iPad Version is Nearly Unusable
I love the part where it sends my curser into orbit. It’s like a teleportation device within your document where you never know what page you’ll land on at any given moment. It’s giving prototype.
Deleted YEARS of Intellectual Property
will make sure you LOSE everything you kept in bins, scratch pad, attachments, assets or blocks of text, basically everything except the main writing window. Abysmal. Cannot fathom the loss by ‘upgrading’ to a pro app that is less pro than the former. The fact that an auto-duplicate save backup isn’t created when opening a native file in the new app is intolerable.
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Newbie to Pro-ish
This app is made for new writers, it helps you get the swing of the correct format. It autocorrects when necessary, keeping you on the pro path till it’s natural. The energy is spent on writing, not format. As a result, more quality words on the page. Don’t think, get.
Slugline Problems
I was much more of a fan of Highland 2; there’s been lots of bugs with Highland Pro that support doesn’t seem to address or respond to my emails.
Best screenwriting app on the market
Again, it’s the best screenwriting app on the market.
Simple with robust features
I’ve been using Highland for 2 years after breaking away from Final Draft for my screenwriting. Highland is simple and has just enough of the features I need. It’s intuitive, easy to learn quickly, and import/exports most other formats. Highly recommend. Shout out to John August of ScriptNotes for leading the creation of this great software.
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Gotta fix the bugs
Okay… I love the app. It’s just that when I go to use it on my phone and it asks for the latest version it did not save it. I downloaded PDF so I don’t loose my whole script. I’m just going to use it in one place before I loose my work. I deleted the app off my phone. I use the app on my iPad Pro. So now I have the re-type 50 pages of script.
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High hopes, dashed
I wanted to like this but the iPhone version isn’t as mature as the Mac version and has issues. Right off the bat I noticed the curser jumps up when typing. It’s distracting and feels unfinished.
Also there’s not any true document library management like Ulysses. Files are resigned to an iCloud folder. But you can’t view them all together in a side bar, nor combine multiple files into one publication — at least I couldn’t figure out how to do so. It seems Highland is more adept at screenwriting or writings that require only one document. Not geared toward longer work, where you want to break up chapters for example into separate files and only during the publishing phase, combine them into a final document.
Also, unlike the Mac version, full screen editing view on the iPhone version is absent. Fullscreen view should be a given in an app focused on writing — on every platform.
On the plus side I like the built in version tracking, note and checklist attachments and themes, as well as the ability to create your own.
With a little more work, especially a dedicated document library and fullscreen editing, Highland might sway me away from Ulysses. Regardless, thanks for the generous free trial.
Also there’s not any true document library management like Ulysses. Files are resigned to an iCloud folder. But you can’t view them all together in a side bar, nor combine multiple files into one publication — at least I couldn’t figure out how to do so. It seems Highland is more adept at screenwriting or writings that require only one document. Not geared toward longer work, where you want to break up chapters for example into separate files and only during the publishing phase, combine them into a final document.
Also, unlike the Mac version, full screen editing view on the iPhone version is absent. Fullscreen view should be a given in an app focused on writing — on every platform.
On the plus side I like the built in version tracking, note and checklist attachments and themes, as well as the ability to create your own.
With a little more work, especially a dedicated document library and fullscreen editing, Highland might sway me away from Ulysses. Regardless, thanks for the generous free trial.
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The best screenwriting app
When I have an idea in the middle of the night, I can now grab my phone and jot the idea down straight into the script. It’s magic.
Crashing
Had to revert with Highland 2 bc this version is constantly crashing. Thankfully, I back everything up. Disappointed. Also the iPhone companion is buggy. Three stars bc I am a huge fan of Highland 2, though.
2.5 Stars
FD crashed one too many times, decided to finally try another screenwriting program. Highland is interesting and has some definite advantages (like the shelf), but ultimately, it just doesn’t work for me. The big selling point in the provided how-to guide is that you won’t hit tab anymore to change script elements. That’s true, but now you’re holding down shift or hitting caps lock to activate character slugs, or typing >>> to get to transitions. Not a big deal, but not really an improvement over something I never had a problem with. I’m not a fan of the plain text screen you do all your writing in, you have to switch to the final view to see where your words actually land on the page. Finally, bolds and italics NEVER worked for me while in flow — inevitably I would have to go back and highlight as opposed to hitting command-I or B while actually writing.
All of this was bearable for the first few months, but the recent Mac OS update has made the program as unstable as FD, and even slower too. I’m sure it will get patched, the Highland support team is great, but this just didn’t work for me. Encourage everyone to try it for themselves, but I’m back to the devil I know.
All of this was bearable for the first few months, but the recent Mac OS update has made the program as unstable as FD, and even slower too. I’m sure it will get patched, the Highland support team is great, but this just didn’t work for me. Encourage everyone to try it for themselves, but I’m back to the devil I know.
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When it works, it’s fab
The Mac app recently has gotten SUPER buggy. Keep crashing in mid type. Weirdly during a new slug line entry. Pls fix. Forcing me to go back to Final Draft.
This app broke my heart.
I’ve used Highland 2 for about 7 years, and have absolutely loved it. In my opinion, it was the perfect writing program that made writing FUN. But the newest version is so glitchy that I can no longer support the product. The cursor randomly jumps around the page, the page auto-scrolls, making it IMPOSSIBLE to write in. I hope Highland is able to get it together, but today I make the switch to SLUGLINE.
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Game changer
I write so much more using Highland, it gets out of the way and makes writing fun again. You can tell it’s made by a writer because every choice they’ve made optimizes your creative flow. Super impressed and so relieved to have found it.
Since when do we need to pay for it ?
I have been using this app for a long time, loved it… and now I have to pay for it ??
Time for a painful breakup with what use to be a wonderful relationship.
Save yourself the aggravation. Highland talks a great game and offers the world and you believe it. Things are great for the first year until things start falling apart and you’re ghosted.
The only reason this review isn’t a “one star” is that I use to love this app. I bought it on the ground floor and despite early bugs, one where I lost my entire screenplay ( luckily I had a saved backup), I stuck with it for a year. Until now.
Whatever update they did started becoming laggy. The real problem was that every time I tried to modify or put in a scene header it would crash and I would lose my work.
I did everything I could. I contacted the company three times through the “Priority Support” on the app. (Three weeks later still haven’t gotten so much as an automated reply), I tried emailing tech directly. Nothing. Discord? Nada.
I had planned to get a new laptop anyway so I got a MacBook Pro. The newest. I figured this might fix it. Yes. I loved this program enough to pull the trigger on a new computer.
This fixed the lag but BOOM. Crashing and losing work. Over and over again.
I figured I would reach out or “Priority Support “ through the app one more time. Clicked on the link in the menu… 404! no page found!
My subscription was to renew April 4. It’s March 20th. I’m done.
I broke up. Like moving out, I have a couple of weeks to transfer my files into a different format. The upside is I’m moving into a SUITE! Yes it’s a little more expensive than living with Highland but it’s stable, reliable, liked by most and most of all SUPPORTIVE! You won’t find it here but Final Draft has it on their site. Goodbye Highland. Good luck.
The only reason this review isn’t a “one star” is that I use to love this app. I bought it on the ground floor and despite early bugs, one where I lost my entire screenplay ( luckily I had a saved backup), I stuck with it for a year. Until now.
Whatever update they did started becoming laggy. The real problem was that every time I tried to modify or put in a scene header it would crash and I would lose my work.
I did everything I could. I contacted the company three times through the “Priority Support” on the app. (Three weeks later still haven’t gotten so much as an automated reply), I tried emailing tech directly. Nothing. Discord? Nada.
I had planned to get a new laptop anyway so I got a MacBook Pro. The newest. I figured this might fix it. Yes. I loved this program enough to pull the trigger on a new computer.
This fixed the lag but BOOM. Crashing and losing work. Over and over again.
I figured I would reach out or “Priority Support “ through the app one more time. Clicked on the link in the menu… 404! no page found!
My subscription was to renew April 4. It’s March 20th. I’m done.
I broke up. Like moving out, I have a couple of weeks to transfer my files into a different format. The upside is I’m moving into a SUITE! Yes it’s a little more expensive than living with Highland but it’s stable, reliable, liked by most and most of all SUPPORTIVE! You won’t find it here but Final Draft has it on their site. Goodbye Highland. Good luck.
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Could be great with bug fixes and more responsive support
The app itself is great when it works. Once you really get into your script the program gets really laggy and will crash when trying to work with your slug lines.
I have a MacBook with plenty of processing power and memory. This shouldn’t be an issue. What makes it worse is that I have sent several emails to their “Priority” tech support and haven’t gotten so much as an automated response over several days. This is very upsetting and I considering just buying Final Draft rather than renewing in April
I have a MacBook with plenty of processing power and memory. This shouldn’t be an issue. What makes it worse is that I have sent several emails to their “Priority” tech support and haven’t gotten so much as an automated response over several days. This is very upsetting and I considering just buying Final Draft rather than renewing in April
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Everything I wanted on mobile and desktop
I love writing with Highland. I find it does exactly what it promises, namely gets out of the way so I can concentrate on actually writing. I was getting a bit frustrated by working in Final Draft, it felt sluggish and weighed down by features I didn’t want; as soon as I tried Highland I felt like I had jumped on a motorway, and found that suddenly I was doing proper writing; I haven’t looked back. I also find the mobile app to work perfectly (via iCloud); in this day and age I feel I should be able to have an idea walking down the street or on the bus and get my phone out and jot it down; Final Draft not only wanted to charge extra for this, but it also never seemed to work; Highland has been silky smooth. Worth the subscription, no question.
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Great Desktop App, iPad version is buggy
The iPad version of this software has lots of problems. Bad exporting function (where line breaks appear indented / formatted incorrectly), completely broken search functionality, and lots of issues where it simply stops working. Given the way this software is used, these bugs really break down your trust in the app. I would recommend other writing software for iPad users until these issues are addressed.
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Subscription Model is Intrinsically Flawed
I’ve been a Highland user since the very first beta, and I love this program. I chose it because it was beautifully designed, highly functional, and completely free of bloat. That’s exactly why I don’t trust the subscription model—I believe it’s fundamentally flawed, especially at this price point.
With a subscription model, developers are expected to push new features regularly. If they don’t, users feel cheated. That pressure alone creates a lose-lose situation. Most of us don’t want a constant stream of new features—we just want a rock-solid program we can depend on. The inevitable result is bloat, and Highland Pro risks becoming just like its competitors.
I’ve seen this exact pattern play out with Adobe. From a monetary standpoint, subscriptions have been incredibly successful for them, but their software has grown clunky and bloated as they chase flashy new features instead of prioritizing stability and reliability for professionals.
I’m not saying Highland will ever become Final Draft—but it’s not going to stay Highland either.
I would much rather pay $50 once every few years for a stable, dependable program than $60 a year for features I don’t need being regularly pushed on me. It wouldn’t sting as much if Highland 2 were still supported, but users are essentially being forced into the subscription model.
It’s a shame. I will have to move to something else.
With a subscription model, developers are expected to push new features regularly. If they don’t, users feel cheated. That pressure alone creates a lose-lose situation. Most of us don’t want a constant stream of new features—we just want a rock-solid program we can depend on. The inevitable result is bloat, and Highland Pro risks becoming just like its competitors.
I’ve seen this exact pattern play out with Adobe. From a monetary standpoint, subscriptions have been incredibly successful for them, but their software has grown clunky and bloated as they chase flashy new features instead of prioritizing stability and reliability for professionals.
I’m not saying Highland will ever become Final Draft—but it’s not going to stay Highland either.
I would much rather pay $50 once every few years for a stable, dependable program than $60 a year for features I don’t need being regularly pushed on me. It wouldn’t sting as much if Highland 2 were still supported, but users are essentially being forced into the subscription model.
It’s a shame. I will have to move to something else.
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