Alternatives · Writing
Ulysses alternatives
Ulysses compared with 9 alternatives: iA Writer, Scrivener, Bear, Typora, 1Writer and 4 more.
Ulysses is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month. 2 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 6 more offer a free trial.
9 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| UlyssesThis tool | Free trial · from $39.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| iA Writer | Free trial · from $19.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Scrivener | Free trial · from $23.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Typora | Free trial · from $14.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| 1Writer | From $4.99 one-time | No | iOS |
| Gingko Writer | Free trial · from $9.75/mo | Trial only | Web |
| JotterPad | Free plan · from $29.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Mellel | Free trial · from $69.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Vellum | Free trial · from $199.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
How each one differs from Ulysses
- Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
iA Writer
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode
- iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing.
Suits: Writers who want a bare Markdown editor with no toolbars
- Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
- Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Scrivener lists a Windows app.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Scrivener also covers templates.
- Ulysses also covers Markdown and grammar & style.
Suits: Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Bear
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links
- Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Bear has a free plan. Ulysses does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Bear also covers notes, linked notes and web clipper.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Typora
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type
- Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Typora lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
Suits: People who write Markdown and want to see formatted text as they type
- From $4.99 one-time
1Writer
Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad with scriptable actions
- 1Writer starts at $4.99 one-time on the App Store. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Ulysses lists a macOS app.
- 1Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 1Writer also covers notes.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
Suits: Writing Markdown on an iPhone or iPad with files kept in Dropbox, iCloud Drive or WebDAV
- Free trial · from $9.75/mo
Gingko Writer
Tree-based writing app that breaks long documents into cards
- Gingko Writer starts at $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117). Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Gingko Writer lists a web app.
- Only Ulysses lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Ulysses also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who outline and draft at the same time
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
JotterPad
Markdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays
- JotterPad starts at $29.99 per year on the App Store; $3.33 per month billed annually on the web. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- JotterPad has a free plan. Ulysses does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only JotterPad lists a web app.
- Only JotterPad lists an Android app.
- JotterPad can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writers who draft in Markdown or Fountain across a phone, a tablet and a computer
- Free trial · from $69.99 one-time
Mellel
Mac word processor for long academic and technical documents
- Mellel starts at $69.99 one-time for Mellel for Mac; iPad in-app purchases from $9.99. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Mellel can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Mellel also covers citations and documents.
- Ulysses also covers Markdown and grammar & style.
Suits: Academics and students writing theses, papers and books on a Mac
- Free trial · from $199.99 one-time
Vellum
Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books
- Vellum starts at $199.99 one-time, before tax (Vellum Ebooks). Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Vellum can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Vellum also covers templates.
- Ulysses also covers Markdown and grammar & style.
Suits: Self-publishing authors on a Mac who format their own books
Limits worth knowing in Ulysses
- The site and App Store listing cover Mac, iPad and iPhone only; no Windows, Android or web version is offered.
- The pricing page lists subscriptions only: $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year once the trial ends.
- The trial is described as fully functional, but the site does not say how many days it runs.
- Volume licenses are priced in euros and cover one Mac, one iPad and one iPhone per user.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Ulysses?
The alternatives to Ulysses in this directory are iA Writer, Scrivener, Bear, Typora, 1Writer, Gingko Writer, JotterPad, Mellel and Vellum. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Ulysses.
Is there a free alternative to Ulysses?
Yes. Bear and JotterPad have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Ulysses alternatives work on Windows?
The Ulysses listing does not include a Windows app. iA Writer, Scrivener and Typora list one.
Which Ulysses alternatives work on Linux?
The Ulysses listing does not include a Linux app. Typora lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.