Scrivener vs Ulysses: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Scrivener and Ulysses side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Scrivener
The ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization.
Best for you if:
- • You want best for long-form writing
Ulysses
The ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience.
Best for you if:
- • You want great for writers
| At a Glance | Scrivener | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | From $4.17/mo, billed yearly Annual plan |
Category | Productivity Writing Apps | Productivity Writing Apps |
Rating | 4.5/5 Capterra 4.7 · G2 4.5 · SourceForge 3.7 292 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 37 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Scrivener or Ulysses?
Choose Scrivener if
- You want best for long-form writing
- You want great organization
Choose Ulysses if
- You want great for writers
- You want clean writing environment
In-Depth Analysis
Scrivener
The ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization.
Scrivener's one-time purchase price of $60 for Scrivener 3 is exceptionally fair and generous compared to the market, especially for a powerful, feature-rich writing tool.
Strengths
- Pro: Best for long-form writing
- Pro: Great organization
- Pro: Research tools
- Pro: Compile flexibility
- Pro: One-time purchase
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Windows version behind Mac
- Con: No real-time collaboration
- Con: Sync via Dropbox only
Key features
Ulysses
The ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience.
Ulysses' pricing is fair, especially for a premium writing app across Apple's ecosystem.
Strengths
- Pro: Great for writers
- Pro: Clean writing environment
- Pro: Good publishing features
- Pro: Apple native
- Pro: Markdown support
Weaknesses
- Con: Apple only
- Con: Subscription model
- Con: Expensive
- Con: No collaboration
- Con: Overkill for notes
Key features
Plans and prices: Scrivener vs Ulysses
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scrivener |
| literatureandlatte.com/scrivener read Oct 3, 2026 |
| Ulysses |
| ulysses.app/pricing read Sep 27, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Scrivener pricing and Ulysses pricing.
Key Takeaways
Scrivener
- Choose if you want the ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization
Ulysses
- Choose if you want the ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 292 reviews for Scrivener, 4.6/5 from 37 reviews for Ulysses).
- Ulysses starts at $4.17/mo, billed yearly; Scrivener has no public paid plan price on file.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Scrivener and Ulysses compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 292 reviews for Scrivener, 4.6/5 from 37 reviews for Ulysses). Ulysses starts at $4.17/mo, billed yearly; Scrivener has no public paid plan price on file.
What are Scrivener and Ulysses used for?
Scrivener: The ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization. Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience.
What does Scrivener cost vs Ulysses?
Scrivener has no public paid-plan price on file. Ulysses's cheapest paid plan is Annual at $4.17/mo, billed yearly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between Scrivener and Ulysses?
Scrivener's main strength: best for long-form writing. Ulysses's main strength: great for writers.