# Ulysses vs Metion

The clearest difference is monetization model: Metion at free with in-app purchases against Ulysses's subscription. Metion also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). Ulysses's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 46). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Metion sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.1K ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Ulysses's written reviews are positive against 60% of Metion's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Metion every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Metion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | [4.3 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metion-markdown-notes/id1530965242/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **67.1% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 274 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Hangzhou Quanduan Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483142209) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Metion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metion-markdown-notes/id1530965242)

This notebook tool prioritizes a superior writing experience using Markdown. It allows you to build knowledge bases, connect notes as networks, and offers a distraction-free Zen Mode. Data is stored freely in plain text files with built-in Git support for synchronization and version history.

**Highlights:** Markdown support, Knowledge base creation, Networked notes, Zen Mode writing, Open filesystem storage, Built-in Git sync, History versioning

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 订阅公众号图片上传中转 | $0.99 | per month |
| Subscribe Pro Extensions | $6.99 | per year |
| Standard Edition (iOS+iPadOS) | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
- ✍️ Great writing experience
- 💡 Promising features
- 🎨 Minimalist and aesthetic design
- 🚀 Enhances productivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and crashes
- 📱 Not optimized for phones
- 🗂️ Limited free version features
- 🎨 UI issues and design flaws
- ❌ Syncing problems

**Reported bugs**

- Git sync not working
- iCloud folder cannot be specified
- Writing statistics not visible or crashing
- Custom file sorting not working
- New file creation bug (text pushed up)

**Requested features**

- Optimize for phone usage
- Add Windows version
- Improve Git sync functionality
- Allow specifying iCloud folder
- Restore writing statistics feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Metion free?

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

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

Ulysses is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Metion averages 4.3 from 46 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Metion have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Metion shows ads.

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

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Metion every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on September 24, 2026 and Metion on September 21, 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.*