# Ulysses vs Markdown+ Text & Code Editor

The clearest difference is price: Ulysses at Free against Markdown+ Text & Code Editor's $9.99. Ulysses also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 50%). Markdown+ Text & Code Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Ulysses is free to download; Markdown+ Text & Code Editor costs $9.99 up front. Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Markdown+ Text & Code Editor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Markdown+ Text & Code Editor every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Markdown+ Text & Code Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **67.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Size | 272 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Zetegy LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441879472) |

## 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


### Markdown+ Text & Code Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/markdown-plus-text-and-code-editor/id1670042061)

This native editor offers real-time Markdown and LaTeX rendering with dynamic variables for complex calculations and reusable components. Enjoy a distraction-free interface, seamless cross-device syncing, and advanced code highlighting across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Real-time Markdown and LaTeX previews, Dynamic variables for calculations, Code highlighting for 140+ languages, Split-view editing, Seamless cross-device syncing, Dark mode and custom themes

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Markdown+ Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Markdown+ Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Markdown+ Text & Code Editor free?

Markdown+ Text & Code Editor costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Do Ulysses or Markdown+ Text & Code Editor have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Markdown+ Text & Code Editor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or Markdown+ Text & Code Editor?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Markdown+ Text & Code Editor every 11 days. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on November 3, 2026 and Markdown+ Text & Code Editor on October 16, 2026.

---

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