Highland 2 is a free download from the Mac App Store, and runs on macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. The free tier handles drafting without watermarks. A one-time in-app purchase unlocks PDF export of properly formatted screenplay pages, the Sprint timer, and Revision Mode. There is no Windows or web version.
Highland 2 is a Mac-only screenwriting app made by Quote-Unquote Apps. It uses the Fountain plain-text markup language, which means your scripts are stored as readable .fountain files rather than a proprietary format. The app is free to download and write in; exporting without a watermark costs a one-time $49.99.
Last updated 27 April 2026. Highland 2 was Quote-Unquote Apps’ standalone Mac app at $49.99 one-time. The developer has consolidated the line into Highland Pro on the Mac App Store ($4.99/month annual, or $9.99/month). The original Highland 2 download URL now redirects to Highland Pro. The review below covers Highland 2 as it shipped, which is still relevant if you hold an existing license or want to compare apps that use the Fountain format.
🏆 Our Verdict
Highland 2 is a screenwriting app for Mac that does one thing well: it stays out of your way. You write in plain text using Fountain markup, and the app handles scene formatting automatically. No ribbon menus, no modal dialogs. When you are ready to export, you get a properly formatted PDF.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- Streamlined Interface: Clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
- Multi-Purpose Writing Tool: Suitable for screenplays, teleplays, and prose.
- Focus Mode: Helps writers concentrate on writing without distractions.
- Automatic Format: Seamlessly formats screenplays to industry standards.
- Cost-Effective: More affordable than many professional-grade competitors.
Cons
- Mac-Only: Limited to macOS, which can be a barrier for Windows or Linux users.
- Less Feature-Rich: Does not have the deep catalog of features like Final Draft.
- No Collaboration Features: Lacks real-time collaborative writing capabilities.
- Limited Support for Stage Plays: Not as robust in features for stage play formatting.
- No Mobile Version: Lacks a mobile app, which restricts usage on the go.
📖 About
Highland 2 is a screenplay software designed to make screenwriting as effortless as possible. It takes care of formatting allowing writers to focus on crafting compelling stories. It supports the Fountain markup language, ensuring that scripts are not only beautifully formatted but also transportable across different platforms.
🗓️ How It Works
- Download and Install: Available exclusively for macOS from the Mac App Store.
- Start a New Project: Choose from templates for screenplays, teleplays, or novels.
- Write Without Distractions: Utilize the clean, focused environment to draft.
- Use Tools: Leverage tools like the sprint timer and automatic formatting.
- Export and Share: Easily export scripts in PDF, FDX, or Fountain formats.
💲 Pricing Overview
Highland 2 offers a free version with basic features, with a full-feature paid version priced at $49.99. This one-time fee includes all current features and minor updates.
🥊 Competition
| Feature | Highland 2 | Final Draft |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Availability | macOS only | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| User Interface | Minimalist and intuitive | Complex with more detailed navigation |
| Formatting Capabilities | Strong with automatic screenplay formatting | Extensive with industry-leading capabilities |
| Price | $49.99 one-time fee | $249.99 one-time fee |
| Collaboration | None | Yes, with real-time collaboration |
🪟 Cross-platform alternative
Highland 2 is macOS-only, which rules it out for a lot of writing rooms. Writers on Windows, Linux, or Android who want a comparable open-source option tend to land on KIT Scenarist, which ships on every major desktop and mobile platform at no cost and keeps the Fountain import path open.
📌 Conclusion
Highland 2 is a formidable choice for screenwriters and novelists who value simplicity and effective design over an extensive feature set. Its affordability and excellent user experience make it particularly attractive for new screenwriters or those frustrated by the complexity of other software. While it lacks some advanced features of its competitors, it stands out for its elegance and user-friendliness, making it a favored tool among macOS users.
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Highland 2: Distraction-Free Screenwriting
Frequently asked questions about Highland 2
Is Highland 2 free?
Highland 2 is free to download and use for writing. You can draft an entire screenplay without paying anything. The $49.99 one-time upgrade removes watermarks from PDF exports and unlocks additional templates. There is no subscription fee.
What is the difference between Highland 2 and Final Draft?
Final Draft stores scripts in a proprietary .fdx format and costs around $250. Highland 2 uses Fountain, an open plain-text format readable in any text editor. Highland 2 is Mac-only; Final Draft runs on Mac and Windows. Final Draft has more advanced production features like revision tracking and breakdown reports.
Does Highland 2 work on Windows?
No. Highland 2 is a Mac-only application available through the Mac App Store and the developer’s website. Windows users writing in Fountain format can use alternatives such as Fade In or WriterDuet, both of which support the .fountain file standard.
What is Fountain format in Highland 2?
Fountain is an open plain-text markup language for screenplays. A Fountain file is just a .txt file with simple formatting conventions — scene headings in uppercase, character names centered, and so on. Highland 2 reads and writes Fountain files, which means your scripts are not locked to any single application.
Has Highland 2 been replaced by Highland Pro?
Yes. Quote-Unquote Apps released Highland Pro as the current product on the Mac App Store. As of 2026, the original Highland 2 download URL redirects to Highland Pro, and the standalone $49.99 purchase is no longer offered by the developer. Highland Pro adds features like The Shelf for storing notes and /Lookup for in-app research.
Should I buy Highland 2 or Highland Pro in 2026?
Highland 2 is no longer sold as a separate product in 2026. Quote-Unquote Apps consolidated to Highland Pro, sold via the Mac App Store at $4.99 per month (annual billing) or $9.99 per month. Existing Highland 2 licenses still work on the Macs they are installed on; new buyers can only get Highland Pro from the developer.
Last updated 2026-04-29.
Highland 2 still ships as a Mac-only app in 2026 (Apple Silicon native, macOS 12+) and Quote-Unquote Apps has not announced a Windows or web version. The free tier remains writer-friendly — full editor, Fountain plain-text, revision tracking — but PDF and Final Draft export still need the one-time $49.99 unlock. If you write on Windows or need real-time collaboration, look at Slugline 2 or WriterDuet instead.
Highland 2 in 2026: what changed and what stayed
Highland 2 is still the Mac screenwriting app from Fountain creator John August, and the core pitch has not shifted: write in plain text and format on export, no layout engine to fight. The pricing model also held: free to draft and read, $49.99 to unlock PDF and Final Draft export without a watermark. What has moved is the small stuff. The Sprint timer is now built into the toolbar. Revision Mode tracks colored pages without needing a separate production setup, and the Bin sidebar finally remembers your last open scene.
The screenwriting workflow Highland 2 is built for
Highland 2 is the right tool for a screenwriter who drafts more than they revise. The Fountain plain-text format means a feature script reads cleanly in any text editor and can be diffed in git like code. Drafting in Highland 2 then exporting to Final Draft for a production polish is a common path. The tool is less suited to live writers’ rooms, where Fade In and Final Draft still own the concurrent-editing slot.
Where Highland 2 sits in a writing toolkit
For prose drafting on the same machine, pair Highland 2 with FocusWriter for distraction-free novel work, or Manuskript for outline-first long-form. The screenwriting workflow stays in Highland 2; the prose work moves to a tool built for it. The split keeps the Fountain script clean and the novel manuscript out of the screenplay project.
Last updated: 19 May 2026. Pricing and feature notes verified against the current Highland 2 release on the Mac App Store.
Related read: Highland keeps you in plain text while you draft. When you need full production formatting with revision marks, Movie Magic Screenwriter is the desktop option many production teams still expect.
Highland 2 vs Highland Pro: which one are you looking at?
If you searched for Highland 2, you may have run into Highland Pro and wondered which is which. They are two separate apps from the same team. Highland 2 is the established Mac screenwriting app that many writers already own. Highland Pro is the newer app the team has been building out. The lineup and pricing have changed over time, so the honest advice is to confirm the current terms on the developer’s site before you buy.
| Highland 2 | Highland Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Established Mac screenwriting app | Newer app from the same team |
| Pricing model | Buy once (confirm current pricing) | Subscription (confirm current pricing) |
| Best for | Writers who want a fixed-cost Mac tool | Writers who want the latest features and updates |
If you write occasionally and prefer paying once, Highland 2 still does the job. If you write daily and want the newest tools with ongoing updates, Highland Pro is the one to look at. Either way, the Fountain files you write in one open cleanly in the other.
Related read: Highland 2 has you write in plain text using Fountain markup and formats the screenplay around it. Typora applies the same trade outside screenwriting: the file on disk stays plain Markdown while the syntax disappears line by line as you type.