Buyer's guide

Best Shooting Schedule Software in 2026

Eleven tools for planning shoot days, compared on what matters on set: stripboards and breakdowns for long scripts, or a day planned in blocks with moves, breaks and daylight. With current prices and free plans.

Updated October 14, 2026 · 11 tools compared

Our recommendation in 30 seconds

A stripboard across many days and the running order of one shoot day need different tools.

  • Commercials, brand films, socialTillyBoardThe shoot day in blocks with moves, breaks, daylight and weather; the call sheet comes out of the same plan. Free plan available.
  • Feature film and TVMovie Magic SchedulingThe long-standing stripboard tool for scripted productions, with multi-unit and multi-episode boards.
  • Stripboard on a budgetGorilla SchedulingDesktop stripboard and breakdown from $24.99 a month, with export to Movie Magic.
  • AI script breakdownFilmustageAI breakdown, stripboard and Day out of Days in the browser, with a free plan.
  • German-speaking production officeYamduBreakdown, scheduling, call sheets and budget in one web app, with a German website and mobile apps.

What shooting schedule software has to do in 2026

A shooting schedule tells everyone on the crew where to be, when, and what is being shot. For a feature film that means sorting scene strips into shoot days; for a commercial or social shoot, usually one or two days planned to the quarter hour.

Most scheduling software was built for the first case. Stripboards and Day out of Days reports are essential when 90 scenes have to fit into 25 days, and overhead when ten shots fit into one day. This guide separates the two.

Disclosure: this guide is published by TillyBoard, and TillyBoard is on the list. We rank it first for commercial, brand-film and social shoot days and say plainly where Movie Magic Scheduling or Gorilla are the better choice. All competitor facts come from the vendors' own websites and are linked.

Comparison at a glance

Tool Best for Free plan Paid from Platforms
1TillyBoardShoot days in blocks, call sheet includedYes (1 project)€19/mo (annual)Web, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
2Movie Magic SchedulingFeature film and TV stripboardsNo$299.88/yrWindows, macOS
3Gorilla SchedulingAffordable stripboard and breakdown15-day demo$24.99/momacOS, Windows, web (Gorilla Online)
4StudioBinderStripboard inside a full production suiteYes (1 project)$29/moWeb
5FilmustageAI breakdown, stripboard and DOODYes (1 project)$49/moWeb
6YamduBreakdown to call sheet, in GermanTrial only€39/moWeb, iOS, Android
7CeltxScript to schedule for small teamsYes (scripts only)$11.24/mo (annual)Web, Premiere Pro plugin
8DramatifyFiction, non-fiction and live in one system30-day trial€27/mo (3 seats)Web (also on phone and tablet)
9Shot ListerShot-based day schedule on Apple devicesYes (limited)$15.99/moiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
10StudiovityAI breakdown and stripboard on mobileNo€26.90/moWeb, iOS, Android
11Google SheetsFree, flexible baselineYes€6.80/mo (Workspace)Web, iOS, Android

Prices as listed on each vendor's official pricing page in October 2026, excluding VAT unless stated. Annual billing is usually cheaper than monthly. Sources are linked under each tool.

How we compared

We judged each tool as someone who has to send a schedule to the crew this week. Prices and free-plan limits were checked on each vendor's official pricing page on 14 October 2026.

Stripboard or day plan

Whether the tool sorts scenes across many days or plans one day in timed blocks, or both.

Breakdown and reports

Script breakdown, Day out of Days, conflict detection and printable reports.

Real-world constraints

Company moves, breaks, daylight and weather, and how quickly the day recalculates when something moves.

From schedule to call sheet

Whether the call sheet is built from the schedule or retyped, and how the crew receives it.

Price and free plan

Entry price, licence model and what the free plan or trial really allows.

Platforms

Desktop, browser, phone or watch, and whether the crew can read the plan without a licence.

The 11 best shooting schedule tools in detail

#1

TillyBoard

Best for commercial, brand-film and social shoot days

TillyBoard plans the shoot day in blocks: shots, company moves with drive time and breaks, each in its own time slot. Sunrise, sunset, golden hour, temperature, chance of rain and wind for the location sit right above the plan, so exteriors go where the light is. Drag a shot by its handle to a new slot and the start and end times of everything after it are recalculated.

The call sheet is built from the same day: times, locations with the nearest hospital, running order, cast and crew. You send it from TillyBoard, and cast and crew confirm via link without an account.

Strengths

  • Moves with drive time and breaks are blocks in the day like any shot
  • Daylight and weather for the location above the plan
  • Call sheet from the plan; crew confirms without an account
  • Day schedule on iPhone, call times on Apple Watch

Weaknesses

  • No stripboard or Day out of Days report for long scripted productions
  • Built around commercials and brand content rather than feature-film breakdowns
  • Free plan is limited to one own project
  • Native apps only for Apple devices; elsewhere it runs in the browser

Pricing: Free €0 (1 project, 1 GB, 10 AI images a month). Creator €22 a month or €19 billed annually, Studio €39 (€35), Team €109 (€99), Enterprise on request. Excluding VAT, monthly plans cancel any time.

Who it is for: Producers, ADs and in-house video teams who shoot commercials, brand films and social content in one or a few days.

Source: TillyBoard pricing on the homepage · As of October 2026

TillyBoard shooting schedule software

#2

Movie Magic Scheduling

Best for feature films and TV series

Movie Magic Scheduling from Entertainment Partners is the long-established stripboard application for scripted film and TV. Version 10 has been reworked and is now sold as a subscription. It offers a drag-and-drop stripboard with a split calendar view, real-time collaboration, boards across several episodes and units, conflict detection through its Red Flag Manager, and customisable reports.

Strengths

  • Stripboard built for many shoot days, episodes and units
  • Conflict detection and reusable templates
  • Many other tools export to its format

Weaknesses

  • Desktop only (Windows, macOS), no web or mobile app mentioned
  • No free plan or trial listed in the store
  • A stripboard is more than a one-day commercial needs

Pricing: Subscription per licence: $42.99 a month, or $299.88 a year with a 12-month commitment. No free plan or trial listed in the EP store.

Who it is for: First ADs and production offices on feature films and series who work with a classic stripboard.

Source: Movie Magic Scheduling pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. Movie Magic SchedulingMovie Magic Scheduling alternatives

#3

Gorilla Scheduling

Best stripboard on a smaller budget

Gorilla Scheduling by Jungle Software is a desktop stripboard with script breakdown, now with an AI breakdown assistant in its Premium tier. It imports Final Draft, PDF and Fountain scripts and exports to Movie Magic. Call sheets come from the companion product Koala Call Sheets, and Gorilla Online runs in the browser.

Strengths

  • Stripboard and breakdown from $24.99 a month
  • Imports Final Draft, PDF and Fountain; exports to Movie Magic
  • macOS, Windows and a browser version; academic licence

Weaknesses

  • No free plan, only a 15-day desktop demo
  • Call sheets need a separate product
  • No mobile app mentioned

Pricing: Desktop $24.99 a month, $64.99 per quarter or $199 a year per licence (two activations). Premium with AI breakdown assistant $39.99 a month or $269 a year. 15-day demo.

Who it is for: Indie filmmakers and film schools who need a real stripboard without studio-level costs.

Source: Gorilla Scheduling pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. Gorilla SchedulingGorilla Scheduling alternatives

#4

StudioBinder

Best all-in-one suite for scripted productions

StudioBinder is a browser-based production management suite. Its stripboard scheduling sits next to a screenplay editor, script breakdown, shot lists, storyboards and a call sheet builder with delivery tracking, so the schedule feeds the rest of the paperwork.

Strengths

  • Breakdown, stripboard and call sheets in one browser workspace
  • Call sheet delivery tracking from the Indie plan
  • Free plan without time limit

Weaknesses

  • Free plan stops at ten stripboard scenes
  • No native app according to its help center
  • Extra users cost $25 a month each

Pricing: Free never expires but caps each module at ten entries. Starter $29 a month (1 user, 10 projects), Indie $49 (2 users), Professional $99 (4 users); extra users $25 a month.

Who it is for: Production companies and indie filmmakers who work from a screenplay and want one system for every department.

Source: StudioBinder plan overview (official help center) · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. StudioBinderStudioBinder alternatives

#5

Filmustage

Best for AI script breakdown and scheduling

Filmustage reads your script with AI, breaks it down into elements and builds a stripboard with Day out of Days reports and conflict detection. Budget, call sheets, script sides, shot lists and storyboards sit in the same web app, and schedules export as PDF, Excel or to Movie Magic.

Strengths

  • AI breakdown and AI-assisted scheduling
  • Stripboard with DOOD and conflict detection
  • Free plan with every non-AI tool

Weaknesses

  • AI features run on coins, so heavy use costs more
  • Free plan breaks down only 20 percent of scenes with AI
  • Web only; website in English

Pricing: Free forever with all non-AI tools and one active project (AI breakdown for 20 percent of scenes). Director's Cut $49 a month or $408 a year, including 1,000 AI coins per period.

Who it is for: Indie to studio filmmakers who start from a script and want the breakdown done fast.

Source: Filmustage pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. FilmustageFilmustage alternatives

#6

Yamdu

Best for German-speaking production offices

Yamdu is a web-based production platform for film, series, advertising and documentary. It covers script import and breakdown, scheduling, a call sheet builder, budget, shot lists and storyboards, cast and crew and a production calendar. AI suggests tags in the script, writes scene one-liners and compares script revisions; it can be switched off.

Strengths

  • Breakdown, schedule, call sheets and budget in one tool
  • Website in twelve languages including German; iOS and Android apps
  • Episode features for series

Weaknesses

  • No free plan, only a trial
  • Flex covers one user and one project; extras cost more
  • Studio plan is a step up at €179 a month annually

Pricing: No free plan, but a free trial without payment details. Flex €39 a month plus VAT for one user and one project (+€19 per user, +€39 per project). Studio €179 a month billed annually with ten users.

Who it is for: Producers, line producers and production managers in German-speaking film and series production.

Source: Yamdu pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. YamduYamdu alternatives

#7

Celtx

Best when the script and the schedule live in one place

Celtx started as screenwriting software and grew into an online studio. Next to the script editors it offers breakdown, scheduling, budget with cost reports, call sheets and script sides. On the writer plans the production tools are add-ons; the Team plan includes them.

Strengths

  • Script, breakdown and schedule connected
  • Also AV scripts for commercials and corporate video
  • 7-day trial of the paid features

Weaknesses

  • Free plan has the script editors only
  • Scheduling included only in the Team plan
  • No AI features mentioned

Pricing: Free covers one project and the script editors. Writer $11.24 and Writer Pro $18.74 a month, billed annually. Production tools are add-ons there and only included in Team ($44.99 a month, annually). 7-day trial.

Who it is for: Writer-directors and small teams who want the schedule to come straight from their own script.

Source: Celtx pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. CeltxCeltx alternatives

#8

Dramatify

Best for broadcasters and mixed fiction and non-fiction

Dramatify from Sweden covers drama as well as entertainment, documentary and live production. It offers script breakdown, a stripboard, a Gantt production planner, semi-automatic call sheets, daily production reports and rundowns for studio and live shows. Cast and crew read along for free on any device.

Strengths

  • Stripboard plus Gantt planner and rundowns
  • Free read access for cast and crew
  • 30-day trial without a credit card

Weaknesses

  • Minimum of three seats, billed annually for the lowest price
  • No free plan
  • Wide scope means more setup for a single shoot

Pricing: Fiction Starter €9 per seat and month billed annually, minimum three seats. Fiction Standard €12, Non-Fiction Starter €20, Professional €25. Monthly billing costs 25 percent more. Cast and crew read for free; 30-day trial.

Who it is for: Broadcasters and production companies that run drama, entertainment and documentary in one system.

Source: Dramatify pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. DramatifyDramatify alternatives

#9

Shot Lister

Best for a minute-by-minute shot schedule on iPhone

Shot Lister turns a shot list into a minute-by-minute shooting schedule and follows the day in Live Mode while you shoot. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, syncs between crew members and imports Final Draft and Fountain scripts on the Pro plan.

Strengths

  • Live Mode tracks the schedule during the shoot
  • Native on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
  • Free download; Pro has a 14-day trial

Weaknesses

  • No call sheet and no script breakdown
  • No web version
  • Free version limits the number of projects

Pricing: Free download with limited projects. Pro $15.99 a month, $47.99 for three months or $99.99 a year, 14-day trial. Studio for crews from $24.99 a month for ten people.

Who it is for: Directors and DPs who plan their day shot by shot and want it on the phone and the wrist.

Source: Shot Lister website (prices on the homepage) · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. Shot ListerShot Lister alternatives

#10

Studiovity

Best mobile-first suite with AI breakdown

Studiovity combines screenwriting with production planning: AI script breakdown, AI shot lists and storyboards, a stripboard with Day out of Days, a call sheet generator and budgeting. It runs on the web and as apps for iOS and Android.

Strengths

  • Stripboard and DOOD with AI breakdown
  • Web, iOS and Android
  • Two team members included in the Productions plan

Weaknesses

  • No free plan shown
  • Discounts for longer terms ran via time-limited promo codes
  • Separate Writers and Productions plans; scheduling needs Productions

Pricing: Productions plan €26.90 a month billed monthly for two team members (prices shown for Germany); longer terms were discounted with time-limited promo codes.

Who it is for: Solo filmmakers and indie crews who want breakdown, schedule and call sheet on their phone.

Source: Studiovity pricing page · As of October 2026

#11

Google Sheets

Best free baseline for simple schedules

Many shoot days are still planned in a spreadsheet. Google Sheets is free and everyone can open it, but it does not recalculate the day when a shot moves.

Strengths

  • Free with any Google account
  • Everyone knows it; works offline and on iOS and Android
  • Completely flexible layout

Weaknesses

  • Every time change has to be retyped by hand
  • No stripboard, breakdown, daylight or call sheet
  • Versions multiply when the file is shared around

Pricing: Free with any Google account. Google Workspace for companies: Business Starter €6.80, Standard €13.60 per user and month, excluding VAT.

Who it is for: Very small shoots and anyone who needs a schedule today and has no budget for software.

Source: Google Sheets pricing page · As of October 2026

TillyBoard vs. Google SheetsGoogle Sheets alternatives

Free shooting schedule options

Truly free scheduling is rare. Google Sheets costs nothing but does none of the recalculating for you. Among the dedicated tools, TillyBoard Free gives you one full project with shoot days, daylight and call sheets and no time limit, Filmustage Free includes its stripboard and every non-AI tool for one active project, and StudioBinder Free lets you try the stripboard with up to ten scenes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best shooting schedule software in 2026?

For commercials, brand films and social shoots planned day by day, we recommend TillyBoard. For feature films and TV series with stripboards and Day out of Days, Movie Magic Scheduling is the established choice and Gorilla Scheduling the more affordable one. For AI script breakdown, Filmustage.

What is a stripboard?

A stripboard puts every scene of a script on a coloured strip with its location, day or night, page count and cast. You sort the strips into shoot days. It comes from paper boards and is still the standard for scripted film and TV.

Do I need a stripboard for a commercial shoot?

Usually not. A commercial or social shoot often has one or two days and no script with numbered scenes. It needs a timed running order with moves, breaks and daylight, and a call sheet built from it.

What happens to the times when I move a shot?

In TillyBoard you drag the shot by its handle to a new slot, and the start and end times of the shots that follow are recalculated. In stripboard tools such as Movie Magic Scheduling or Gorilla you reorder strips across shoot days instead.

Is there free shooting schedule software?

Yes, with limits. TillyBoard, Filmustage and StudioBinder have free plans, and Google Sheets is free with any Google account. Movie Magic Scheduling lists no free plan; Gorilla, Dramatify and Yamdu offer trials.

How much does shooting schedule software cost?

Entry prices in this comparison: TillyBoard €19 a month billed annually, Gorilla Scheduling $24.99 a month, StudioBinder $29, Yamdu €39, Filmustage $49, Movie Magic Scheduling $299.88 a year.

Plan the next shoot day in blocks

Shots, moves and breaks in one day, daylight above the plan and the call sheet built from it. TillyBoard is free to start.

Start for free

Free plan available · no credit card