byline vs ScriptGrain: which one fits a ghostwriter with several clients?

Pick ScriptGrain if you want a voice score and a free plan. Pick byline if your clients already publish on Instagram, YouTube, a website or a newsletter and want that work read for you. ScriptGrain builds each voice from writing you paste, upload or link [1], scores drafts from 0 to 1 against the profile [2], and holds 10 profiles for $134 a month on Studio [3] [4]. byline reads each client's connected channels, including what's said in supported YouTube videos [5], and serves that voice to Claude and ChatGPT. Studio is $99 a month for 5 client workspaces [6] [7]. byline has no voice-match score [8].

How do byline and ScriptGrain differ?

Where does each tool learn a client's voice?

ScriptGrain builds a profile from samples you add on its New Profile page: pasted text, uploaded files or a URL import [1]. URL import is listed on the paid Writer plan, not on Free [21]. It asks for at least one sample and recommends 3,000 or more words across several pieces [22]. The profile measures 45 reference points in eight groups, from word choice and sentence structure to punctuation [23]. Because you bring the writing, anything you can copy works, including a client's LinkedIn posts.

byline reads the client's own channels: an Instagram Professional account, a public YouTube channel, a website or blog with a public sitemap, and email text sent to the workspace inbox [9]. For supported YouTube videos it also reads what is said in the video when processing succeeds [5]. Connected sources sync daily, so new posts reach the library without re-uploading [10]. byline does not import LinkedIn posts; you can email post text to the workspace inbox as a one-off add [20]. It reads the email body, not attachments, and has no form for pasting raw text [24]. It does not import Instagram or YouTube comments, only like, comment and view counts [25].

How does each one check that a draft sounds right?

ScriptGrain is ahead here. Every draft gets a voice-match score from 0 to 1 against the profile, with the difference on each feature, and scoring is free on every plan [2].

byline has no voice-match score [8]. It keeps a profile of each client's topics, voice, recurring themes, audience, formats and cadence, built from their processed work. The profile is a model-generated interpretation and can be wrong, so you read it, correct it and pin facts. Your AI tool can also search the client's past posts, video transcripts, articles and emails while it drafts [26], so you can ask it which posts it leaned on. Read how the byline creator profile works.

Where do you write?

ScriptGrain writes drafts itself, in its app, over a REST API or through its MCP server, and drafts use credits [14] [13]. A draft up to 5,000 words is 1 credit [27]. Writer includes 40 credits a month, Operator 75, Studio 400 and Agency 1,500 or more [15] [16] [4] [17].

byline does not write drafts. Claude or ChatGPT reads the client's profile and past work from byline while you draft there [12]. Questions from your AI tool do not count against byline's reading allowance [28]. You also need an AI plan that allows a custom remote connector [29]. Claude lists custom connectors on Free, Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise, with Free limited to one [30]. ChatGPT offers full custom MCP connections on Business and Enterprise/Edu [31], and read and fetch only on Pro [32]. The byline MCP server page covers the setup.

What does it cost for 1, 3, 5 and 10 clients?

Monthly list prices in US dollars, read on 9 Nov 2026. ScriptGrain's US prices exclude sales tax [3].

ScriptGrain costs less at 1 and 3 clients, byline costs less at 5, and only ScriptGrain covers 10 on one plan. In the UK, ScriptGrain's plans are £12, £29, £99 and £299 a month including VAT [15] [16] [4] [17] [34]. Paid yearly, byline Studio is $891 [6] and ScriptGrain Studio is $1,284 before US sales tax [3].

Two costs sit outside the table. byline needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan that allows a custom connector [29], while ScriptGrain drafts in its own app on its credits [27].

byline's monthly plans begin with an introductory month: $0.99 for your first month, no free trial. [18] On Studio, that month uses Creator reading limits of 3,000 items and 600 video minutes [35]. Annual plans are paid upfront with no introductory month [18]. The plans are on byline pricing.

Is there a free plan or a free trial?

ScriptGrain has a free plan with one voice profile, one writing analysis and one draft for the life of the account, plus API and MCP access, with no card needed [19].

byline has no free trial [36]. Its Connection plan lets your AI tools read your 12 latest posts on one Instagram account and one YouTube channel you own, but it builds no voice profile and has no full-history search [37]. A client's voice profile needs Creator or Studio.

Where ScriptGrain wins

• A free plan. You can build a voice profile and get one draft before paying anything [19]. byline has no free trial [36].
• A voice-match score. Each draft is scored from 0 to 1 against the profile, with per-feature differences, free on every plan [2]. byline has no score [8].
• More voices on one plan. Studio holds 10 voice profiles and Agency is unlimited [4] [17], so 10 clients fit on one plan. byline Studio holds up to 5 client workspaces [7].
• Any writing, from anywhere. You paste text, upload files or import a URL [1], so a client who only posts on LinkedIn still gets a profile. byline does not import LinkedIn and has no paste form [20] [24].
• It writes the draft. ScriptGrain generates drafts in its app, through a REST API or over MCP [13] [14]. byline leaves drafting to your AI tool [12].
• Lower prices for 1 or 3 clients. Writer is $17 a month for 1 profile and Operator is $40 for 3 [3] [15] [16].
• A memory of what each voice has said. Voice Brain keeps the ideas, claims and stories a voice has written, checks a new brief for repeats and can be shared between voices, on every plan [38].
• A watch on published pages. On paid plans, the voice monitor scores watched pages against a voice once a month: 5 pages on Writer, 15 on Studio and 50 on Agency [39].
• MCP on every plan. Its MCP server works on Free as well as the paid plans [40].

Where byline wins

• It reads the client's channels for you. byline reads an Instagram Professional account, a public YouTube channel, a website or blog, and newsletter email [9], and syncs connected sources daily [10]. ScriptGrain profiles are built from text, files and URLs you add [1], and we found no connected social source (unverified) [11].
• It reads what is said in videos. For supported YouTube videos, byline reads the spoken words when processing succeeds [5]. That helps with clients who talk more than they write.
• A lower price for 5 clients. byline Studio is $99 a month for up to 5 client workspaces [6] [7]. ScriptGrain Studio is $134 a month before US sales tax [3].
• More seats on the multi-client plan. byline Studio includes 5 seats in each workspace [7]. ScriptGrain's plan-limits page says Studio includes 3 seats, with extra seats at £15 a month [41].
• Past work your AI tool can search. Claude or ChatGPT can search and read the client's past posts, video transcripts, articles and emails through byline [26], so a draft can lean on what the client actually said.

You may not need byline

Pick ScriptGrain instead if one of these is true:

• You want to try a voice profile before paying anything.
• Your clients' writing lives on LinkedIn, in documents or anywhere you paste from, rather than on Instagram, YouTube, a website or a newsletter.
• You need more than 5 client voices on one plan, or a voice-match score on each draft.
• You want the tool to write the draft itself.

If you write for one person in one tool, a Claude Project or a custom GPT with their posts may be enough. byline fits writers with several clients whose work already lives on connected channels. See byline for ghostwriters and brand memory for agencies for how it keeps each client separate. If you want a tool that finds trending posts and writes the drafts, see byline vs CreatorsCompanion.

FAQ

Is ScriptGrain free?

It has a free plan with one voice profile, one writing analysis and one draft for the life of the account. Paid plans start at $17 a month, or £12 in the UK. On byline's monthly plans: $0.99 for your first month, no free trial.

Sources: [19], [3], [15], [18].

Does byline score drafts like ScriptGrain's voice match?

No. byline does not compute a voice-match score. It gives your AI tool the client's profile and past work to search, and you can correct the profile or pin facts.

Sources: [8], [26].

Which one reads a client's YouTube videos?

byline reads a connected public YouTube channel, including what is said in supported videos when processing succeeds. ScriptGrain builds a profile from writing you paste, upload or import from a URL.

Sources: [5], [1].

How many clients can I manage on one plan?

byline Studio covers up to 5 client workspaces with 5 seats each for $99 a month. ScriptGrain Operator covers 3 profiles for $40 a month, Studio 10 for $134 and Agency unlimited for $405, before US sales tax.

Sources: [7], [6], [3], [16], [4], [17].

Do both work in Claude and ChatGPT?

Yes. Both run a remote MCP server, and ScriptGrain documents connecting it to Claude and ChatGPT. byline needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan that allows a custom remote connector. On ChatGPT, full custom MCP connections are on Business and Enterprise/Edu.

Sources: [40], [42], [43], [29], [31].

Does byline have a free trial?

No. byline's monthly plans begin with $0.99 for your first month, no free trial. Annual plans are paid upfront with no introductory month.

Sources: [18].

Can I use both?

Yes, on a paid Claude plan, since Claude's Free plan allows only one custom connector. Connect both in Claude, pull the client's past work from byline, then score the draft in ScriptGrain. We have not tested this workflow end to end.

Sources: [30].

Method and disclosure

We make byline. We read ScriptGrain's prices and plan limits again on 9 Nov 2026. Each source below shows the day we read it, 9 Nov or 5 Nov 2026. We have not run the two side by side on the same client. Each fact below links to the page we read and the day we read it.

1. ScriptGrain. Writing samples are added on the New Profile page by pasting text, uploading files or importing from a URL. Source: scriptgrain.com/support, checked 9 Nov 2026.
2. ScriptGrain. Every ScriptGrain draft returns a voice-match score from 0 to 1 against the profile, with per-feature differences. Scoring is free on every plan. Source: scriptgrain.com/works-with/claude, checked 5 Nov 2026.
3. ScriptGrain. The US edition lists Writer at $17 a month or $156 a year, Operator $40 or $378, Studio $134 or $1,284, and Agency $405 or $3,882, excluding sales tax. Source: scriptgrain.com/us/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
4. ScriptGrain. Studio is £99 a month or £949 a year, with 10 voice profiles, 400 credits a month and team seats. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
5. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
6. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/pricing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
7. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/pricing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
8. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/your-creator-profile, checked 5 Nov 2026.
9. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
10. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/plans-pricing-and-billing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
11. ScriptGrain. ScriptGrain does not connect to a client's Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn account to pick up new posts on its own. Unverified: we could not confirm this on 9 Nov 2026. We checked scriptgrain.com/support.
12. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
13. ScriptGrain. ScriptGrain has a REST API on every plan, including Free. Generations use the same credit pool as the app. Source: scriptgrain.com/docs/api.md, checked 5 Nov 2026.
14. ScriptGrain. The ScriptGrain MCP server has 41 tools, including get_profile, create_profile, generate_content, check_voice_match, polish, save_edit and the Voice Brain memory tools. Generation, polish and profile creation use credits. Source: scriptgrain.com/docs/mcp.md, checked 9 Nov 2026.
15. ScriptGrain. Writer is £12 a month or £115 a year, with 1 voice profile and 40 credits a month. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
16. ScriptGrain. Operator is £29 a month or £279 a year, with 3 voice profiles, 75 credits a month and top-up credits. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
17. ScriptGrain. Agency is £299 a month or £2,870 a year, with unlimited profiles, 1,500 or more credits a month, team seats and per-member credit caps. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
18. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/pricing, checked 6 Nov 2026.
19. ScriptGrain. The Free plan includes one voice profile, one writing analysis, one draft for the life of the account, and API and MCP access. No card is required. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
20. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
21. ScriptGrain. URL import is listed as a Writer plan feature. The Free plan description does not list it. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
22. ScriptGrain. A profile needs at least one sample. ScriptGrain recommends three or more pieces and 3,000 or more words in total. Source: scriptgrain.com/support, checked 5 Nov 2026.
23. ScriptGrain. A ScriptGrain profile measures 45 reference points in eight groups, including lexical, syntactic, tone and register, rhetorical, and punctuation and format. Source: scriptgrain.com, checked 5 Nov 2026.
24. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/ways-to-add-content, checked 5 Nov 2026.
25. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
26. byline. From byline's own product documentation, checked 5 Nov 2026.
27. ScriptGrain. A draft up to 5,000 words costs 1 credit, up to 10,000 words 2 credits and up to 15,000 words 3 credits. Outlines, voice-match scores and hand edits are free. Credits reset each billing cycle. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
28. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/plans-pricing-and-billing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
29. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/connect-byline-to-your-ai-tool, checked 5 Nov 2026.
30. Claude (Projects, Skills, memory and custom connectors). Custom connectors using remote MCP are available in Claude, Cowork and Claude Desktop on Free, Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise. Free users are limited to one custom connector. Source: support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp, checked 5 Nov 2026.
31. ChatGPT (Projects, custom GPTs, plugins, memory and custom MCP servers). Custom MCP server connections with full MCP support, including write actions, are available on ChatGPT Business and Enterprise/Edu, on ChatGPT web. Source: help.openai.com/en/articles/12584461-developer-mode-apps-and-full-mcp-connectors-in-chatgpt-beta, checked 5 Nov 2026.
32. ChatGPT (Projects, custom GPTs, plugins, memory and custom MCP servers). Full MCP is currently only on Business and Enterprise/Edu. Pro users can connect custom MCP servers with read and fetch permissions only. Source: help.openai.com/en/articles/12584461-developer-mode-apps-and-full-mcp-connectors-in-chatgpt-beta, checked 5 Nov 2026.
33. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/pricing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
34. ScriptGrain. UK prices are in pounds sterling and include VAT. Annual billing saves 20% on every paid plan. Source: scriptgrain.com/pricing, checked 9 Nov 2026.
35. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/plans-pricing-and-billing, checked 5 Nov 2026.
36. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/plans-pricing-and-billing, checked 6 Nov 2026.
37. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/plans-pricing-and-billing, checked 6 Nov 2026.
38. ScriptGrain. Voice Brain is a memory of the ideas, claims and stories a voice has written. It checks a new brief for repeats and can be shared between voices. It is on every plan, including Free. Source: scriptgrain.com, checked 5 Nov 2026.
39. ScriptGrain. On paid plans, the voice monitor scores watched published pages against a voice once a month. Watched pages: Writer 5, Operator 5, Studio 15, Agency 50. Source: scriptgrain.com/whats-new/tools, checked 5 Nov 2026.
40. ScriptGrain. ScriptGrain runs a remote MCP server at https://mcp.scriptgrain.com/mcp with OAuth sign-in or an API key, available on every plan including Free. Source: scriptgrain.com/docs/mcp.md, checked 9 Nov 2026.
41. ScriptGrain. Free, Writer and Operator include 1 seat. Studio includes 3 seats, with extra seats at £15 a month. Agency includes 10 seats, with extra seats at £25 a month. Source: scriptgrain.com/reference/api-plan-limits, checked 9 Nov 2026.
42. byline. From byline's own product documentation, byline.fyi/docs/connect-byline-to-your-ai-tool, checked 5 Nov 2026.
43. ScriptGrain. ScriptGrain documents connecting Claude (claude.ai and Claude Code), ChatGPT (developer mode custom app), Cursor, Gemini and Meta Muse, plus any MCP client. Source: scriptgrain.com/whats-new/tools, checked 5 Nov 2026.