# Ulysses vs Ai

The clearest difference is rating: Ulysses at 4.6 against Ai's 3.9. Ulysses also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 275). Ai's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). 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. Ai asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.2K ratings behind it against 275, 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 64% of Ai's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Ai monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Ai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | [3.9 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-chat-chatbot-assistant-bot/id1666553544/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 275 |
| Positive reviews | **67.0% of reviews** | 63.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 272 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Memes Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631030145) |

## 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 effective document management, seamless sync, and flexible export options for writers of all kinds. Includes a built-in proofreader and editing assistant.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free editor, Unified library for all texts, Seamless sync across devices, Built-in proofreader and editing assistant, Flexible export to PDF, DOCX, HTML, Publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Substack

**Features:** Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**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


### Ai

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-chat-chatbot-assistant-bot/id1666553544)

This application provides instant, intelligent, and engaging responses to any question. It utilizes advanced language processing and AI technology to offer a conversational experience, acting as a personal assistant for problem-solving, casual chat, or entertainment.

**Highlights:** Instant AI responses, Smart and witty conversation, Advanced language processing, Personal genie experience, Problem-solving assistance, Casual conversation partner, Entertainment

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Great app
- 👍 Helpful
- 🤖 Artificially intelligent
- 🆓 Free
- 🤩 Awesome

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy
- ⏱️ Slow response time
- 🤖 AI limitations
- 📆 Outdated
- 🤬 Frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing
- Crashing
- Compatibility issues
- Unreliable responses

**Requested features**

- Image generation
- Wider platform support
- More advanced AI capabilities
- Customization options
- Improved tutorial


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Ai free?

Ai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Ulysses is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Ai averages 3.9 from 275 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Ai have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Ai shows ads.

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

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ai monthly. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on November 13, 2026 and Ai on November 12, 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.*