | Production management in a web browser | Film budgeting and actuals in a web browser | Call sheets, cast and crew contacts and production reports in a web browser |
| How it is sold | $299 once | Starter $29, Indie $49 or Professional $99 a month; extra users $25 a month | Writer $14.99 or Writer Pro $24.99 a month; Team from $29.99 a month for one seat, less for each added seat, with Budget, Schedule and Call Sheets | Flex $45 a month for 1 user and 1 project; Studio $265 a month, or $199 a month billed annually, for 10 users | Pro $384 a year; Team $948 a year for 3 seats; Enterprise by quote | Per project, or monthly; enterprise by quote |
| Free plan or trial | Free mode with no time limit: the sample and one real production | Free plan: 1 project, stripboard up to 10 scenes | Free plan: 1 project; 7-day trial of paid features | Trial with no payment details | Free Creator plan: 1 project; 14-day trial of Pro and Team | 14-day trial |
| Account | None | Teammates need a free account; collaborators do not | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Without internet | Works offline | Not stated | Offline Mode ended on 19 September 2023 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Several people at once | Shared editing (beta) | Teammates and collaborators by plan | Real-time, presence-aware co-writing | Users by plan | Several editors; role-based access on Team | Not stated |
| Budgeting | Yes, with fringes, globals, incentives, cost reports and cash flow | Not built in; a free Google Sheets template | Budgets with fringes, globals, actuals and variance; another currency as an extra budget with a set rate | Budgeting (beta); Dynamic Globals follow the schedule | Fringes, globals, currencies, actuals beside the estimate, purchase orders, cost reports | No |
| Scheduling | Stripboard, Day Out of Days, calendar, several boards | Stripboard, one-liner and Day Out of Days | Stripboard from the script, Day Out of Days | Shooting schedule and Day Out of Days | No scheduler; imports Movie Magic Scheduling | Not stated |
| Call sheets | Yes, with revisions, crew and cast versions and each person’s own language | Yes; by text message with a confirm link (Indie plan and up) | Yes; sent by email as a PDF | Yes, with confirmation | Not stated | Yes, by text message, email and PDF, with views and confirmations |
| Scripts in | Final Draft, Fountain, Fade In, Highland, Celtx, PDF and scans | PDF, .fdx and .fountain | PDF, Fountain, .celtx, .fdx, Word, RTF and text | Final Draft (import and export) | No | No; breakdowns come in through Excel |
| Movie Magic files | Movie Magic Scheduling breakdown exports and .sex; Movie Magic Budgeting XML | Does not import Movie Magic Scheduling files | Not stated | Imports Movie Magic Scheduling 6 (.msd) | Imports Movie Magic Scheduling (.msd, .mmsx, .sex) and Movie Magic budgets | Movie Magic Scheduling through its free Excel exporter |
| Phone and tablet apps | CW Office for iPad, Reader, Cinewright for iPhone and iPad, Apple Watch slate remote | No dedicated app; web pages work on phones | Installable web app; Android listing | Yamdu Notifier for iPhone, iPad and Android | Saturation Wallet for iPhone, for receipts | No stand-alone app |
| Languages | 16 | Not stated | English, Spanish, French, German and Brazilian Portuguese | 12 interface languages | Not stated | Not stated |
| Accessibility | VoiceOver (beta, being tested) | Not stated | Accessibility conformance report, September 2026 | Accessibility conformance report, April 2026 | Not stated | Not stated |
| Where your data is kept | On your own devices, and your own cloud folder if you choose | Service providers in or outside the EEA, including the US | Mainly the US and Canada | The European Union (Microsoft Azure) | Not stated | Not stated |
Feature by feature
Every feature, row by row. Facts about the other products come from their makers’ own websites, help pages and App Store listings, read on 28 October 2026. Facts about Cinewright are features built into the apps today.
How to read the marks
- Yes
- No
- Not stated: we did not find it on the maker’s pages; it does not mean the feature is missing.
- Cinewright advantage: Cinewright has it and the other products here show No or Not stated, or Cinewright clearly differs, for example bought once or no account. It marks a difference, not a judgement about the other product.
Getting it and running it
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it is sold | Bought once: $299, one person on two computers; 5 seats $1,199 | Subscription for each program: $42.99 a month or $299.88 a year | Desktop subscription: one app $29.99 a month or $249 a year; both $49.99 a month or $429 a year. Online: free and paid plans | Desktop licence priced by installs (2 to 20); Cloud add-on monthly or yearly |
| Free trial or free mode | YesFree mode, no time limit: the sample and one real production | Not statedNo trial listed in the EP Store or FAQs | Yes15-day Desktop demo; Online free plan with project and scene limits | Yes5-day full trial, no card; Cloud accounts start with 10 days |
| Education pricing | Yes$99 Education licence, for study and teaching | YesAcademic plan $125.88 a year, billed yearly, with student verification | YesAcademic licences and school site licences, priced on request | YesAcademic pricing offered; details by enquiry |
| Runs on Mac | YesmacOS 15 or later | YesBoth programs; universal builds for Apple silicon and Intel | YesDesktop: macOS 15 or later, Intel or Apple silicon; Online in a browser | YesmacOS 12 or later, including macOS 26 |
| Runs on Windows | NoIn development | YesWindows 10 and 11 (21H2 or later), both programs | YesDesktop: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | YesWindows 7 or later |
| Runs in a web browser | NoMac app; reports can also be saved as web pages | Not statedEP describes installed Mac and Windows programs | YesGorilla Online runs in a browser | Not statedCloud budgets are opened from the desktop app |
| Account sign-in needed | ✓NoNone | YesEP Account with multi-factor sign-in, both programs | YesOnline: free Jungle Software account. Desktop: licence key activation | Desktop: not stated. Cloud: email account, optional text-message verification |
| Works without internet | YesWorks offline; internet only for lookups you ask for | YesBudgeting: up to seven days offline. Scheduling: offline supported, syncs later | YesDesktop works locally; Online has a Work Offline mode that syncs later | YesDesktop budgets saved locally; registration has a no-internet unlock route |
| Online licence or subscription check | ✓NoThe licence never needs to check in online | YesBudgeting asks to reconnect after seven days to confirm the subscription | YesDesktop needs internet for activation and subscription checks | Not statedOne-time registration code; periodic checks not stated |
| Where production files are kept | One file on your Mac; your own cloud folder if you choose | On the computer, backed up to EP’s cloud (both programs) | Desktop: files on your computer (Documents folder). Online: the maker’s cloud | Budget files on the computer; Cloud budgets in the Showbiz Cloud account |
| One project in a desktop app and a web browser | No | Not stated | YesProjects move both ways between Desktop and Online | Not stated |
Script import and breakdown
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) script import | YesIncludes Final Draft breakdown tags | YesScheduling imports Final Draft .fdx | YesDesktop and Online | Not statedBudgeting program; Cast & Crew pages describe no scheduling here |
| Fountain script import | Yes | Not stated | YesDesktop, per its FAQ; Online not stated | Not stated |
| PDF script import | Yes | Not stated | YesDesktop (Gorilla 9 and later) and Online | Not stated |
| Scanned paper script | ✓YesScanned PDFs read with on-device text recognition | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Other screenwriting formats | YesFade In, Highland and Celtx | YesScheduling: Movie Magic Screenwriter and .sex scheduling exports | YesMovie Magic Screenwriter, Fade In and WriterDuet | Not stated |
| New script drafts keep the breakdown | ✓YesDrafts compared scene by scene; revision colours; breakdown kept | Not statedRe-import adds new scenes and tags as breakdown sheets | Not stated | Not stated |
| Element tagging in the script | YesSelect words on the script page, in one or every scene | Not statedImports tags made in the screenwriting program | YesIncludes tagging a phrase in every scene at once | Not stated |
| Breakdown sheets | YesPrinted with pictures | YesScheduling: breakdown sheets with scene header and categories | YesDesktop and Online | Not stated |
| Custom breakdown categories | Yes21 standard categories plus your own | YesScheduling: add your own categories | YesElements and categories can be managed and combined | Not stated |
| Linked elements | YesAnchor elements bring wardrobe, doubles and more | YesScheduling: a linked element is added along with its main element | YesElement linking in Desktop and Online | Not stated |
| Breakdown suggestions | YesOptional, on the Mac, with Apple Intelligence (macOS 26) | Not stated | YesBreakdown Assistant AI: Desktop add-on $14.95 a month; Online by plan | Not stated |
| Shot lists | YesPer scene or whole production; CSV, Excel and PDF | Not stated | YesDesktop has storyboard and shot list; Online uses separate Shot Monkey app | Not stated |
| Storyboards | YesFrames per shot, printed as PDF | YesScheduling: storyboard images attach to scenes and elements | YesDesktop has storyboard and shot list; Online uses separate Shot Monkey app | Not stated |
Scheduling and the stripboard
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripboard | YesDrag, keyboard or menu moves | YesScheduling: Board of strips, dragged into order | YesThird strip row; Online adds a dual stripboard | Not statedBudgeting program; Cast & Crew pages describe no scheduling here |
| Strip colours | Yes | YesColours by time of day, plus font colours | Not stated | Not stated |
| Strip layout designer | YesExtra rows, cast names, time per day | YesStrip Designer: up to four rows; layouts saved as files | YesDesktop: Stripboard Print Design for printed strip fields | Not stated |
| Several boards or alternate schedules | YesSeveral boards compared side by side; board versions kept | YesAny number of boards per schedule | YesOnline: dual stripboard; Desktop not stated | Not stated |
| Second units or sub-boards | YesUnits on separate boards, checked for clashes | YesSub-boards; up to four units on the same day | Not stated | Not stated |
| Automatic scheduling | ✓YesSmart Schedule and Quick Group, previewed first | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Sorting and finding strips | Yes | YesSort by up to three fields; Board Find highlights matches | Not stated | Not stated |
| Automatic day breaks | Yes | YesInserted by page eighths, shoot time or screen time | Not stated | Not stated |
| Conflict warnings | YesCast availability, labour rules, units and red flags | YesConflict alerts and Red Flag clashes | YesBlackout dates and red flags; Online tracks conflicts | Not stated |
| Cast and element availability | YesUnavailable dates; crew holds across productions | YesRed Flags mark elements unavailable on given days | YesCast availability and blackout dates | Not stated |
| Page eighths and scene timing | YesPage eighths, or minutes when there is no script | YesPage eighths, shoot time and screen time per sheet | YesPage counts and scene timing | Not stated |
| One-line schedule | YesOne line per strip | YesOne-line and one-line vertical reports | YesDesktop and Online | Not stated |
| Shooting schedule report | Yes | Yes | YesDesktop and Online | Not stated |
| Cost of each shoot day | ✓YesOvertime, meal penalties and rest invasion per day | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Schedule linked to the budget | YesSchedule values such as SHOOT_DAYS drive budget lines | YesScheduling sends elements and working days to Budgeting (.mbl) | YesDays worked from Day Out of Days go into a linked budget | Not statedCan import schedule data from Yamdu Scheduling |
| Boneyard for strips taken off the board | YesScenes taken off the board wait in the boneyard | YesScheduling: unscheduled strips kept for later | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cross-boarding episodes in blocks | YesSeason view: episodes in blocks, each with its directors | YesScheduling: several episodes and units in one schedule | Not stated | Not stated |
Day Out of Days and calendars
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Out of Days | Yes | YesInteractive on-screen Day Out of Days | YesOnline adds a Day Out of Days summary | Not stated |
| Holds, drops and pick-ups | YesHolds, drop and pick-up, travel and prep days | YesHold, drop and pick-up rules per element or category | Not stated | Not stated |
| Calendar with dates | Yes | YesCalendar with events, off days and filtering | YesCalendar report in Desktop and Online | YesCalendar tab that can be printed |
| Holidays | Yes8 countries with regions, each list with its source | YesCompany holidays are non-working days | Not stated | Not stated |
| Sunrise and sunset | YesSunrise and sunset warnings | YesTyped per breakdown sheet; shown on day banners | Not stated | Not stated |
| Prep, shoot, wrap and post phases | YesNamed phases; cash flow and timeline from prep to post | YesBoards can hold phases from prep through post | Not stated | YesBudget phases in columns, e.g. months or estimate and actual |
| Labour and union rule checks | ✓Yes13 rule packs for 8 countries and the EU, shown as warnings | Not stated | Not statedSAG Exhibit G report exists; rule checks not stated | Not stated |
| Rules for minors | ✓YesMinors’ hours by jurisdiction, each with its source | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Weather | ✓YesApple Weather forecast per location on the call sheet | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Call sheets and the shoot day
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call sheets | YesCompact, standard and full layouts; crew and cast versions | Not statedA breakdown report by shoot day, described for building call sheets | YesOnline includes them; Desktop needs Koala Call Sheets 3 ($49), a separate product | Not stated |
| Call sheet revisions | ✓YesNumbered revisions, changes listed per person | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Call sheets in each person’s language | ✓YesAny of the 16 languages, per person | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Sending call sheets and confirmations | YesEmail or text from your own apps; confirmations tracked | Not stated | YesKoala emails call sheets; confirmations not stated | Not stated |
| Nearest hospital on the call sheet | ✓YesFound from Apple Maps when asked, confirmed by the office | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Daily production reports | ✓YesWith hot costs (overtime and meal penalties) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Performer time reports | YesExhibit G, ACTRA and Equity layouts; signed on the phone | Not stated | YesSAG Exhibit G report, Desktop and Online | Not stated |
| Cast and crew contacts | YesPeople, agents and a Directory across productions | Not stated | YesCast, crew and cast list reports | Not stated |
| Locations | YesScout photos, permits, fees and a location book | YesLocation field on breakdown sheets; location tags in Budgeting | YesLocations linked to scenes; can be made from the Set field | Not stated |
| Department screens (safety, transport, catering and more) | ✓YesSafety, transport, catering, casting, intimacy and more | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Crew deal memos | YesDeal memos with dates; unsigned ones flagged | Not stated | YesPrintable deal memo from a template | Not stated |
| Releases and clearances | ✓YesSigned releases and a clearances report for E&O | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Budgeting
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsheet, accounts and detail lines | Yes | YesTopsheet, categories, accounts and detail lines | YesTopsheet, account, detail and fourth-level reports | YesSummary, accounts and detail levels |
| Budget templates and charts of accounts | Yes7 budget templates, including an AICP-style commercial bid | YesEP templates with charts of accounts, and your own templates | YesFilm and TV budget templates | YesOver 100 templates: AICP, studio and network masters, features |
| Fringes | YesPercentage or per unit, hour or day | YesPercentage or fixed-amount fringes | YesDesktop; in Online on paid plans | YesFringes by name, including payroll and union rates |
| Fringe cutoffs | YesCutoffs per person | YesCutoffs on percentage fringes | YesFringe ranges and cutoffs | YesCutoffs, with fringe ranges across several items |
| Globals | Yes | Yes | YesDesktop and Online | YesNumber and text globals with where-used list |
| Groups | Yes | YesGroups can be left out of totals for what-ifs | YesDesktop and Online | YesSub-groups that can be included or left out of the totals |
| Union and labour rate tables | Yes41 rate packs (US, Canada, UK, Australia), 1,111 rates | Not stated | YesGorilla Ratebook: in Online paid plans; Desktop add-on ($39.95) | Not statedFringes hold union amounts; separate wage tables not stated |
| Dated rate changes | ✓YesFringe rates that change on a date | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Budget versions and comparison | YesSide by side, with Why Did This Number Change? | YesVersions, history, and comparison of up to 16 budgets | YesOnline: compare up to 5 budgets (Production plan and up) | YesPhases can hold estimate, working and actual, with variance sums |
| Multiple currencies | YesRates are always typed by you | YesAny currency, with rates against a base currency | YesIncludes converting a whole budget to another currency | YesUp to ten currencies per budget, editable exchange rates |
| Tax credit and incentive estimates | Yes141 programmes in 70 jurisdictions, each with its source | YesApplied Credits for incentives you set up yourself | YesCredits and tax incentives | Not statedPhases and sub-groups help track incentive-eligible costs; estimates not stated |
| Budget lines from schedule figures | YesSHOOT_DAYS, CAST1_DAYS and more follow the board | YesElement working days come in from Scheduling (.mbl) | YesDays worked imported from the linked schedule | Not statedYamdu Scheduling import listed; what it fills is not stated |
| Series and episodic budgets | YesPattern and amortised budgets, cost report by episode | YesAmortised and pattern budgets; comparison for episodic projects | Not statedScheduling handles several episodes; episodic budgets not stated | YesTV pilot and series templates; per-episode averages across phases |
| Funders’ budget forms | Yes11 funders’ forms, such as Telefilm, CNC and Screen Australia | Not stated | Not stated | YesTelefilm and US state incentive forms, plus UK, Irish, Belgian, Australian |
| Explaining where a figure comes from | ✓YesExplain This Number | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedWhere-used windows for globals and fringes |
| Contractual charges | YesIn Groups & Charges | YesCharges such as fees applied to the total | YesWith section add-ons, Desktop and Online | Not stated |
| Overtime tiers on labour lines | YesSet per hourly line, with hours from the schedule | Not stated | Not stated | YesFive tiers, each with its own multiple |
| Budget checks before approval | ✓YesBudget Health Check, in plain words | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| VFX shot register and bids | ✓YesCount sheets, vendor bids and VFX budget values | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Costs, accounting and finance
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual costs against the budget | Yes | YesThrough its link to EP’s SmartAccounting | YesAccounting and expense tracking against the budget | YesActuals tracked with variance against budget |
| Cost report with estimate to complete | YesEstimate to complete, final cost and variance with reasons | Not statedIn EP’s separate SmartAccounting product | Not stated | YesCost reports; Cloud cost-tracker columns include EFC and ETC |
| Today’s spend during the shoot | ✓YesToday and to date against budget, by department | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Weekly cost report | ✓YesEach issued week frozen | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Purchase orders | YesWith approvals | Not statedIn EP’s separate SmartPO product | Not stated | YesPurchase orders, PO log, sent to vendors |
| Petty cash | YesReceipts read on the Mac | Not stated | Not stated | YesPetty cash envelopes, transfers and reports; companion envelope app |
| Timecards | ✓YesSigned on the phone, approved by department heads | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedImports from the separate Showbiz Timecards product |
| Payroll calculation | NoCompares a payroll company’s register; does not calculate payroll | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedImports payroll from Media Services, CAPS and others |
| Cash flow | ✓YesWeek by week, prep to post | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedExports to a separate Showbiz Cash Flows application |
| Bank statements | ✓YesImported and reconciled | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedCard imports (American Express, PEX) listed |
| Accounting system links or exports | YesLayouts for Eclipse, PSL, CAPS Plus, Xero, NetSuite and others | YesSmartAccounting link; MMB7 or tab-delimited export for others | Not statedAccounting is built in; links to outside systems not stated | YesExports to QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, CAPS+, PSL and more |
| Completion bond package | ✓YesSealed, checked Bond Package for guarantors | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Financing plan and recoupment | ✓YesFinancing plan and recoupment waterfall | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Co-production budgets | ✓YesTreaty rules, partner budgets in their own currency | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Vendor list | YesPeople, vendors and locations kept across productions | Not stated | Not stated | YesVendor list, exportable as CSV |
| Wrap Book | ✓YesThe closing record, exported as a binder | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Files in and out
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movie Magic Scheduling files in | YesBreakdown exports and .sex files | YesScheduling opens MMS6 .msd; Budgeting imports MMS6 .mbl | YesIn Online, Production plan and up; not in Desktop, per its FAQ | Not stated |
| Movie Magic Budgeting files in | YesBudgeting XML, EP Vista XML and tab-separated exports | YesOpens MMB7 .mbd budgets | YesDesktop: MMB 10 XML or MMB 7 text; Online: Production plan and up | YesImports Movie Magic budgets |
| Gorilla files in | YesBreakdown, stripboard and budget exports, and Gorilla 5 .tab | Not stated | Its own format; projects move between Desktop and Online | Not stated |
| Showbiz Budgeting files in | YesShowbiz Budgeting exchange file (.ubx) and CSV | Not stated | Not stated | YesIts own budget files (.mbb) and templates (.mbt) |
| Excel or CSV in | Yes | Not statedBudgeting: copy and paste to and from Excel | YesFourth-level Excel import; stripboard restore from Excel | YesGeneric spreadsheet import with column mapping |
| Excel or CSV out | YesBudget round trip through Excel | YesBudgeting: Excel and tab-delimited. Scheduling: Excel | YesBudget to Excel; Online Solo plan exports every report | YesExcel and CSV budget export |
| PDF reports | Yes | YesBoth programs | YesReports saved as PDF | YesReports exported as PDF |
| Final Draft (.fdx) out | YesWith breakdown tags | Not stated | YesDesktop and Online | Not stated |
| Movie Magic formats out | YesCSV, XML, .sex (beta) and Movie Magic Budgeting XML (beta) | YesScheduling to MMS6 .msd; Budgeting to the MMB7 format | YesMovie Magic Scheduling (.sex) export | Not stated |
| Calendar files | ✓YesThe free Reader saves each person’s calls as an .ics file | Not statedCalendar exports to PDF | Not stated | Not stated |
| Everything exported in open formats | ✓YesExport Everything: CSV, PDF and the file; published file format | Not statedBudgeting: XML and JSON with all detail data | Not stated | Not stated |
| Deliverables checklist | ✓YesTypical lists or the distributor’s own | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Music cue sheets | ✓YesFrom the locked cut’s EDL or Final Cut Pro XML | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Working together and sharing
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Several people editing at once | YesShared editing (beta), off by default; no server | YesBudgeting since 10.28.34; Scheduling shared files since 10.11 | YesIn Online, by plan (up to 15 users); not in Desktop, per its FAQ | YesCloud: changes appear to other users in real time |
| Maker’s cloud service | NoNone; uses your own cloud folder or network drive | YesEP Cloud for backups and shared files | YesGorilla Online stores projects in the cloud | YesShowbiz Cloud, a paid add-on to the desktop licence |
| View or edit permissions | YesEdit or view per part, in shared editing (beta) | YesScheduling: View or Edit per person | YesOnline: roles per collaborator, by plan | YesView or edit, limited by phase and by print, duplicate, save |
| Sign-offs and approvals | ✓YesBudget approval; department heads sign off on the phone | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Password-protected files | YesEncrypted file with a password; budget lock | NoScheduling 10 dropped the MMS6 schedule password; uses sign-in | YesGorilla 11 password lock for a schedule or budget | Not stated |
| Web pages or links for the crew | ✓YesWeb page of reports; crew confirm calls from it | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Comments from reviewers or users | YesComments from the free Reader, answered and resolved | Not stated | YesIn Online scheduling | Not stated |
| Change history | YesWho changed what and when, kept in the file | YesScheduling logs each change with a time stamp | Not stated | YesCloud keeps a list of recent changes |
iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad app | ✓YesCW Office, free; Cinewright for iPhone and iPad | Not stated | Not statedNo Jungle Software App Store listing found | Not stated |
| iPhone app | ✓YesCinewright: the day, My Calls, timecards and Reader copies | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Apple Watch app | ✓YesSlate remote and your next call | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Android app | NoIn development | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Progress from set back to the office | ✓YesFrom the phones and iPad, by shared folder or local network | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Languages, printing and safety
| Cinewright | Movie Magic | Gorilla | Showbiz Budgeting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface languages | 16 | English; Budgeting FAQ says other languages not supported yet | Not stated | Not stated |
| VoiceOver | Beta, being tested | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Report designer | YesColumns, titles, logo and orientation, with live preview | YesScheduling: new reports in Design; Budgeting: Reports Setup | YesOnline: design report templates; Desktop: print design for strips | Not statedCustomisable report views and filters |
| Printing | Yes | YesBoth programs | YesReports, stripboard and breakdown sheets | YesCommercial or feature/TV print formats |
| Automatic backups and snapshots | YesHourly snapshots, journal and a second copy | YesCloud backup on each save; history and versions | Not statedDesktop saves automatically; backups are user-saved copies | YesAuto-save every 5 minutes; Cloud backup history with restore |
| Help for people switching programs | ✓YesGuides for Movie Magic, Gorilla and Showbiz users | Not statedScheduling manual has a section for MMS6 users | Not statedImports Movie Magic budgets and screenplays; switching guide not stated | Not stated |
| Keyboard shortcuts from another program | YesOptional Movie Magic-style shortcut set | YesScheduling 10 accepts MMS6 keyboard shortcuts | Not stated | Not stated |
Sources for the other products
Movie Magic
- ep.com/ep-store
- ep.com/movie-magic-budgeting
- ep.com/movie-magic-scheduling
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Comparison/Comparison_Overview.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/History_Versions/versions.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Projects_and_Budgets/Saving_Offline.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Projects_and_Budgets/accounting_integrations.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Projects_and_Budgets/importexport.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Projects_and_Budgets/templates.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Reports_Printing/Reports_Overview.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/credits.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/currencies.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/fringes.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/globals.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/groups.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/location.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Setup/mms6_import.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/Topsheet/Topsheet_Overview.html
- mmb-docs.ep.com/release_notes.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Board/Board.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Board/BoardFind.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Board/DayBreaks.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Board/ManagingStrips.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Board/StripDisplay.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Breakdown/Breakdown.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Breakdown/ImportingBreakdownSheets.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Breakdown/SceneHeaderInformation.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Calendars/Calendar.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Calendars/ConflictHandling.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Calendars/ExportingPrinting.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Calendars/NavigatingtheCalendar.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ComingFromMMS6/BringingFilesIn.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ComingFromMMS6/WhatChanged.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/DayOutofDays/DOODRules.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/DayOutofDays/DayOutofDays.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Elements/ManagingCategories.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/GettingStarted/MinimumRequirements.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/GettingStarted/SigningIn.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Images.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/LinkingElements/LinkingElements.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/RedFlag/RedFlag.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ReleaseNotes.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Reports/Reports.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/Reports/ShootingSchedule.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ScheduleFiles/EPCloudBackup.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ScheduleFiles/ExportingScheduleData.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/ScheduleFiles/MovieMagicSchedulingFiles.html
- mms-docs.ep.com/SharedFile/SharedFile.html
- www.ep.com/smartaccounting
- www.ep.com/support/movie-magic-budgeting
- www.ep.com/support/movie-magic-scheduling
Gorilla
- junglesoftware.com/download-gorilla
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-budgeting
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-desktop-faq
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-desktop-vs-online
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-online-faq
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-online-for-film-schools
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-scheduling-online
- junglesoftware.com/gorilla-scheduling
- junglesoftware.com/koala
- junglesoftware.com/new-features-gorilla-11
- junglesoftware.com/shop-all-products
- junglesoftware.com/subscription-pricing
- junglesoftware.com/system-requirements
- junglesoftware.com/training-videos
- studio.junglesoftware.com/pricing
Showbiz Budgeting
- store.castandcrew.com/product/showbiz-budgeting
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/help/whats_new_1000.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/actuals_overview.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/cloud_account.php?ver=1041
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/cloud_working.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/file_menu.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/fringes_about.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/introduction.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/pcenvapp.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/phases_about.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/preferences_app.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/registering.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/release_notes_10.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/subgroups.php
- www.showbizbudgeting.com/helpv10/template_dl.php
Web-based tools, feature by feature
Every feature, row by row. Facts about the other products come from their makers’ own websites, help pages and App Store listings, read on 28 October 2026. Facts about Cinewright are features built into the apps today.
How to read the marks
- Yes
- No
- Not stated: we did not find it on the maker’s pages; it does not mean the feature is missing.
- Cinewright advantage: Cinewright has it and the other products here show No or Not stated, or Cinewright clearly differs, for example bought once or no account. It marks a difference, not a judgement about the other product.
Getting it and running it
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it is sold | Bought once: $299, one person on two computers; 5 seats $1,199 | Monthly plans: Starter, Indie and Professional; extra users cost more | Monthly or yearly plans; production planning in Team plans or as add-ons | Monthly subscriptions (Flex and Studio); Studio cheaper billed yearly | Monthly or yearly plans (Pro, Team); Enterprise by quote | Once per project, or monthly; priced by people and shoot days |
| Free trial or free mode | YesFree mode, no time limit: the sample and one real production | YesFree plan: 1 project, small limits on each tool | YesFree plan: 1 project; 7-day trial of paid features | YesFree trial, no payment details | YesFree Creator plan: 1 project; 14-day trial of Pro and Team | Yes14-day trial with all features |
| Runs on Mac | ✓YesmacOS 15 or later | Not statedRuns in a web browser; no Mac app named | Not statedRuns in a web browser | Not statedRuns in a web browser; Notifier app listed for Apple silicon Macs | Not statedRuns in a web browser | Not statedRuns in a web browser |
| Runs in a web browser | NoMac app; reports can also be saved as web pages | YesWeb app | YesWeb app | YesWeb app | YesWeb app | YesWeb app |
| Account sign-in needed | ✓NoNone | YesTeammates need an account; page viewers do not | Yes | YesSign-in with multi-factor and single sign-on options | Yes | Yes |
| Works without internet | ✓YesWorks offline; internet only for lookups you ask for | Not stated | NoOffline Mode ended in September 2023 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Where production files are kept | One file on your Mac; your own cloud folder if you choose | Hosted by service providers, in or outside the EEA and the US | Mainly the US and Canada | Microsoft Azure servers in the EU or EEA | Not stated | Not stated |
Script import and breakdown
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) script import | YesIncludes Final Draft breakdown tags | Yes | Yes | Yes | NoA budgeting tool; no script import | NoNo script import; breakdowns come in from Excel |
| PDF script import | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesPDFs in Hollywood format | NoA budgeting tool; no script import | NoNo script import |
| Element tagging in the script | YesSelect words on the script page, in one or every scene | YesElement tagger in breakdowns | Not stated | YesWith optional AI tag suggestions | NoA budgeting tool | NoNo script import |
| Breakdown sheets | YesPrinted with pictures | YesBreakdowns with scene notes and reports | YesBreakdown, in Team plans or as an add-on | Not statedPer-scene breakdown overview | NoA budgeting tool | Not stated |
| Shot lists | YesPer scene or whole production; CSV, Excel and PDF | Yes | YesAdd-on on Writer; in Team plans | YesMade from the breakdown, as PDF | Not stated | Not stated |
| Storyboards | YesFrames per shot, printed as PDF | Yes | YesAdd-on on Writer; in Team plans | YesMade from the breakdown, as PDF | Not stated | Not stated |
Scheduling and the stripboard
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripboard | YesDrag, keyboard or menu moves | YesStripboard; 10 scenes on the free plan | YesSchedule in Team plans or as an add-on | Yes | NoNo scheduler; imports Movie Magic schedules | Not statedDaily shooting schedule on the call sheet |
| Several boards or alternate schedules | YesSeveral boards compared side by side; board versions kept | YesSeveral schedule versions on Professional | Not stated | Not statedProduction scenarios mentioned | NoNo scheduler | Not stated |
Day Out of Days and calendars
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Out of Days | Yes | YesFrom the reports menu | Not stated | Yes | NoReads Day Out of Days PDFs into the budget | Not stated |
| Calendar with dates | Yes | YesShareable production calendars | Not stated | YesProject calendar and Gantt production calendar | Not stated | Not stated |
Call sheets and the shoot day
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call sheets | YesCompact, standard and full layouts; crew and cast versions | Yes | Yes | YesFilled in from the schedule | Not stated | YesWith weather, sunrise and sunset |
| Sending call sheets and confirmations | YesEmail or text from your own apps; confirmations tracked | YesEmail and text, with confirm link and delivery tracking (Indie and up) | YesSent by email as a PDF | YesSend and track | Not stated | YesText and email, with confirmations; one-click revisions |
| Daily production reports | YesWith hot costs (overtime and meal penalties) | Not statedOffers a downloadable report template | Not statedReports add-on; daily reports not described | Not stated | Not stated | YesTimes, cast and crew logs, scenes shot |
| Cast and crew contacts | YesPeople, agents and a Directory across productions | Yes | YesCast and crew, in Team plans or as an add-on | YesCast and crew hub; crew list export | Not stated | YesKept at company level across projects |
| Locations | YesScout photos, permits, fees and a location book | YesLocation details and contacts | Not stated | YesLocations kept in a reusable asset database | Not stated | Not statedMap links for company moves |
Budgeting
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsheet, accounts and detail lines | Yes | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | YesBudgets with accounts | Not statedBudgeting in beta, on request | Yes | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Fringes | YesPercentage or per unit, hour or day | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | Yes | Not statedBudgeting in beta, on request | Yes | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Globals | Yes | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | Yes | YesDynamic Globals follow the schedule | Yes | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Multiple currencies | YesRates are always typed by you | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | YesAnother currency as an extra budget at a set rate | Not stated | YesA currency for each phase | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Tax credit and incentive estimates | Yes141 programmes in 70 jurisdictions, each with its source | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | Not stated | Not stated | YesIncentive packs by region; lines tagged for eligibility | NoNot a budgeting tool |
Costs, accounting and finance
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual costs against the budget | Yes | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | YesActuals and variance | Not stated | Yes | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Purchase orders | YesWith approvals | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | Not stated | Not stated | YesTeam plan | NoNot a budgeting tool |
Files in and out
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movie Magic Scheduling files in | YesBreakdown exports and .sex files | NoDoes not import Movie Magic Scheduling files | Not stated | YesMovie Magic Scheduling 6 .msd; MMS 10 via its .msd export | Yes.msd, .mmsx and .sex schedules | YesThrough its free Movie Magic to Excel exporter |
| Movie Magic Budgeting files in | YesBudgeting XML, EP Vista XML and tab-separated exports | NoBudgeting not built in; a free spreadsheet template | Not stated | Not stated | YesIncluding its XML export | NoNot a budgeting tool |
| Excel or CSV out | YesBudget round trip through Excel | Not stated | Not stated | Not statedLists can be exported; formats not named | YesCSV and Excel on paid plans | YesContact, crew and cast lists to Excel |
| PDF reports | Yes | YesPDFs of breakdowns, shot lists and storyboards | YesCall sheets as PDF | YesBreakdown, shot list and storyboard PDFs | YesCustom PDF reports saved as presets | YesCall sheets and production reports |
Working together and sharing
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Several people editing at once | YesShared editing (beta), off by default; no server | Not statedTeammates and invited collaborators by plan | YesReal-time co-writing with presence | YesDepartments work on one shared breakdown | YesSeveral people in one live budget | Not statedUnlimited collaborators as admins |
| View or edit permissions | YesEdit or view per part, in shared editing (beta) | YesView, comment or edit for each shared page | YesAdvanced sharing controls on Team plans | YesEdit, read-only or none, by section, role and department | YesRole-based access on Team; read-only share links | Not statedCollaborators can be made admins |
iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad app | YesCW Office, free; Cinewright for iPhone and iPad | NoNo stand-alone app; pages work in mobile browsers | Not stated | YesYamdu Notifier: call sheets, calendar, travel, crew list | NoThe Wallet app is for iPhone | NoNo stand-alone app; call sheets work on phones |
| iPhone app | YesCinewright: the day, My Calls, timecards and Reader copies | NoNo stand-alone app; pages work in mobile browsers | Not stated | YesYamdu Notifier | YesSaturation Wallet, for receipts and cards | NoNo stand-alone app; call sheets work on phones |
| Apple Watch app | ✓YesSlate remote and your next call | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Android app | NoIn development | NoNo stand-alone app | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | NoNo stand-alone app |
Languages, printing and safety
| Cinewright | StudioBinder | Celtx | Yamdu | Saturation | SetHero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface languages | 16 | Not stated | English, Spanish, French, German and Brazilian Portuguese | 12 interface languages | Not stated | Not stated |
Sources for the other products
StudioBinder
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/10106468-choosing-the-right-studiobinder-plan
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/1065638-is-there-a-mobile-or-tablet-app-available
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/10952562-how-to-import-your-screenplay
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/1445900-how-to-invite-a-collaborator-to-a-page
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/1979982-using-our-film-budget-template
- support.studiobinder.com/en/articles/2039676-go-from-movie-magic-scheduling-to-studiobinder
- www.studiobinder.com
- www.studiobinder.com/blog/dood-report-save-budget
- www.studiobinder.com/blog/introducing-sms-call-sheets
- www.studiobinder.com/privacy
- www.studiobinder.com/team-sharing
Celtx
- support.celtx.com/hc/en-us/articles/214898058-Call-Sheets
- support.celtx.com/hc/en-us/articles/215946588-Import-a-Script
- support.celtx.com/hc/en-us/articles/217387757-Budgeting-Overview
- support.celtx.com/hc/en-us/articles/219148927-What-languages-does-Celtx-support
- support.celtx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035784094-Offline-Mode
- www.celtx.com/company/legal
- www.celtx.com/pricing
Yamdu
- apps.apple.com/us/app/yamdu-notifier/id1004501663
- support.yamdu.com/en/articles/58201-change-language-settings
- support.yamdu.com/en/articles/58206-import-movie-magic-schedules-to-yamdu
- support.yamdu.com/en/articles/58246-budgeting-with-yamdu
- yamdu.com/en
- yamdu.com/en/blog/collaborative-script-break-down-sheet
- yamdu.com/en/for-crew/line-producers
- yamdu.com/en/for-crew/production-coordinators
- yamdu.com/en/for-productions/film
- yamdu.com/en/legal/data-processing-agreement
- yamdu.com/en/pricing
- yamdu.com/en/solutions/film-production-security
Saturation
- apps.apple.com/us/app/saturation-wallet/id6449366839
- saturation.io
- saturation.io/budgeting
- saturation.io/integrations/movie-magic-scheduling
- saturation.io/pricing
SetHero
- help.sethero.com/en/articles/1513627-how-do-the-pricing-plans-work
- help.sethero.com/en/articles/1513681-can-i-import-data-from-movie-magic-scheduling
- help.sethero.com/en/articles/1513685-can-i-import-scenes-from-my-script-file
- help.sethero.com/en/articles/1524083-does-sethero-have-a-mobile-app-i-can-t-find-you-in-the-app-store
- help.sethero.com/en/articles/1524137-can-i-use-sethero-for-free
- sethero.com
- sethero.com/features/call-sheets
- sethero.com/features/contact-management
- sethero.com/features/production-reports
When Movie Magic may suit you better
- You need software you can buy and use today. Cinewright is finished and launches through Kickstarter in late 2026 or early 2027; nothing is on sale yet.
- You work on Windows now. Budgeting and Scheduling for Windows is in development.
- Your team wants to edit one budget or one schedule together in Entertainment Partners’ cloud, with presence and view or edit permissions.
- Your studio or accountant works with Entertainment Partners’ other products, such as SmartAccounting, which Movie Magic Budgeting integrates with.
- You want vendor training (EP Academy) and live chat support.
When Gorilla may suit you better
- You want to work in a web browser, or start on a free plan: Gorilla Online offers both.
- You work on Windows now, or want a 15-day demo before you buy.
- You want Gorilla’s Breakdown Assistant AI add-on, or projects that move between Desktop and Online.
When Showbiz Budgeting may suit you better
- You import payroll from Media Services, CAPS or Showbiz Timecards, or actuals from Point Zero or Powerbid.
- You work on Windows now, or want a 5-day free trial.
When a web-based tool may suit you better
- Your team works on many kinds of computer, or in a browser on borrowed machines.
- You send call sheets by text message with confirmations: StudioBinder and SetHero describe this.
- You want a free plan for a single small project: StudioBinder, Celtx, Gorilla Online and Saturation offer one.
- You want budgeting connected to bank feeds, QuickBooks or Slack: Saturation lists these integrations.
- Your data must stay in the European Union: Yamdu states it does.
Moving your files
Cinewright Budgeting and Scheduling opens these files from other programs. It does not open Movie Magic’s or Gorilla’s own project files; it opens their exports and exchange files.
- Movie Magic Scheduling breakdown exports and .sex exchange files
- Movie Magic Budgeting XML, and EP Vista XML and text
- Gorilla schedule, breakdown and budget exports
- Showbiz Budgeting exchange files (.ubx), the file Showbiz exports, and CSV
- Scripts from Final Draft, Fountain, Fade In, Highland, Celtx and PDF; one-liners and call sheets from PDF, scans, CSV and Excel
- Each import is previewed before anything is added.
Questions
Does Movie Magic let several people edit at once?
Yes. Entertainment Partners describes real-time editing and comparison of budgets in the cloud in Movie Magic Budgeting (version 10.28.34, December 2024), and one shared cloud schedule with real-time updates in Movie Magic Scheduling (version 10.11 or later). Cinewright’s shared editing is in beta.
Can Cinewright open my Movie Magic, Gorilla or Showbiz files?
It opens their exports and exchange files listed above, not their own project files. Each import is previewed before anything is added.
Is Cinewright made by or connected to any of these companies?
No. Cinewright is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them.
When will Cinewright be available?
Cinewright is finished and launches through Kickstarter in late 2026 or early 2027; nothing is on sale yet. See the prices.
Movie Magic, Gorilla, Showbiz, StudioBinder, Celtx, Yamdu, Saturation, SetHero, ScriptE, Scripty, LockitScript, Script Evolution, ZoeLog, Scriptation, Artemis, Helios, Cadrage, PhotoPills, Sun Seeker, Sun Surveyor, Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder, Magic ViewFinder, FinderKit, Lenset, FrameUp, SetScope, Cine Meter, Koala Call Sheets, ShotLogic, Silverstack, ScriptySync, Relax Script Supervisor, Cadrage Studio and f8 Lens Toolkit are trademarks of their respective owners. Movie Magic Budgeting and Movie Magic Scheduling are products of Entertainment Partners; Gorilla is a product of Jungle Software; Showbiz Budgeting is sold by Cast & Crew LLC; StudioBinder is a product of StudioBinder Inc.; Celtx is a product of Celtx Inc.; Yamdu is a product of Seriotec GmbH; Saturation is a product of Saturation.io, Inc.; SetHero is a product of SetHero, LLC; ScriptE is a product of ScriptE Systems, LLC; Scripty is sold by EGETECH LTD; LockitScript is a product of Lockit Network GmbH; Artemis and Helios are products of Chemical Wedding LLC; Cadrage is a product of Cadrage GmbH; PhotoPills is a product of PhotoPills S.L.; Sun Seeker is sold by Ajnaware Pty Ltd; Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder is sold by DIRE Studio Kft.; Lenset is sold by Eyvin Studios AB; SetScope is sold by TRISIMIO SL; Koala Call Sheets is a product of Jungle Software; ShotLogic is sold by Cast & Crew LLC; Silverstack is a product of Pomfort GmbH; Cadrage Studio and f8 Lens Toolkit are products of Cadrage GmbH. Cinewright is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of these companies or developers. Comparisons are based on information published on each company’s own website and App Store listings as of 28 October 2026. Other product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners. Cinewright™ is a trademark of Damon Winters.
Other names in the feature tables, such as Final Draft, Fountain, Fade In, Highland, Avid, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Silverstack, Tentacle Sync, Lockit, QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, ARRI, RED, Sony, Canon, Blackmagic and Z CAM, are trademarks of their respective owners.