The Ultimate Writing App
Premium writing app for Apple devices. No Trustpilot profile. App Store: 4.6/5. Controversial $50/year subscription (was one-time purchase). Apple-only - no Windows or Android. Known for distraction-free writing and excellent export capabilities.
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
Ulysses is exclusive to Apple devices (macOS, iOS, iPadOS). There are no Windows, Android, or Linux versions and no plans to create them. Writers with cross-platform needs or who work in mixed environments are completely excluded.
Despite switching to subscription model, improvements have been mostly bug fixes and minor integrations rather than substantive new features. Users feel the company is resting on their laurels while collecting recurring payments.
Ulysses doesn't handle web links or images well. Tables are still not supported years after launch. For writers who need these elements in their work, Ulysses falls short of expectations.
An experienced author who produced nine books found Ulysses 'deeply flawed' for print publication, particularly with paragraph indentation handling. Not ideal for writers targeting traditional print formats.
Features are poorly explained, if at all, and menus and buttons feel hidden. Users must rely on trial and error to discover functionality. The learning curve is steeper than the clean interface suggests.
Users who bought Ulysses at full price ($45-70) lost their perpetual license when developers switched to subscription. The backlash was significant - long-time users felt betrayed paying again for software they already owned.
At $5.99/month or $49.99/year, Ulysses is expensive compared to one-time purchase alternatives like Scrivener ($60 once). The ongoing cost feels steep for users who primarily need a focused writing environment.
The iPhone experience is subpar - menus look small and sheets appear cluttered. While iPad with keyboard works well, there's no saving grace for iPhone. Not ideal for mobile-first writers.
Users report Ulysses breaking scene orders on multiple occasions with sync conflicts requiring manual resolution. iCloud sync issues have caused confusion and potential data loss concerns.
Distraction-free, focused writing environment
Ulysses focuses on the actual writing page, keeping complementary features out of the way. Users report getting into flow state faster and spending less time organizing than writing compared to alternatives like Scrivener.
Excellent export capabilities
Ulysses is objectively superior for exporting by a large margin. Supports PDF, ePub, DOCX, HTML, and direct publishing to WordPress, Medium, Ghost, and more. The export workflow is polished and flexible.
Clean Markdown-based writing
Ulysses does a great job supporting Markdown formatting elements with a beautiful, clean interface. The writing experience is polished and intuitive for those familiar with Markdown.
Powerful organization with groups and filters
The library system with groups, smart filters, and keywords helps organize long-form projects effectively. Better than basic folder structures for complex writing projects.
Seamless sync between Mac, iPad, and iPhone
When working, iCloud sync keeps documents in sync across all Apple devices. Writers can move between devices and continue where they left off.
Users: 1 user (all Apple devices)
Storage: Unlimited (iCloud)
Limitations: Apple devices only, No web version
Users: 1 user (all Apple devices)
Storage: Unlimited (iCloud)
Limitations: Apple devices only, No web version
Users: 1 user
Storage: Unlimited
Limitations: Must maintain educational status
Users: 1 user
Storage: Unlimited
Limitations: Bundled with other apps you may not need
Professional writers
Purpose-built for long-form writing. Manuscript management, publishing integration, and writing goals. Serious writers love Ulysses.
Apple-based long-form writers valuing focus
Ulysses excels at distraction-free long-form writing with excellent export options. If you're on Apple devices and value a clean writing environment over feature depth, it works beautifully.
Bloggers and online publishers
Direct publishing to WordPress, Medium, Ghost, and excellent ePub export make Ulysses ideal for digital publishing workflows. The export capabilities are industry-leading.
Setapp subscribers
If you already subscribe to Setapp, Ulysses is included at no extra cost. Great value if you use other Setapp apps - try Ulysses without additional payment.
Engineering teams
Not designed for technical documentation. No code blocks, no collaboration, Apple-only. Engineers should use Obsidian or Notion.
Cross-platform users
Apple ecosystem only - Mac, iPhone, iPad. No Windows, no Android, no web access. Cannot work across platforms.
Windows or Android users
Ulysses is Apple-exclusive with no Windows, Android, or web version. There are no plans to change this. Use Scrivener, iA Writer (has Windows), or other cross-platform alternatives.
Budget-conscious writers
At $50/year ongoing, Ulysses is expensive. Scrivener costs $60 once and works forever. iA Writer is cheaper. If budget is a concern, subscription fatigue makes Ulysses hard to justify.
Writers needing tables and complex formatting
Ulysses lacks table support and handles links/images poorly. For academic or technical writing requiring these elements, look at Scrivener or dedicated tools.
Traditional print publishing authors
Ulysses has been called 'deeply flawed' for print publication by experienced authors. Paragraph indentation and formatting for traditional publishing has issues. Scrivener is better for this use case.
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Users who paid $45-70 for Ulysses lost their perpetual license in 2017 when the app switched to subscription-only. The sense of betrayal was significant - paying again for software they already owned.
Writers who built workflows around Ulysses later needed Windows access for work or collaboration. With no Windows version and no plans for one, their writing system became fragmented.
Users paying $50/year expected substantial ongoing improvements. Instead, they received mostly bug fixes and minor features, feeling the subscription isn't delivering proportional value.
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
Ulysses is Apple-only with no Windows, Android, or web version. Writers who need to work across ecosystems or collaborate with non-Apple users must use different tools or maintain parallel workflows.
Ulysses doesn't support tables and handles links/images poorly. Academic, technical, or business writing requiring these elements necessitates different tools like Scrivener.
Ulysses has been called 'deeply flawed' for print publication. Writers targeting traditional book publishing with specific formatting requirements often find Scrivener more capable.
iA Writer
Writers switch for simpler, cross-platform option. Gain: Windows support, one-time purchase option, cleaner UI. Trade-off: fewer manuscript features.
Scrivener
Novelists switch for more manuscript power. Gain: better book organization, research management, one-time purchase. Trade-off: complex, dated UI.
Obsidian
Writers wanting ownership switch to Obsidian. Gain: local files, cross-platform, free. Trade-off: not writing-focused, setup required.
Bear
Apple users switch when they need note-taking more than manuscript management. Bear is cheaper ($30/year) with similar Markdown support and elegant design.
Notion
Writers switch when they need project management and collaboration alongside writing. More versatile but less focused writing experience. Free tier available.
