Alternatives · Writing
Highland Pro alternatives
Highland Pro compared with 8 alternatives: Slugline, Beat, Final Draft, Fade In, Arc Studio and 3 more.
Highland Pro is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually. 6 of the 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland ProThis tool | Free trial · from $4.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Slugline | Free plan · from $19.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Beat | Free plan · from $11.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Final Draft | Free trial · from $99.99/yr | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Fade In | Free trial · from $79.95 one-time | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Arc Studio | Free plan · from $69/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Celtx | Free plan · from $11.24/mo | Yes | Web, Windows, Android |
| JotterPad | Free plan · from $29.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| WriterDuet | Free plan · from $7.49/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Highland Pro
- Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Slugline
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Slugline starts at $19.99 one-time for the iPhone and iPad app; $49.99 one-time on Mac. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Slugline has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Slugline can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown and templates.
Suits: Screenwriters on Mac, iPhone and iPad who like writing in plain text
- Free plan · from $11.99 one-time
Beat
Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS
- Beat starts at $11.99 one-time for the iOS app. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Beat has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Beat is open source, according to its own site.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown and templates.
Suits: Mac users who want a free screenwriting app
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Final Draft
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting
- Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
Suits: Screenwriters who need scripts in industry-standard format
- Free trial · from $79.95 one-time
Fade In
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux
- Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Only Fade In lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Screenwriters who would rather buy once than subscribe
- Free plan · from $69/yr
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
- Arc Studio starts at $69 per year (Essentials). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Arc Studio lists a web app.
- Only Arc Studio lists a Windows app.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
Suits: New screenwriters who want to draft a first script on a free plan
- Free plan · from $11.24/mo
Celtx
Online scriptwriting with pre-production planning tools
- Celtx starts at $11.24 per month, billed yearly ($134.88); $14.99 billed monthly (Writer). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Celtx has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Celtx lists a web app.
- Only Celtx lists Android and Windows apps.
- Only Highland Pro lists macOS and iOS apps.
Suits: Filmmakers who want the script and pre-production planning in one tool
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
JotterPad
Markdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays
- JotterPad starts at $29.99 per year on the App Store; $3.33 per month billed annually on the web. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- JotterPad has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only JotterPad lists a web app.
- Only JotterPad lists an Android app.
- JotterPad can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writers who draft in Markdown or Fountain across a phone, a tablet and a computer
- Free plan · from $7.49/mo
WriterDuet
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing
- WriterDuet starts at $7.49 per month, billed annually ($89.88); $9.99 billed monthly (Plus). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- WriterDuet has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WriterDuet lists a web app.
- Only WriterDuet lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
Suits: Writing partners and writers' rooms working on one script at the same time
Limits worth knowing in Highland Pro
- It is listed only for Mac, iPad and iPhone; there is no Windows, Android or web version.
- After the 30-day trial a subscription is required for all features; without one the app still opens, prints and exports documents.
- The App Store listing requires iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 on mobile devices and macOS 13 or later on a Mac.
- Syncing between devices relies on iCloud.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Highland Pro?
The alternatives to Highland Pro in this directory are Slugline, Beat, Final Draft, Fade In, Arc Studio, Celtx, JotterPad and WriterDuet. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Highland Pro.
Is there a free alternative to Highland Pro?
Yes. Slugline, Beat, Arc Studio, Celtx, JotterPad and WriterDuet have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Highland Pro alternatives work on Windows?
The Highland Pro listing does not include a Windows app. Final Draft, Fade In, Arc Studio, Celtx and WriterDuet list one.
Which Highland Pro alternatives work on Linux?
The Highland Pro listing does not include a Linux app. Fade In and WriterDuet list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Highland Pro?
Beat is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.