Boulevard vs Highland 2
Updated September 26, 2026
Both aim at solo drafting without a writers’ room product in the middle. Boulevard is a Mac and Windows desktop app with five local documents and a clean free PDF, then a one-time Premium unlock. Highland 2 is a Mac-only minimal editor — free basic drafting historically, with Pro unlocks and a storefront that now steers new buyers to Highland Pro. Platform and how new buyers meet Highland Pro’s trial path are usually the deciding facts.
Two quiet desktop apps, different machines
Neither tool is a live collab room or a Final Draft production office. Both want a writer alone with a properly formatted page. Mac can open either path. Windows only opens Boulevard. The free export story and how new licenses are sold diverge from there.
Boulevard
Boulevard is a current desktop app built so the on-screen page stays close to the PDF and the feature set stays intentionally lean. The free path includes a clean PDF; Premium is a one-time unlock when the free document cap is no longer enough.
Who it’s for
Writers on a Mac or Windows machine who want a maintained writing app with a clean free PDF and room to grow without turning into a subscription.
What it does well
- The PDF turns out exactly how it looks in the editor — the page on screen is the page that ships.
- Stays snappy on long scripts without the draft feeling heavy.
- Full customization of individual elements is available on Free.
- Intentionally minimal and less feature-packed, built for focused drafting rather than a packed toolkit.
- Theme colors and dark mode change the feel of the page once Premium is unlocked.
Where it falls short
There is no Linux build, Free caps documents at five, and there is no live editing from two people in the same file. Writers who want a Mac-only minimal plain-text surface, or who already own a quiet Mac editor they like, will weigh the other column.
Platform and pricing
Mac and Windows. Free includes five local documents. Premium is $45 once for unlimited documents, cloud save, extra themes, and dark mode.
Highland 2
Highland 2 is a Mac-only minimal screenwriting editor built for distraction-free drafting with an Apple-native feel. Existing licenses still run for owners; new buyers are steered to Highland Pro, the live purchase path that supersedes Highland 2.
Who it’s for
Writers who want a quiet Mac writing surface and a plain-text bent — especially when an existing Highland license already works, or when trying Highland Pro’s subscription and trial path is acceptable.
What it does well
- Distraction-free drafting with an Apple-native feel.
- A plain-text workflow that can migrate via Fountain when a handoff matters.
- Classic free Mac drafting for basic writing; Pro unlocks historically covered fuller PDF templates and revision-mode style features.
Where it falls short
There is no Windows or Linux build. It is not a live collab room or a production suite. Free Mac drafting exists; the full PDF and Pro feature story typically needs the paid unlock or the Highland Pro subscription. Treat Highland 2 as the classic Mac editor named here, with Highland Pro as the storefront new buyers meet.
Platform and pricing
Mac only for Highland 2. Classic Pro Upgrade was historically about $49.99 one-time. Highland Pro — Mac, iPad, and iPhone — is about $59.99/yr or $9.99/mo with a 30-day trial.
Glance
Quick facts after the argument above.
| What matters | Boulevard | Highland 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Free PDF, no watermark | ✓ | Paid unlock / Pro |
| Offline desktop app | ✓ | Mac only |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | × |
| One-time purchase path | $45 Premium | Was ~$50; Pro now sub |
| Free everyday writing plan | 5 local docs | Mac free draft |
| Live two-person collab | × | × |
How to choose
- Choose Highland 2 if the machine is Mac, a distraction-free minimal editor is the preference, and an existing Highland license already works — or if trying Highland Pro’s subscription and trial path is acceptable for new buyers.
- Choose Boulevard if Windows is required, or if the start needs a clean free PDF on Mac or Windows with nearly all writing features available and a one-time $45 Premium unlock later. Someone already happy in Highland on a Mac does not need to switch for its own sake.