# Ulysses vs Set App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Set App at none against Ulysses's 7. Set App also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). Ulysses's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ulysses sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Set App asks for nothing beyond the download.

Set App holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Set App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-app/id6447754310/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 272 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Prime Consultants And Management Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1669407402) |

## 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


### Set App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-app/id6447754310)

Assign tasks to users with deadlines and detailed descriptions. Track progress, reassign tasks, and manage your own to-do list. Includes in-app chat for task-related communication.

**Highlights:** Task assignment with deadlines, Detailed task descriptions, Progress tracking, Task reassignment, User task management, In-app chat

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Set App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ulysses or Set App?

Set App is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Set App averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Set App have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Set App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or Set App?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Set App every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on November 3, 2026 and Set App on October 30, 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.*