Highland Pro alternatives · Writing
Alternatives to Highland Pro with a one-time purchase
The Highland Pro listing shows no one-time purchase. 21 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Highland Pro is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually. 8 of them are free or have a free plan.
21 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
- Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Scrivener lists a Windows app.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
- From $147 one-time
Atticus
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print
- Atticus starts at $147 one-time. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Atticus lists a web app.
- Only Atticus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Free trial · from $199.99 one-time
Vellum
Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books
- Vellum starts at $199.99 one-time, before tax (Vellum Ebooks). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Vellum can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
- Free plan · from $0.50/mo
Campfire
Modular novel writing and worldbuilding app with per-module pricing
- Campfire starts at $0.50 per month for one module; $12 per month for all modules (Standard). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Campfire has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Campfire lists a web app.
- Only Campfire lists Windows and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $82.50/yr
The Novel Factory
Novel-writing software with a built-in step-by-step roadmap
- The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only The Novel Factory lists a web app.
- Only The Novel Factory lists a Windows app.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
iA Writer
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode
- iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
- Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Typora
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type
- Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax. Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Typora lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Dabble
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync
- Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Only Dabble lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
9 more that can be bought with a one-time purchase
All 21 in one tableCommon questions
Is there an alternative to Highland Pro that you buy once?
Yes. Slugline, Final Draft, Fade In, JotterPad, Scrivener, Atticus, Vellum, Campfire and 13 more can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Can you buy Highland Pro once instead of subscribing?
The Highland Pro listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 6, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these writing tools are free?
Slugline, JotterPad, Campfire, Calmly Writer, bibisco, 4thewords, Hemingway Editor and Cold Turkey Writer are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Highland Pro: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.