Best Ulysses alternatives in 2026
8 direct alternatives to Ulysses, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Curated by Louis Corneloup · Updated Why people consider alternatives to Ulysses
Ulysses is a comprehensive writing application designed for individuals who write extensively, from college essays and blog posts to full-length novels. Here are the real cost and limitation gotchas that push teams to look elsewhere:
- •No perpetual license option available.
- •Requires Apple ecosystem for full functionality.
- •Family sharing only with annual plan.
The 8 alternatives below cover the same core job (writing apps) with different trade-offs. Ranked by real-signal score: G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review.
8 alternatives to Ulysses
Ranked by real-signal composite (rankingScore + community + reviews) and direct relevance to Ulysses.
- 1
Scrivener
PaidThe ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization.
Direct alternative4.5(291)Compare Ulysses vs Scrivener → - 2
iA Writer
PaidThe benchmark Markdown writing app designed for focused, distraction-free writing.
Direct alternative4.4(68)Compare Ulysses vs iA Writer → - 3
Bear
FreemiumCheaper than UlyssesBeautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices
Direct alternative4.5(11)Compare Ulysses vs Bear → - 4
Typora
PaidA minimal Markdown editor and reader with a seamless live preview experience.
Direct alternative4.3(12)Compare Ulysses vs Typora → - 5
Byword
PaidA minimalist Markdown text editor for seamless writing and publishing across Apple devices.
Direct alternativeCompare Ulysses vs Byword → - 6
Google Drive
FreemiumCheaper than UlyssesCloud storage and collaboration with 15GB free
Direct alternative4.8(28,494)Compare Ulysses vs Google Drive → - 7
Slack
FreemiumCheaper than UlyssesCentral hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Direct alternative4.5(61,908)Compare Ulysses vs Slack → - 8
ChatGPT
FreemiumCheaper than UlyssesOpenAI's conversational AI that started the generative AI revolution
Direct alternative4.6(2,204)Compare Ulysses vs ChatGPT →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Ulysses?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Ulysses are Scrivener, iA Writer, Bear. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Ulysses?
Yes. Bear is one of the freemium alternatives to Ulysses listed here (Beautiful markdown notes app for Apple devices). Other freemium options are flagged in the list below.
Why do people look for Ulysses alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Ulysses: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in writing apps. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Ulysses versus each alternative.
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