Beat vs Highland Pro

Beat

• Mac users who want a free screenwriting app
• Screenwriters who work in the plain-text Fountain format
• Writers who outline with index cards and a timeline

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

Beat

• Apple devices only: there is no Windows, Linux, Android or web version.
• The iOS app is a paid companion ($11.99) that supports a limited set of the Mac app's features.
• The iOS app requires iOS 18.0 or later.
• The Mac App Store listing says a paid "pro" version may come later, with the core app staying free.

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.

Beat

Automatic screenplay formatting

Formats the script as it is typed, with autocompletion for character names and scene headings, automatic scene numbering and an option to hide Fountain markup.

Story structure views

Several outline views with filtering, sections and synopses, including a collapsing list, index cards and a timeline. Scenes can be colour-coded.

Fountain and Final Draft files

Scripts are plain-text Fountain files that other apps can open. Beat also imports and exports Final Draft files, including revisions and outline items, and exports PDF.

Revisions and version control

Tracks revisions across generations, keeps version control inside the file's metadata and stores copies in a backup vault.

Statistics

A statistics view reports line counts per character, inclusivity by gender and scene locations.

Plugin API

A JavaScript plugin API lets users write their own extensions for the Mac app. Plugin support is not part of the iOS version.

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.

Beat

• Beat for macOS$0

  The full desktop app, free on the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 10.13 or later.

• Beat for iOS$11.99

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  Companion app for iPhone and iPad with a more limited feature set and no plugin support. Requires iOS 18.0 or later.

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.

Beat

No public discounts listed.

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.