Ulysses vs Zettlr: 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 Ulysses and Zettlr side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Zettlr leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall 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:
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
Zettlr
Your one-stop publication workbench for academic writing, journalism, and general text production.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Ulysses requires payment)
| At a Glance | Ulysses | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $5.99/mo flat, billed monthly Ulysses plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Productivity Writing Apps | Productivity Note-Taking |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 37 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Ulysses or Zettlr?
Choose Ulysses if
- You want great for writers
- You want clean writing environment
Choose Zettlr if
- You want a fully free tool (Ulysses requires payment)
- You want free and open-source, ensuring transparency and no hidden costs
- You want strong privacy focus with no forced cloud sync or telemetry
In-Depth Analysis
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
Zettlr
Your one-stop publication workbench for academic writing, journalism, and general text production.
Zettlr offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is completely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Free and open-source, ensuring transparency and no hidden costs.
- Pro: Strong privacy focus with no forced cloud sync or telemetry.
- Pro: Excellent for academic writing with robust citation and export capabilities.
- Pro: Highly customizable to suit individual writing styles and workflows.
- Pro: Supports multiple languages and platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires some familiarity with Markdown for optimal use.
- Con: Advanced features like grammar checking might require external plugins (e.g., LanguageTool).
- Con: May have a learning curve for users new to Markdown editors or Zettelkasten methods.
Key features
Plans and prices: Ulysses vs Zettlr
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ulysses |
| ulysses.app/pricing read Nov 3, 2026 |
| Zettlr |
| zettlr.com read Oct 2, 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 Ulysses pricing and Zettlr pricing.
Key Takeaways
Ulysses
- Choose if you want the ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience
Zettlr
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Zettlr leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Ulysses has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 37 reviews); Zettlr has none we can show.
- Ulysses starts at $5.99/mo flat, billed monthly; Zettlr has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Zettlr has a free plan.
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 Ulysses and Zettlr compare in 2026?
On the data below, Zettlr leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Ulysses has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 37 reviews); Zettlr has none we can show. Ulysses starts at $5.99/mo flat, billed monthly; Zettlr has no public paid plan price on file. Only Zettlr has a free plan.
What are Ulysses and Zettlr used for?
Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, combining powerful features with a focused writing experience. Zettlr: Your one-stop publication workbench for academic writing, journalism, and general text production.
What does Ulysses cost vs Zettlr?
Ulysses's cheapest paid plan is Ulysses at $5.99/mo flat, billed monthly. Zettlr is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between Ulysses and Zettlr?
Ulysses's main strength: great for writers. Zettlr's main strength: free and open-source, ensuring transparency and no hidden costs.