Ulysses alternatives · Writing
Alternatives to Ulysses with a one-time purchase
The Ulysses listing shows no one-time purchase. 21 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Ulysses is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month. 8 of them are free or have a free plan.
21 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Dabble
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync
- Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Only Dabble lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Hemingway Editor
Readability editor that flags wordy, hard-to-read sentences
- Hemingway Editor starts at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($100); desktop app $19.99 once. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Hemingway Editor has a free plan. Ulysses does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Hemingway Editor lists a web app.
- Only Hemingway Editor lists a Windows app.
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Final Draft
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting
- Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- From $147 one-time
Atticus
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print
- Atticus starts at $147 one-time. Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Only Atticus lists a web app.
- Only Atticus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $0.50/mo
Campfire
Modular novel writing and worldbuilding app with per-module pricing
- Campfire starts at $0.50 per month for one module; $12 per month for all modules (Standard). Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- Campfire has a free plan. Ulysses does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Campfire lists a web app.
- Only Campfire lists Windows and Android apps.
9 more that can be bought with a one-time purchase
- Fade In
- Calmly Writer
- bibisco
- Slugline
- Markdown Monster
- The Novel Factory
- 4thewords
- Plottr
- Cold Turkey Writer
Common questions
Is there an alternative to Ulysses that you buy once?
Yes. iA Writer, Scrivener, Typora, 1Writer, JotterPad, Mellel, Vellum, Dabble and 13 more can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Can you buy Ulysses once instead of subscribing?
The Ulysses listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 9, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these writing tools are free?
JotterPad, Hemingway Editor, Campfire, Calmly Writer, bibisco, Slugline, 4thewords and Cold Turkey Writer are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Ulysses: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.