Highland
A clean, distraction-free screenwriting app for Mac users who value simplicity and Fountain format
Overview
Highland is a screenwriting application for Mac created by screenwriter John August. It uses the Fountain markup language, which means you write in plain text and Highland handles the formatting, resulting in a clean and distraction-free writing experience.
The app is praised for its minimalist interface and focus on the writing process. Features include a gender analysis tool, a sprint timer for timed writing sessions, and seamless import and export of Final Draft files.
How It Works
Highland appeals to writers who find traditional screenwriting software overly complex or visually cluttered. The Fountain-based approach means your scripts are stored as plain text files that can be opened in any text editor, ensuring long-term portability.
Highland is available for approximately fifty dollars as a one-time purchase from the Mac App Store. There is no subscription fee, and updates within the current major version are included.
Who Uses It
If you are a Mac user who values a clean writing environment and does not need the full feature set of Final Draft, Highland is a polished and affordable alternative. The Fountain format also makes collaboration with writers using different software straightforward. Highland also functions as a general-purpose writing tool, capable of handling novels, essays, blog posts, and notes with the same clean interface, making it a versatile addition to any actor-writer's toolkit. The application's focus on removing distractions reflects John August's own philosophy that the best writing software is the one that gets out of your way.
Pricing & Plans
Highland 2 is available on the Mac App Store for a one-time purchase of approximately fifty dollars, with no subscription fees or recurring charges. There is also a free version called Highland 2 Basic that includes core writing and formatting features with some limitations on advanced tools like the Sprint Timer and Gender Analysis. Updates within the Highland 2 generation are included in the purchase price, and the app does not charge for incremental feature additions. Compared to Final Draft at two hundred fifty dollars, Highland offers a dramatically lower entry point while covering the essential screenwriting needs of most actor-writers. Compared to free alternatives like Celtx or WriterSolo, Highland's one-time fee delivers a more polished and responsive native Mac experience without any cloud dependency.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Highland's minimalist interface eliminates visual clutter and lets you focus entirely on writing, which many writers find leads to higher productivity and fewer distractions. The Fountain markup language stores your scripts as plain text files, meaning they are future-proof, universally portable, and can be opened in any text editor on any operating system. Importing and exporting Final Draft files is seamless, so collaboration with writers who use different software creates no compatibility friction. The Sprint Timer feature encourages disciplined writing sessions with timed intervals, helping writers who struggle with procrastination or find open-ended sessions unproductive. The Gender Analysis tool provides instant insight into the distribution of dialogue across characters by gender, which is an increasingly valued awareness tool in the industry. Highland's native Mac performance is exceptionally fast, with instant launch times and zero lag even on longer scripts.
What Could Be Better
Highland is exclusively available on macOS and iOS, completely excluding Windows and Linux users from its ecosystem. The Fountain markup language, while powerful, requires a learning period for writers accustomed to WYSIWYG editors where formatting is immediately visible as they type. Highland lacks built-in collaboration features, so co-writing requires sharing files manually or using a third-party cloud sync solution like Dropbox. The app's deliberate simplicity means it does not include production-oriented features like breakdown sheets, scheduling tools, or budgeting that platforms like Celtx and StudioBinder offer. The free Basic version omits several valuable features including the Sprint Timer and some export options, which may lead writers to feel they need the paid version sooner than expected.
Our Recommendation
Highland is the best choice for Mac-using actor-writers who want a beautiful, fast, and distraction-free writing experience without the complexity or cost of Final Draft. If you value writing in a clean environment and appreciate the portability of plain text files, Highland's Fountain-based approach will resonate with your workflow preferences. Windows users are entirely excluded, so if you work across platforms, consider alternatives like WriterSolo or Celtx that operate in a browser. Actors who also produce their own content and need integrated production tools should look at Celtx or StudioBinder instead, as Highland is purely a writing tool. If you are a beginning screenwriter uncertain about committing to the craft, Highland's free Basic version provides a risk-free way to explore Fountain formatting before purchasing the full application.
Pro Tips
Learn the basic Fountain syntax before you start your first project, as understanding how scene headings, action, and dialogue are marked up in plain text will make the writing process feel natural from the beginning. Use Highland's dark mode for late-night writing sessions to reduce eye strain, especially during intensive writing periods before a submission deadline. Take advantage of the Sprint Timer by setting fifteen to twenty-five minute focused writing intervals, which many professional screenwriters find more productive than open-ended sessions. Export your finished scripts to both PDF and Final Draft formats before submitting, as some recipients will prefer one format over the other. Store your Fountain script files in a cloud-synced folder so they are automatically backed up and accessible from your iPhone or iPad using Highland's iOS companion app.