Ulysses: Writing App

Ulysses: Writing App

Write a novel, story, book

2.2K ratings
1288 reviews
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
August 10, 2017
Updated
October 23, 2026

Features

Ulysses: Writing App screenshot #1 for iPhone
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Ulysses: Writing App screenshot #10 for iPhone
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About

A distraction-free writing environment for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It offers robust document management, seamless syncing, and flexible export options for writers of all kinds. Includes a proofreader and editing assistant.

✓Distraction-free editor
✓Unified document library
✓Cross-device sync
✓Built-in proofreader
✓Flexible export options (PDF, DOCX, eBook, HTML)
✓Direct publishing to blogs
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What users say about Ulysses

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What's New in Ulysses

42

October 23, 2026

## iPhone Duo We have prepared Ulysses for iPhone Duo. We fine-tuned all poses and orientations, updated the UI left and right (no pun), and made sure Ulysses looks great on Apple’s latest device. ## Scrollable Markup Bar On iPhone (Duo or not), we have reworked the markup bar to allow for quicker access to frequently used actions. For example: - You can now find links and images on the top level. - The inline menu has been split into strong/emphasis and the lesser used “mark” actions (comment, highlight, annotation, etc.) - Undo and Redo are now available via a simple swipe. - Lists have moved into their own menu. ## Editor Toolbar We have made some significant changes to the editor toolbar: - On iPhone, the editor toolbar now has a “Back” and a prominent “Done” button. This may not please everybody, but it solves a ton of issues (and let's be honest: distraction-free writing on iPhone is an oxymoron anyway…). - On iPad, you will now find Quick Access Buttons for outline, attachments and annotations, whenever outline, attachments or annotations are available. These let you quickly access your outline, attachments or annotations without opening the Dashboard (you may already know this from iPhone). ## Two-Sided Export Preview PDF and DOCX now have options to show a two-sided export preview. This is great for books, obviously, and you can thank the iPhone Duo’s book pose for this (aka “what has the Duo ever done for us”). ## Bugfixes and Improvements - Fixes a crash after accepting the last suggestion in text check. - Fixes a hang during editing while suggestions are shown in the dashboard. - Fixes “Paste From” menu items being always disabled in the main menu (such as “Markdown” or “HTML”). - You can now import projects into the library using drag & drop (from the Files app, for example). If you're happy with the app, please rate it, or even leave a review. This is a great way to support us indie developers. Thanks a lot!

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Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Yearly Plan

Full access on all devices.

$39.991 Year
7 Days trial
How to cancel Ulysses subscription ⁉️

Events

Read more about Ready for iOS 27

Ready for iOS 27

Ulysses feels right at home on Apple's latest.

Sep 14, 2026 — Sep 28, 2026

Read more about Siri AI

Siri AI

On-screen awareness. Ask Siri. Write with Siri.

Sep 28, 2026 — Oct 12, 2026

Read more about Copy to Substack

Copy to Substack

Write your newsletter in Ulysses.

Nov 16, 2025 — Nov 23, 2025

User reviews

Ulysses is awesome for editing my manuscript!

I tried two other editing software platforms. Ulysses is by far the best. I couldnt get my novel ready for publishing without them.
Thank you Ulysses

Falling out of love

The app has turned into a hinderance to my productivity. The navigation got worse over the past year and I just seem to be stumbling over the UI. I liked this app for its simplicity and its “hidden complexity” but now the complexity is in your face and as of now doesn’t make much sense. Not too thrilled with the changes and if I’m being frank this is leading me to cancel my yearly when its up in a few months. Disappointed to say the least but it shouldn’t be this big of a backtrack with the amount of money I have dedicated to the app over the years.
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I love this app 5 🌟

Please I really hope you all are updating for the iPhone Duo. 🙏🥺

What a gift!

I'm working on a novel, and Ulysses makes my job so much easier, faster, more efficient . . . I used to use the standard word processing program of my OS, or OpenOffice. And they are now retired for me.
Just learned how to add notes to a section without worrying about it's printing out later. A boon!
The ultimate though is being able to swap between main computer and laptop; Ulysses saves both, and flags the origin of each. Wow.
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A Pleasure

This markdown editor is *the* reason for a writer to use an Apple device. It is an absolute pleasure to use and utilizes the exact same design philosophy that Apple does for their products: capable, but not upfront about it. It does exactly what you need it to do. What else can a writer ask for?

Developer apps

Featured on

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

4 issues

Unexpected data loss or file corruption

Bug

Slow performance on older devices

Bug

Unreliable iCloud sync

Bug

Formatting issues when exporting to other formats

Bug
✨

Requested Features

5 requests

Improved collaboration and sharing features

Feature

Better integration with reference managers and citation tools

Feature

More flexible export options and compatibility

Feature

Customizable keyboard shortcuts

Feature

Ability to hide Markdown syntax

Feature

FAQ

What does Ulysses do?

Ulysses is a writing application designed for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It provides a focused, distraction-free writing environment with effective document management, seamless syncing across devices, and flexible export options. It aims to support writers throughout the entire writing process, from initial drafts to final edits.

What are the key features of Ulysses?

Key features include a distraction-free, markup-based editor, a unified library for managing all your texts, seamless synchronization across macOS and iOS, a built-in proofreader and editing assistant for grammar and style suggestions, and flexible export options to formats like PDF, DOCX, eBooks, and HTML. It also supports direct publishing to platforms like WordPress and Ghost.

How much does Ulysses cost?

Ulysses operates on a subscription model, offering both monthly and yearly plans. These subscriptions unlock the app's full functionality on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and include full synchronization. A fully functional trial is available for users to test the app before committing to a subscription. Student discounts are also available.

What devices is Ulysses compatible with?

Ulysses is designed for Apple devices. It is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. All subscription plans include feature parity and full synchronization across these platforms, ensuring your writing is accessible and up-to-date no matter which device you are using.

Who is Ulysses for?

Ulysses is intended for writers of all kinds, including those working on novels, stories, books, or any long-form content. Its streamlined toolset and clean interface are designed to boost productivity and help users stay in the flow, making it suitable for anyone who needs a dedicated and organized writing environment.