Top Highland Alternatives for Screenwriters
Highland, a Macworld Eddy Winner, has long been a favorite among screenwriters for its elegant approach to formatting. Created by acclaimed screenwriter John August, Highland allows writers to focus on the story by handling the formatting in plain text. However, even the best tools might not be a perfect fit for everyone. Whether you're seeking cross-platform compatibility, specific collaboration features, or a different pricing model, there are many powerful Highland alternative options available to elevate your screenwriting workflow.
Top Highland Alternatives
Ready to discover your next screenwriting essential? We've curated a list of the best alternatives to Highland, each offering unique strengths to suit various writing styles and project needs. Dive in to find the perfect software to help you craft your next masterpiece.
KIT Scenarist
KIT Scenarist is a robust, free, and open-source application perfect for screenwriters on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone. It offers a fully-featured studio environment with auto-formatting, collaborative writing, real-time collaboration, and multiple language support, making it a powerful and flexible Highland alternative.
Celtx
Celtx is a comprehensive Freemium platform available on Mac, Web, Android, and iPhone, designed for pre-production and scriptwriting. It boasts real-time collaboration and text formatting, providing a strong Highland alternative for those needing broader production tools beyond just screenwriting.
Trelby
Trelby is a free and open-source screenwriting tool for Windows and Linux users. It focuses on simplicity, speed, and elegant layout, enforcing correct script format with infinite configurability, making it a great no-cost Highland alternative for desktop writers.
JotterPad
JotterPad is a distraction-free plain text editor for Android and Chrome OS, ideal for creative writers focusing on books, novels, and lyrics. While not solely a screenwriting app, its features like Dropbox and Google Drive integration, ad-free experience, and focus on distraction-free UI make it a compelling Highland alternative for mobile-first writing.
Final Draft
Final Draft is the industry-standard commercial screenwriting software available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad. It's designed to let writers focus on content while it handles style, offering features like scriptwriting assistants, brainstorming tools, collaborative writing, and PDF export, positioning it as a powerful and widely recognized Highland alternative.
Paper
Paper is a beautiful Freemium writing tool for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, emphasizing a clean and inspiring interface. While broader in scope than just screenwriting, its customizable, distraction-free writing environment with Markdown support, minimalistic design, and note-taking capabilities make it an excellent Highland alternative for those who appreciate a highly refined and focused writing space.
Slugline
Slugline is a highly-rated commercial screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, known for its minimal and distraction-free environment. Like Highland, it focuses on allowing writers to concentrate on the essential part of screenwriting, offering a streamlined UI and fullscreen support, making it a direct and excellent Highland alternative.
WriterDuet
WriterDuet is a collaborative Freemium web-based screenwriting platform that excels in real-time collaboration, even for solo writers. Its features include cross-browser support, dictation, Final Draft compatibility, integrated chat, and offline work capabilities, making it a superb and flexible Highland alternative for collaborative projects or web-centric workflows.
Fade In
Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is a comprehensive commercial application available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone. It provides tools for outlining, organizing, and navigating screenplays, with features like Final Draft compatibility, night mode, and real-time collaboration, making it a powerful and cross-platform Highland alternative.
Arc Studio Pro
Arc Studio Pro is a feature-packed commercial screenwriting software available on Mac, Windows, and Web. It stands out for its robust collaborative writing, real-time collaboration, automated version control, and streamlined feedback gathering, positioning it as an excellent Highland alternative for teams and individual writers who value seamless co-creation.
Finding the right screenwriting software is a personal journey. Each of these Highland alternative options offers unique strengths, from open-source freedom and multi-platform access to industry-standard features and robust collaboration tools. Take the time to explore their capabilities and choose the one that best aligns with your creative process and project requirements.