# Ulysses vs Step Up Projects

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Step Up Projects at none against Ulysses's 7. Step Up Projects also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). 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. Step Up Projects asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, Step Up Projects every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | Step Up Projects |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 274 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Step Up Projects](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859449305) |

## 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


### Step Up Projects

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-up-projects/id6756240360)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is Step Up Projects free?

Step Up Projects is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Ulysses or Step Up Projects have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor Step Up Projects shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or Step Up Projects?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and Step Up Projects every 10 days. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on September 26, 2026 and Step Up Projects on September 8, 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.*