# Ulysses vs DateSmith Light

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DateSmith Light at none against Ulysses's 7. DateSmith Light also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Ulysses's advantage is ratings volume (2.1K vs 2). On price, 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. DateSmith Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

DateSmith Light holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.1K ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of DateSmith Light's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, DateSmith Light weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | DateSmith Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datesmith-light-date-widgets/id6746695656/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 274 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Benjamin Staab](https://appshunter.io/developer/1680743368) |

## 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


### DateSmith Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datesmith-light-date-widgets/id6746695656)

Enhance your iPhone's lock screen with a beautifully formatted date display. This app specializes in the premium space above your clock, offering customizable formats and reliable midnight updates. Track important events with a countdown mode and enjoy a minimalist, privacy-focused design.

**Highlights:** Custom date widget for above lock screen clock, Multiple widget formats, Personalized date formats, Countdown mode for events, Automatic midnight updates, Privacy-focused design, Battery efficient

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is DateSmith Light free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ulysses or DateSmith Light?

DateSmith Light is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while DateSmith Light averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or DateSmith Light have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor DateSmith Light shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or DateSmith Light?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and DateSmith Light weekly. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on September 24, 2026 and DateSmith Light on June 6, 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.*