Alternatives to Ulysses
Markdown writing library for Apple devices
Ulysses ranks #1 of 10 in Writing apps, with an Alt Score of 91. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $5.99/month and available on macOS and iOS. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Writers who work on long-form or ongoing projects — novelists, bloggers, journalists, and students — who write across Mac, iPad, and iPhone and want their work in one place.
A unified library that syncs all texts across Apple devices, with folders and sections for organizing long or multi-part projects. A distraction-free Markdown editor with built-in grammar and style checking in 20+ languages. Goal-setting tools for deadlines, daily word counts, and character limits. Export to PDF, Word, and ebook formats, plus direct publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog.
You write in plain-text Markdown within Ulysses's editor, organizing pieces into sheets, groups, and folders in the central library. When a piece is ready, you export it to a file format or publish it directly to a connected blog or CMS.
Where Ulysses stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Ulysses
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Ulysses compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Writing apps checklist | Ulysses | iA Writer | Scrivener | Atticus | Dabble | Manuskript |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Markdown support | ||||||
| Distraction-free mode | ||||||
| Long-form organization (chapters) | ||||||
| Goals & word counts | ||||||
| Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) | ||||||
| Sync between devices | ||||||
| Version history | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Offline | ||||||
| Publishing integrations |
Every fact and feature listed for Ulysses is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
-
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
© 2026 Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG
https://ulysses.app/imprint/ -
Starts at $5.99/month verified 2026-07-11
$5.99 per Month
https://ulysses.app/pricing/ -
Platforms macOS, iOS verified 2026-07-11
iOS/iPadOS 18.6 or later and macOS 14.0 or later
https://help.ulysses.app/faqs -
Pricing model Subscription verified 2026-07-11
Ulysses requires a subscription. We offer monthly and yearly subscription plans.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693 -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
40.1 JULY 3, 2026
https://ulysses.app/release-notes/ -
Markdown support Yes verified 2026-07-11
By default, Ulysses uses its native markup language, dubbed Markdown XL.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/getting-started/first-steps-markdown-xl -
Distraction-free mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
There is a full-screen mode, for example, which lets Ulysses take over your entire screen so other apps can't distract you.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/getting-started/details-and-tips -
Long-form organization (chapters) Yes verified 2026-07-11
The library lets you access your groups and projects.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/getting-started/first-steps-library-editor -
Goals & word counts Yes verified 2026-07-11
Writing goals allow you to track your progress toward a certain word or character limit or even target a specific reading time.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/getting-started/details-and-tips -
Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Text, HTML, ePub, PDF, or DOCX.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/export-publishing/export -
Sync between devices Yes verified 2026-07-11
Ulysses synchronizes the content via your iCloud account.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/subscription-synchronization/synchronization-issues -
Version history Yes verified 2026-07-11
Ulysses automatically creates backups and stores them locally on each device you use.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/the-library/backups -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-11
Ulysses requires a subscription. We offer monthly and yearly subscription plans.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693 -
Offline Yes verified 2026-07-11
Anything you create in this section will be stored locally on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone without being synced across your other devices.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/the-library/ulysses-library -
Publishing integrations Yes verified 2026-07-11
The publishing feature works with WordPress, Ghost, Micro.blog and Medium.
https://help.ulysses.app/en_US/getting-started/first-steps-export-more
FAQ
Yes. Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter — every license claim links its source.