Arc Studio vs Highland Pro
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
Highland Pro
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
Where they differ
- 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.
At a glance
| Arc Studio | Highland Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $69 per year (Essentials) | $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually |
| Free plan | 2 scripts with industry-standard formatting, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export. PDF export is watermarked, and the desktop and iOS apps are not included. | None |
| Free trial | Free 7-day Pro trial with every account, no credit card required | 30-day free trial; cancel anytime |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Arc Studio Labs, Inc. | The Quote-Unquote Company |
| Price read from | arcstudiopro.com | quoteunquoteapps.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Arc Studio
- New screenwriters who want to draft a first script on a free plan
- Writing partners and writers' rooms working on episodic scripts
- Writers moving from Final Draft who need to import and export its files
Highland Pro
- Screenwriters on Apple devices who like writing in plain text
- Writers who draft both scripts and novels in one app
- Anyone who needs to turn a script PDF back into an editable document
Worth knowing
Arc Studio
- Free accounts are limited to 2 scripts, get watermarked PDF exports and cannot use the desktop, iPhone or iPad apps.
- Inviting collaborators, outlining tools, draft history and revision management are Pro-only.
- There is no Android app; Arc Studio runs in Chrome on Android without long-term offline support.
- Table Read, Character Images and Research Assistant are not part of the subscription price and need separately bought credits.
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.
Key features
Arc Studio
- Script editor
- Formats sluglines and margins to industry standards as you write, with a Focus mode and timed writing sprints. Scripts export to PDF, Final Draft and Fountain.
- Plot board and outlining
- Drag-and-drop story beat cards, color-coded tags for storylines and characters, and outlining templates. The outline can sit beside the script. Pro only.
- Real-time co-writing
- Co-writers edit the same script live, leave comments with custom tags and @mentions, and chat beside the script. Inviting collaborators needs Pro; those invited can be on Free.
- Draft history and revisions
- An automatic draft history keeps deleted text so it can be brought back. History and revision management are both listed under the Pro plan.
- Sync and offline writing
- Writing continues without a connection and syncs when back online. One subscription covers unlimited devices across Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and any browser.
- Credit-based add-ons
- Table Read voices a script aloud, Character Images generates pictures from descriptions, and Research Assistant answers questions beside the script. Each is paid for with credits.
Highland Pro
- Fountain and Markdown writing
- Write in plain text and let the app format it. There are 14 templates, including Screenplay, Multi-Cam and Manuscript, and autocomplete for character names and scene headers.
- Navigator and Overview
- The Navigator maps sections, scenes, synopses and notes, and the Overview shows a whole script or novel in one view with characters and scenes highlighted.
- Revision Mode
- Tracks changes in different colors with stars in the margin, alongside automatic scene numbering with custom ranges.
- Sprints and goals
- Timed writing sprints track focused sessions, and goals set milestones for a page, word or character count.
- /Lookup
- Typing a slash and a question returns quick answers such as definitions, rhymes and world facts without leaving the draft.
- Import, export and PDF melting
- Imports and exports Fountain, Final Draft .fdx and PDF files. PDF Melting converts Final Draft and Fountain PDFs back into editable text.
Plans
Arc Studio
Free$0
2 scripts, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export; PDF export carries a watermark.
Essentials$69
per year
Unlimited scripts, PDF export without a watermark, and the desktop, iPhone and iPad apps.
Pro$99
per year
Adds inviting collaborators, outlining tools, custom formats, draft history, revision management, feedback links and The Stash.
Highland Pro
Yearly$4.99
per month, billed $59.99 annually
All Highland Pro features on Mac, iPad and iPhone, billed once a year. Advertised as a 50% saving on the monthly plan.
Monthly$9.99
per month, billed monthly
The same features on a month-to-month subscription.
Ways to pay less
Arc Studio
- Education
$70 off Pro for students
The pricing page offers students $70 off the Pro plan with an .edu address, and advertises a separate classroom discount for educators.
Highland Pro
- Annual discount
Save 50% with the yearly plan
The yearly plan is billed $59.99, which works out to $4.99 a month against $9.99 on the monthly plan, or $119.88 over twelve months.
