# MWeb vs Ulysses

The clearest difference is monetization model: MWeb at free with in-app purchases against Ulysses's subscription. MWeb also leads on iOS requirement (14.1 vs 26.0). Ulysses's advantage is ratings volume (2.1K vs 153). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MWeb sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for MWeb against 4.6 for Ulysses. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.1K ratings behind it against 153, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 67% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MWeb | Ulysses |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mweb-markdown-writing-notes/id1183407767/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 153 | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.9% of reviews | **67.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 65 MB | 274 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [禄海 区](https://appshunter.io/developer/954188947) | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) |

## What reviewers say

### MWeb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mweb-markdown-writing-notes/id1183407767)

A powerful writing and note-taking application focused on Markdown. It offers a robust editor, document management, and publishing capabilities for efficient text creation and organization.

**Highlights:** Markdown editor with CommonMark and GFM support, Document management via Folders mode, Note-taking with Library mode and tagging, Publishing and sharing functions, Cross-device synchronization, Image and math formula preview

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MWeb Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| MWeb for iPhone/iPad | $14.99 | one-time |
| MWeb for Mac | $24.99 | one-time |


### Ulysses

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693)

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.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free editor, Unified document library, Cross-device sync, Built-in proofreader, Flexible export options (PDF, DOCX, eBook, HTML), Direct publishing to blogs

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $39.99 | per year |
| Student Offer | $10.99 | one-time |
| Perpetual License | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
- 👍 Simple, distraction-free writing experience
- 💡 Powerful organization and formatting features
- 🦋 Beautiful, customizable interface
- ✨ Excellent for focused writing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional sync issues
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and lock-in
- 📚 Limited support for advanced formatting (tables, formulas, etc.)
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected data loss or file corruption
- Slow performance on older devices
- Unreliable iCloud sync
- Formatting issues when exporting to other formats

**Requested features**

- Improved collaboration and sharing features
- Better integration with reference managers and citation tools
- More flexible export options and compatibility
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Ability to hide Markdown syntax


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MWeb free?

MWeb is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ulysses free?

Ulysses is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MWeb or Ulysses?

Ulysses is rated higher. MWeb averages 4.5 out of 5 from 153 ratings, while Ulysses averages 4.6 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do MWeb or Ulysses have ads?

Neither MWeb nor Ulysses shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MWeb or Ulysses?

MWeb ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ulysses every 3 weeks. Most recently, MWeb was updated on September 2, 2026 and Ulysses on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*