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.
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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Response from developer
Although Highland 2 is no longer available for sale, existing users can still download it from the Mac App Store (it's listed under your purchased apps), and we're still committed to providing bug fixes for the foreseeable future. In moving to a subscription model, we hope to focus more on providing a rock-solid experience than on adding unnecessary features, unlike the apps you rightly call out. With subscriptions, our goal can be to serve our existing users, rather than chase new customers.
Phone app needs work
The formatting and ease of use is just as good as it is on my Mac, however, the syncing of files with the iCloud isn’t so switching between devices isn’t as seamless as it should be. Not only that but I have lost entire chapters three times now because the has randomly wiped all text other than the title which is very frustrating.
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Fraudulent Practices
In January I paid a one time fee of $50 bucks for this software. The draw was that it was a one time payment and not a subscription fee. Now it’s December and they’ve switched to a subscription model and removed all access to work. No refund has been provided nor do I have access to the new version unless I pay an additional $60. The software is stuck in read mode only!
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Response from developer
Highland 2 is still available to download for existing customers from the Mac App Store (it's under your purchased apps list), and we're committed to supporting it with bug fixes for the foreseeable future. However, if you'd like a refund, you can contact Apple to request a refund via https://reportaproblem.apple.com/
Crashes on launch
Can’t get this to launch. Have tried on multiple devices and different OS versions and no matter what it just crashes on launch every time.
Slow and Glitching
When it tries to sync to iCloud you will be locked out for minutes at a time. With things sometimes moving at a snails pace when all your trying to do is add 1 line. It works for what it is, but still needs serious optimization improvements. Actually redoing to 1 star cause it just wiped a whole script off one button press and there’s no built in undo button. Horrible design do not recommend
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I miss Highland 2
I love Highland. Switching to the subscription model ruins my desire to upgrade beyond 2. FD still lets out buy an outright license. Please bring this option back
Scam
I paid for a paid version two years ago, then it switched on me and became a subscription based service. I would’ve never agreed to that. Shame!
Great but Crashes
Too many bugs to justify a subscription. Editor sometimes goes blank.
such a shame. This app’s potential is truly great.
such a shame. This app’s potential is truly great.
Superior experience on the go
I’d always loved Highland and preferred it over the mainstream alternatives. As I moved to using my iPad on the go, I had to look at other apps for a while. None of them fit the bit. Frankly, the Final Draft Go app was VERY problematic (among being its own subscription beyond the Mac version). I was so happy when this one came out. Many of the bugs I initially encountered have been resolved. It stays true to the simplicity and smoothness of the desktop version and had synced flawlessly between my devices since recent updates. So happy to be able to use this app on all my devices now.
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SCAM
This is the worst app I have ever downloaded it just wants your money
The iCloud sync is just a joke!
It is impossible to sync changes between Mac OS and IOS versions. I write something on the Mac OS app and save it. Then I open the iOS app to continue working and… everything is gone! Unacceptable for a supposedly pro software!
Locked behind 30 trial
I can’t even use the product because it doesn’t even let you use any basic functions.
There is a pro version and then a regular version
It is good practice to limit some of the features in the free version and offer to upgrade to The pro version but no,
I get the version that is not pro and as soon as I want to write, it says I can only read. The only option I have to even use the app is to sign up for the 30 day free trial, which is very scummy.
There is a pro version and then a regular version
It is good practice to limit some of the features in the free version and offer to upgrade to The pro version but no,
I get the version that is not pro and as soon as I want to write, it says I can only read. The only option I have to even use the app is to sign up for the 30 day free trial, which is very scummy.
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