# Ulysses vs Stratword

The clearest difference is monetization model: Stratword at freemium against Ulysses's subscription. Stratword also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Ulysses's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (67% vs 47%). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Stratword sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.2K ratings behind it against 97, 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 47% of Stratword's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Stratword monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Stratword |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | [4.4 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stratword-script-writing/id1550223099/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 97 |
| Positive reviews | **67.0% of reviews** | 47.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 272 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Patrick Pierre](https://appshunter.io/developer/1550223101) |

## 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


### Stratword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stratword-script-writing/id1550223099)

This app provides a mobile screenwriting studio to help users write, format, and develop their screenplays from start to finish. It offers tools for outlining, character development, and industry-standard formatting, with cloud syncing to a web editor for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Step-by-Step Story Engine, Deep Character Development, Industry-Standard Formatting, Seamless Cloud Sync, Web Editor Integration, Unlimited Screenplays (Premium)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Screenplay Editor Monthly Sub | $5.99 | per month |
| Stratword Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Editor Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Stratword Premium Yearly | $99.00 | per year |
| Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coverage | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User friendly and easy to use
- 👍 Good platform for beginners
- 👍 Helpful for new writers
- 👍 Great for first-time writers
- 👍 Simple and effective approach

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Everything deleted/lost work
- 🐛 Distorted conversions to PDF
- 🐛 Unusable PDF exports
- 🐛 Purchase problems/app not installing
- 🐛 Unable to login/sign in issues

**Reported bugs**

- Previous projects suddenly deleted
- Conversions result in distorted PDFs
- PDFs are unusable for edits or sharing
- Paid app does not install
- Unable to login

**Requested features**

- Paste text copied from notes within script section
- Add feature of pasting and copying texts
- Option to insert images


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Stratword free?

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

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

Ulysses is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Stratword averages 4.4 from 97 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Stratword have ads?

Stratword shows ads; Ulysses does not.

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

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Stratword monthly. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on October 29, 2026 and Stratword on October 25, 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.*