# Ulysses vs Plotline Screenwriting Tool

The clearest difference is price: Ulysses at Free against Plotline Screenwriting Tool's $1.99. Ulysses also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 15). Plotline Screenwriting Tool's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Ulysses is free to download; Plotline Screenwriting Tool costs $1.99 up front. Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Plotline Screenwriting Tool asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Ulysses against 4.5 for Plotline Screenwriting Tool. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Ulysses's written reviews are positive against 86% of Plotline Screenwriting Tool's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Plotline Screenwriting Tool every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Plotline Screenwriting Tool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | [4.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plotline-screenwriting-tool/id1546685508/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Size | 273 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Pei Tzu Chang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543346678) |

## 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


### Plotline Screenwriting Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plotline-screenwriting-tool/id1546685508)

Organize your screenplay with an intuitive index card system. Visualize ideas with writing patterns, access IMDb data instantly, and set personalized writing reminders to stay on track with your creative process.

**Highlights:** Overlapping index card system, Flexible card arrangement, Writing pattern visualization, In-app IMDb search, Personalized writing reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Plotline Screenwriting Tool free?

Plotline Screenwriting Tool costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Ulysses or Plotline Screenwriting Tool?

Ulysses is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Plotline Screenwriting Tool averages 4.5 from 15 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Plotline Screenwriting Tool have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Plotline Screenwriting Tool shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or Plotline Screenwriting Tool?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Plotline Screenwriting Tool every 5 days. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on October 13, 2026 and Plotline Screenwriting Tool 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.*