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From Movie Magic Budgeting to Showbiz Budgeting software to film budget templates in Google sheets, film budgeting software is the line producer’s art form and most valued tool.
In this article, we cover the best and latest in film production budgeting software for 2024.
But first, let’s look at some of the key uses for a film budgeting template. Are you looking to win a bid on a big commercial project or are you already greenlit to pre-production on a feature? Your project needs will inform which film budgeting software is best for you.
Production budgets can be used for a variety of important reasons in various stages of a project, such as:
Producers use film budgeting software when first bidding on projects or fundraising a project they want to make.
Budgets are put together here to both show that you know what you are doing and to propose what cost you can (and are willing to) produce the project for.
Once you’ve landed the project, your production budget is frequently updated to show changing costs for both yourself and as a client-facing tool.
Remember, if your budget needs are mostly client-facing, you’ll need budgeting software that is both workable for you and presentable to your client. Here, visuals matter!
Unions will want to see your budget before agreeing to work with you on a project. SAG-AFTRA, for example, requests a budget when you submit your signatory packet, along with a slew of other regulations.
It’s why we wrote a whole article on how to budget SAG payroll.
Don’t forget to include line items for SAG rates, agent and manager fees (if applicable), and union talent fringes such as pension & health and payroll taxes.
Just like a production schedule, your production budget is a living, changing document that updates well into post. So it’s vital to find the right user-friendly film production budgeting software that is both trustworthy and comprehensive to your needs.
And if you are working for a production company or studio, they will likely have their own unique way of working that you’ll have to adopt.
An ideal budgeting solution would allow you to manage your costs all in one place. Far too often, payroll is in one tool while purchase orders and petty cash are in another.
Thankfully, Wrapbook's Cost Tracking and Budget Tracking tools make it easy.
Wrapbook already tracks your payroll, but our new Cost Tracking feature allows you track and manage your costs in real time. Create and track PO's and petty cash digitally. Be confident that you're tracking every dollar in or out as the crew upload receipts on-the-go from their existing Wrapbook account.
Just import your budget from Hot Budget, Movie Magic, or Showbiz, and Wrapbook's Budget Tracker will reflect each payroll, purchase order, and petty cash transaction in real time. Each transaction will be coded against your project Chart of Accounts so that you can have a line-by-line breakdown of costs!
Wrapbook supercharges your budget software. Learn more or watch a demo today!
Celtx Budgeting software comes from the makers of Celtx Screenwriter, which is a well-known mostly-free screenwriting software that is a great entry point for emerging creators. Celtx recently rolled out its digital production suite that includes Celtx budgeting and some engaging perks.
It is a solid full-service option and a great place to look if you are just starting out or want everything in one place. Recommended for full-service indie producers working in film, digital, and smaller scale commercials.
Celtx’s budgeting software is included in its “video production plan” for $30/month if billed monthly and $27/month if billed annually. However, it's currently offering your first year 50% off with price plans starting at $15/month and $13.50/month, respectively.
While not a free film budgeting software like their screenwriting software, this plan comes with a bunch of bonuses, including its “scriptwriting plan plus,” scheduling software, and call sheet and cost report generators.
Complimentary perks: A subscription to Celtx comes with great bonuses, including scheduling and screenwriting software.
Cloud-based system: Log in wherever the internet is found!
Pricing: Celtx is affordable – opt in month to month.
Sleek interface: Fun to look at, yet easy to work with.
Fully integrated: The screenwriting software has a script breakdown function that itemizes by department and then adds these elements into your Celtx budgeting software.
Focus on collaboration: Celtx excels in its collaborative features for scriptwriting and storyboarding. This can be a strength, but the budgeting section might not be as robust for users who prioritize deep budgeting functionalities.
Learning curve: While Celtx is generally user-friendly, some users find switching between scriptwriting and budgeting sections can be clunky.
Mobile App limitations: The mobile app might not offer all the budgeting features available on the desktop version.
Budgeting on a budget? Have no fear, there are some great free film budgeting software options and film budgeting templates out there for you as well. You may have to wade through several options to find the right one for you – and beware trial modes that don’t allow you to download PDFs!
Whether you’re looking for a film budget template for Google Sheets or want to keep things on the desktop with an excel program, templates are a great way to customize the process to your needs! Google Sheets is a great place to import a customized film budgeting template. Many commercial producers who utilize this have inherited a film budget sheet template, passed down from generation to generation of line producers.
They are a great tool for an emerging producer as sometimes they have remnants of costs from past shoots, such as how much was paid for professional video equipment insurance.
But these film budget templates are coveted and hard to come by. So if you don’t have an in, you either need to design your own or purchase a film budget sheet template from a company.
Control over layout: If you are a wiz with a spreadsheet, you can customize to your heart’s delight.
In the cloud and on the drive: If you love Google Suite and organize your digital wrap up there, this is nearly a one-stop shop.
Probably free: Many websites offer a solid free film budget template for Google Sheets. Or you can purchase templates from a number of places for a flat fee. Places like BoilerPlate sell their formats starting at $49, and you can pull it into Excel or throw it onto the drive.
Learning resource: Using a template can be a good way to learn the basics of film budgeting. The formulas and categories can provide a framework for understanding budgeting principles.
Limited features: Compared to dedicated film production budgeting software, Google Sheets templates lack some advanced features. These might include industry-standard breakdowns, specialized reporting tools, or integration with other production management software.
Error-prone: If you're not familiar with spreadsheets or formulas, there's a higher chance of errors in calculations or accidentally messing up the template.
Less professional presentation: While you can format Google Sheets templates, they might not have the same level of professional polish as reports generated by dedicated budgeting software.
Hot Budget is to commercials what Movie Magic Budgeting is to film and TV. In its short lifespan, it has arguably become the industry standard for commercial budgeting software.
Great for spinning up a budget to win bids, Hot Budget is easy to use as well as affordable.
Hot Budget is actually cheaper when purchased with Hot Bricks, making it a favorite for those that already use Hot Bricks and is simply just one of the best film budgeting softwares of 2024.
Recognizable: The most popular commercial budgeting software around.
Built for the bid: The top sheet is in an easily read with a clean client-facing format.
Easy importing: Easily import your own (or the company you're working for) chart of accounts. Timecards can be uploaded directly to the payroll log.
Commercial-focused: Not often used as a film budget software tool. It’s most useful if you’re working on a SAG commercial or a non-union commercial shoot.
Hidden pricing: In addition to their website being confusing to navigate, their pricing details are not disclosed. The rates here are a bit confusing, but it is subscription based and costs around $100/year. Discounts seem to be available for those who utilize their production rentals company, Hot Bricks.
Not Cloud-based: As an excel plug-in, Hot Budget is a desktop software, which means you’re bound to one computer.
Developed by Entertainment Partners, Movie Magic Budgeting reigns supreme in the world of scripted film budgeting software. It even has a powerful counterpart for scheduling, aptly named Movie Magic Scheduling.
Movie Magic Budgeting is the go-to choice for both short and long-form scripted content. While it’s not advisable to rely completely on automated script breakdowns, this established program offers a detailed approach that's ideal for productions with meticulous needs.
Being an industry standard comes with a bonus – tons of tutorials are readily available online, making it easier to pick up and use the software.
It might take a bit longer to set up Movie Magic initially, but the precision it offers can be invaluable.
Most recognized film & TV Format: It is still the scripted gold standard in film budget templates.
Templates galore: The software comes with some great film budget templates from the major studios on down.
Student rate: If you are a current student or faculty member, you can get a very nice discount.
Tons of educational materials: There are some excellent Movie Magic Budgeting tutorial videos to teach this software to a producer at any stage in their career.
Accessibility: As a long-running program, Movie Magic Budgeting struggles to keep up with the tech times. It’s a desktop software that doesn’t communicate very well with its own scheduling software. There is no cloud.
The look: This film budgeting software has been around a while. For some, it shows.
Pricey, unless you’re a student: $489 for the latest version, Movie Magic Budgeting 7. But, the “Academic Edition” (student/faculty discount) is only $189.
Saturation is a collaborative budgeting tool that marries the leading industry standard principles with modern collaborative workflows. Think Google Sheets meets Movie Magic.
It offers a suite of integrations and automation capabilities designed to supercharge your production workflow. Saturation was born out of the frustrations of a working producer who felt limited by the outdated tools available in the market.
Ideal for commercials, music videos, and independent films; Saturation facilitates a smooth and efficient budgeting process that accommodates the unique needs of different projects.
Saturation offers a free tier for users working on a single project, making it a great option for independent creators and small teams. For those who need to juggle multiple projects, there is an unlimited plan available for $20/month, and for companies requiring workspace collaborators, the cost is $65/month.
Collaborative approach: Saturation is built to support modern, collaborative workflows, making it a great fit for teams.
Integration and automation: Saturation is designed to seamlessly integrate with other tools, and its automation capabilities can help streamline your production workflow.
User-friendly and intuitively designed: What really sets Saturation apart is how intuitive and user-friendly it is. You'll find yourself sliding into your budgeting tasks with ease, thanks to its well-thought-out design.
Flexible pricing: Saturation offers a free tier for those working on a single project, with affordable options for unlimited projects or workspace collaborators.
New software: As a new entrant in the market, Saturation may not yet offer all the features found in more established software like Movie Magic. However, it is constantly updating with new features every month, showing a commitment to growth and improvement.
Subscription model: While offering flexibility, the subscription model can lead to ongoing costs compared to a one-time purchase of a downloadable program. This can be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
Reliance on internet connection: As a cloud-based software, Saturation requires a stable internet connection to function. This can be a disadvantage in rare situations with limited or unreliable internet access.
Showbiz Budgeting software comes from the team at Media Services. A rival to Entertainment Partners and Movie Magic Budgeting, it’s a nice middle ground between Movie Magic Budgeting and Hot Budget.
One of the best film budgeting softwares of 2024, it may not be free film budgeting software, but it certainly is worth the price.
Showbiz Budgeting shines for commercials and music videos, but can handle scripted projects, too. It’s ideal for those who primarily work in commercials or music videos but dabble in scripted content, offering a one-stop shop for all your budgeting needs.
Built-in film budget calculator: Showbiz Budgeting Software’s OT Translator function gives you a self-updating overtime calculator.
Tailored to the producer: Showbiz Budgeting Software’s purchase order system and petty cash workflow allow for streamlined actualization.
Client-facing: Showbiz Budgeting software is well regarded in the commercial space and a recognizable format.
Weird layout: Showbiz Budgeting’s layout isn’t that easy on the eyes, and if we’re being honest, a bit clinical.
One trick pony: Showbiz budgeting software is slightly more conducive to commercial than scripted content.
$$$: The software is a tad pricey, roughly comparable to Movie Magic Budgeting at 2 software licenses for $399.
Picking the right film budget software can feel overwhelming with so many options. The good news? The best choice often boils down to personal preference, so don't be afraid to experiment!
If you’d like to dive deeper into accounting practices, check out our recent features on Best Practices for Production Accountants and the great Slack vs. Facebook debate in regards to accountant networking.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. We’re a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada.
