# Ulysses vs Purpose Quest

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Purpose Quest at none against Ulysses's 7. Purpose Quest also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Ulysses's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 5). 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. Purpose Quest asks for nothing beyond the download.

Purpose Quest 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 5, 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 Purpose Quest's.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Purpose Quest every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Purpose Quest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/purpose-quest/id6755660714/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 67.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 272 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [LIONSENTRY, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855330297) |

## 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


### Purpose Quest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/purpose-quest/id6755660714)

This app guides users through self-discovery to explore their strengths, values, and life direction. It offers interactive quests and a personalized, dynamic planning tool to help clarify goals and make intentional decisions.

**Highlights:** Guided self-discovery quests, Explore strengths and values, Clarify long-term direction, Personalized PurposePlan™, Dynamic goal planning tool, Track progress and habits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Purpose Quest free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ulysses or Purpose Quest?

Purpose Quest is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Purpose Quest averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or Purpose Quest have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Purpose Quest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or Purpose Quest?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Purpose Quest every 4 weeks. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on November 12, 2026 and Purpose Quest on November 5, 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.*