Ulysses: Writing App

Ulysses: Writing App

Write a novel, story, book

2.1K ratings
1283 reviews
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
August 10, 2017
Updated
October 16, 2026

Features

Ulysses: Writing App screenshot #1 for iPhone
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Ulysses: Writing App screenshot #9 for iPhone
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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+1

What's New in Ulysses

41.3

October 16, 2026

Fixed a crash when using the share extension. 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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3

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

Pay to win

One star it wouldn’t let me write anything unless I paid

Lost me at “subscription”

Lost me years ago at “subscription”; why???

Ulysses is Great

It helps no matter what your writing and can make deep planning formats

Not Intuitive

This app is way too difficult to use. I spent an hour just looking up tutorials on how to change the background from black to white so that it doesn’t hurt my eyes to type on my iPhone. This app may have been good when it first came out, but now it’s so deep into its own user interface that I’m way behind the times for it and will never be able to use it. The fact that it’s more expensive than other apps is also a huge downside. It gets in the way of writing more than any other apps I’ve used. It’s a no from me.
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You’ve found your writing app!

I am literally clicks away from submitting first-ever manuscript to a publisher. Ulysses has carried me the whole way, for the past 14 months, and I cannot say enough good things. It just WORKS, so beautifully, and makes a very challenging huge Everest of work manageable. It’s fantastic, and makes me calm and happy when I open it. I could go on and on (stylesheets, exports, endnotes, versioning, backups: all so so good, flexible, and reliable) If you are wondering about something specific, I’m happy to reply. But - just download it. You’ll love it.
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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.