Highland Pro vs Slugline

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

Slugline

• Screenwriters on Mac, iPhone and iPad who like writing in plain text
• Short-film writers: scripts of up to six pages are free on Mac
• Writers who want to pay once instead of subscribing

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.

Slugline

• Apple platforms only: there is no Windows, Linux, Android or web version.
• On Mac, writing past page six and exporting Final Draft files require the $49.99 Unlimited Writing upgrade.
• The iPhone and iPad app is sold separately for $19.99.
• Slugline 2 requires macOS 10.14 or later, and the iOS app requires iOS or iPadOS 14 or later.

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.

Slugline

Automatic formatting

Screenplay formatting is worked out from the words as they are typed, so there are no element menus to pick from and no need to press Tab.

Drag-and-drop Outline Navigator

Anything shown in the outline can be dragged into a new order, and the matching parts of the screenplay move with it.

Timeline

Shows the outline elements spaced according to page count, giving an overview of a script's structure and pacing.

Live Compare

Tracks changes by comparing the current screenplay with another document. Asterisks mark modified text and can be clicked to inspect the differences.

Fountain and Final Draft files

Scripts are saved in Fountain, an open plain-text screenplay format. Slugline 2 also opens and exports Final Draft files, including dual dialogue and notes.

Sync between Mac and iOS

Slugline 2 for Mac and Slugline for iPhone and iPad share screenplays through iCloud or Dropbox.

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.

Slugline

• Slugline 2 for Mac$0

  Free download from the Mac App Store, with no watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six.

• Slugline for iPhone & iPad$19.99

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  Separate app for iOS and iPadOS that shares files with the Mac version over iCloud or Dropbox and also works on its own.

• Unlimited Writing Upgrade$49.99

  one-time in-app purchase on Mac

  Unlocks screenplays longer than six pages and Final Draft (FDX) export in Slugline 2 for Mac.

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.

Slugline

No public discounts listed.