First Page
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First Page vs Highland Pro

Write, hear and plan your screenplay together, on the Mac and the web.

Checked October 2026. Sources at the end of the page.

The short answer.

Highland Pro is a subscription, $59.99 a year or $9.99 a month, for native apps on the Mac, iPad and iPhone, with files kept on your devices and in iCloud. First Page is a native Mac app with a companion web app, and you can buy it once: First Page One is $79.

Choose Highland if you write on an iPad or iPhone as well as a Mac. Choose First Page if you would rather own your app than renew it, or want to hear the script read aloud, which Highland does not offer.

What is different.

TopicFirst PageHighland Pro
BuyingBuy once, or subscribe.Subscription only, free for students.
iPad and iPhoneThe Mac and the web. No iPad or iPhone app.Native on the Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Hearing the scriptYour Mac's voices, free. Studio voices with Suite or credits.No read-aloud.
PDF in, script outReads PDFs on your Mac, scans included.Melts a PDF back into a script.
PrivacyOn your Mac. The cloud only with AutoSave, encrypted.Your work never touches its servers.
First Page compared with Highland Pro, as of October 2026
As of October 2026First PageHighland ProQuote-Unquote Apps
How you payBuy once, or subscribeFirst Page One, or Lifetime at $199, once. Or SuiteSubscription only
Entry price$79 onceOr Suite at $9.99 a month or $89 a year. Reading is free$59.99 a yearOr $9.99 a month, free for students
Paid upgradesOnly for a new major versionEvery 1.x update is free. Lifetime includes future majorsIncluded in the subscription
License expiry and activationsFirst Page One has no expiry dateUp to five Macs on one accountSubscriptionReplaced the one-time Highland 2 in March 2025
Offline writing and accountsOffline once activatedWriting needs an account. Reading needs noneNot confirmed
PDF importYes, on your MacScanned pages too, read without uploadingYesMelts a PDF back into a script
FDX import and exportYes, both waysFountain too, and Word importNot confirmed
Read-aloudYour Mac's voices, freeA voice per character, plus a narrator. Studio voices with Suite or creditsNone
Where scripts are keptOn your MacOptional encrypted AutoSave to the cloud with Suite and LifetimeYour devices and iCloud“Your work never touches our servers”
Training on your scriptsNeverIn writing, in our privacy policyFiles never reach its servers“We can’t see, edit, or retrieve your files”
PlatformsMac, plus a web appNative on macOS 14 or later. The web app is free for up to 3 scriptsMac, iPad and iPhoneNative on all three, with iCloud sync

Who should pick which.

Choose First Page if

  • You would rather pay once than renew every year.
  • You want to hear the script read with a voice for each character.
  • You want a web app alongside the Mac app, free for up to 3 scripts.
  • You want notes on the whole draft, pinned to each scene.

Choose Highland Pro if

  • You write on an iPad or iPhone as well as a Mac.
  • You want files that never touch the app maker's servers.
  • You are a student: Highland Pro is free for students.
  • You rely on its Revision Mode.

Bring your scripts over.

Opened on your Mac, so nothing is uploaded.

  1. Export from Highland

    Export a copy in a format First Page opens: Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, PDF or Word. Final Draft and Fountain keep the most structure.

  2. Open it in First Page

    Choose Open in the File menu and pick the file. Reader opens it free, with no account, so you can check how it came across before you buy.

  3. Check it and carry on

    Look over the title page and scene headings, then keep writing. First Page exports Final Draft, Fountain and PDF whenever you need them.

.fdx.fountain.pdf.docx

Open your own script, free.

Download free and read any script today.

macOS 14 or newer, on Apple silicon and Intel.