The Ulysses Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Ulysses in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Ulysses
The Insider’s Guide
Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Ulysses’s own pages.
Made by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Ulysses’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ulysses’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Ulysses is a writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone that pairs a markup-based editor with one library for everything from blog posts to book manuscripts. Texts sync between devices, a built-in checker covers grammar and style in more than 20 languages, and finished work can be exported as a PDF, Word document, ebook or HTML, or published straight to a blog. It is sold by subscription.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Ulysses, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Formatting happens in Markdown XL, Ulysses' own markup, which takes a little learning if you've never typed markup before.
- 1
Best for writing anything long on Apple devices
There's nothing for Windows, Android or the web, and formatting uses its own markup, Markdown XL.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
- 3
You can try it first
Every plan includes a free, fully functional trial with sync and export. The site does not state how long it lasts.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
Markup-based editor
Text is formatted by typing markup in Markdown XL, Ulysses' own markup language, so headings, lists and emphasis never require leaving the keyboard.
- 6
Unified library
Everything is stored in one library and organized into projects, so scenes and chapters can be split into chunks and reordered.
- 7
Sync across Apple devices
Texts sync automatically between Mac, iPad and iPhone, and the vendor describes feature parity across macOS and iOS.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 32 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Ulysses you could make: long-form writing and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Ulysses at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Every plan includes a free, fully functional trial with sync and export. The site does not state how long it lasts.
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG, since 2003
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 2,125 ratings
The report card
Best for writing anything long on Apple devices
Ulysses is a writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone that keeps everything from a blog post to a book in one synced library and publishes to WordPress or Ghost. It's subscription only, at $39.99 a year or $5.99 a month, and the trial's length isn't stated. There's nothing for Windows, Android or the web, and formatting uses its own markup, Markdown XL.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $39.99 a year works out at $3.33 a month, inside this category's cheapest quarter, and one subscription covers all your Macs, iPads and iPhones with Family Sharing for five others. Monthly is $5.99, and students can apply for $10.99 per 6 months. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. Every plan starts with a free trial that's fully functional, sync and export included, but Ulysses doesn't say how many days it runs. After that it's $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole job: you format by typing markup so your hands stay on the keys, one library holds everything in projects you reorder, a proofreader covers more than 20 languages, and it exports PDF, Word, ebooks and HTML or posts straight to WordPress, Ghost and Micro.blog. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.58 on the App Store from 2,125 ratings, comfortably over the line for a B but short of the 4.7 an A needs. Formatting happens in Markdown XL, Ulysses' own markup, which takes a little learning if you've never typed markup before. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, iPad and iPhone only, which is one family of devices, with no Windows, Android or web version. Within Apple it has automatic sync, matching features across macOS and iOS, and publishing to WordPress, Ghost and Micro.blog. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Ulysses is for
- Fits if you write only on Apple devices and want every text on all of them
- Works for bloggers who post straight to WordPress, Ghost or Micro.blog
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you ever write on Windows, Android or the web, as it's Apple only
- Not for you if you'd rather pay once, since the pricing page lists subscriptions only
- Not for you if you want a free version to stay on, because after a trial of unstated length you pay
- Watch out: volume licenses are priced in euros, at €39.00 a user a year, and cover one Mac, one iPad and one iPhone each
- Watch out: formatting is typed in Markdown XL, Ulysses' own markup, which takes some learning
Good to know
Good for
- Writers who work only on Apple devices and want their texts on all of them
- Bloggers publishing to WordPress, Ghost or Micro.blog
- Novelists and students keeping many texts in one library
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year
Ulysses is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month.
Every plan starts with a free trial that's fully functional, sync and export included, but Ulysses doesn't say how many days it runs.
Yearly Plan
$39.99
per year
Ulysses on all your Macs, iPads and iPhones with full sync. Apple Family Sharing with up to five other family members is included.
Monthly Plan
$5.99
per month
The same app and sync on every Mac, iPad and iPhone, paid month to month.
Volume licensing
€39.00
per user / year, plus VAT if applicable
Licenses for businesses and organizations, bought outside the App Store. Covers one Mac, one iPad and one iPhone per user.
Trying it first
Every plan includes a free, fully functional trial with sync and export. The site does not state how long it lasts.
Read from ulysses.app on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Yearly plan costs about 44% less than monthly
The yearly subscription is $39.99, against $71.88 for twelve payments on the $5.99 monthly plan.
Stated on ulysses.appEducation
Student offer: $10.99 per 6 months
Students enrolled at a high school, vocational school, college or university can apply from inside the app with a valid student ID.
Stated on ulysses.appOther savings
Apple Family Sharing included
One subscription can be shared with up to five other family members through Apple Family Sharing.
Stated on ulysses.appLifetime license
Perpetual License listed in the App Store
The US App Store listing shows a Perpetual License in-app purchase at $199.99 alongside the subscriptions. The pricing page does not describe its terms.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Plan”, against $5.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $7.99 | $5.62 | 6% less |
| Turkey | ₺299,99 | $6.10 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 599 | $6.19 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 399.00 | $6.35 | 6% more |
| Mexico | $129.00 | $7.09 | 18% more |
| South Africa | R119.99 | $7.26 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £5.99 | $7.92 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 39,90 | $7.97 | 33% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: Markdown, long-form writing, grammar & style.
Mac, iPad and iPhone only, which is one family of devices, with no Windows, Android or web version.
- Markup-based editor
- Text is formatted by typing markup in Markdown XL, Ulysses' own markup language, so headings, lists and emphasis never require leaving the keyboard.
- Unified library
- Everything is stored in one library and organized into projects, so scenes and chapters can be split into chunks and reordered.
- Sync across Apple devices
- Texts sync automatically between Mac, iPad and iPhone, and the vendor describes feature parity across macOS and iOS.
- Grammar and style check
- A built-in proofreader for more than 20 languages suggests fixes for capitalization, punctuation, semantics, redundancy and style.
- Export and publishing
- Exports PDFs, Word documents, ebooks and HTML with switchable styles, and posts directly to WordPress, Ghost and Micro.blog with images and tags.
- Writing goals
- Set a character limit, a deadline or a daily goal for a text and track progress against it.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- WordPress
- Ghost
- Micro.blog
Ulysses is made by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG, and has been around since 2003.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Ulysses's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on features (B, above 36 of 69) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 2 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Ulysses’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 35 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- BFeaturesAbove 36 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Ulysses is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Ulysses you could make: long-form writing and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $39.99 a year.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Grammar checking as you type, wherever you type.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Ulysses’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
iA Writer, Scrivener, Bear, Typora and 1Writer
The 5 tools Ulysses is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Only Scrivener lists a Windows app.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers Markdown and grammar & style.
- 2.6GPA
Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links.
- Bear has a free plan. Ulysses does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
- 2.6GPA
Typora
Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Only Typora lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.0GPA
1Writer
From $4.99 one-time
Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad with scriptable actions.
- Only Ulysses lists a macOS app.
- 1Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Ulysses free?
No, Ulysses is a paid product, but you can try it first. Every plan includes a free, fully functional trial with sync and export.
How much does Ulysses cost?
Ulysses lists 3 plans. Yearly Plan: $39.99 per year.
What platforms does Ulysses work on?
Ulysses is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Ulysses offer any discounts?
Ulysses publicly lists the following: Yearly plan costs about 44% less than monthly; Student offer: $10.99 per 6 months; Apple Family Sharing included; Perpetual License listed in the App Store.
How is Ulysses rated?
Ulysses's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2,125 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Ulysses have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Ulysses is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Ulysses have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Ulysses is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Ulysses open source?
Ulysses is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Ulysses integrate with?
Ulysses's listing names WordPress, Ghost and Micro.blog. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Ulysses have a student discount?
Student offer: $10.99 per 6 months. Students enrolled at a high school, vocational school, college or university can apply from inside the app with a valid student ID.
Who makes Ulysses?
Ulysses is made by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG.
What are the alternatives to Ulysses?
The closest alternatives to Ulysses in our directory are iA Writer, Scrivener, Bear, Typora and 1Writer.
How does Ulysses compare with other writing tools?
Ulysses's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
Is Ulysses good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Ulysses B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 2 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Ulysses?
The plain part of Ulysses you could make: long-form writing and Markdown.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Ulysses’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ulysses's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-17.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG. Prices change, so check ulysses.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Ulysses, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ulysses
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Ulysses: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulysses
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ulysses/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Ulysses, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Ulysses’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Ulysses is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG. Prices and plans change: check ulysses.app before you buy.