# Ulysses vs TypePress

The clearest difference is rating: Ulysses at 4.6 against TypePress's 2.5. Ulysses also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 2). TypePress's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and TypePress sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, TypePress every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ulysses | TypePress |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/typepress-typewriter-writing/id6766309471/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 272 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) | [Ezgi Acar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882446658) |

## 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


### TypePress

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/typepress-typewriter-writing/id6766309471)

Experience distraction-free writing with a realistic typewriter simulation. Enjoy tactile key presses, authentic sounds, and a variety of fonts. Archive your work, track statistics, and export documents in multiple formats.

**Highlights:** Realistic animated typewriter simulation, Authentic mechanical key sounds and carriage return bell, Seven selectable fonts across four categories, Auto-saving and document archiving with search, Red ink option for highlighting, iCloud sync across devices, Export as PDF or plain text

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TypePress Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| TypePress Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| TypePress Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ulysses free?

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

### Is TypePress free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ulysses or TypePress?

Ulysses is rated higher. Ulysses averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while TypePress averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Ulysses or TypePress have ads?

Neither Ulysses nor TypePress shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ulysses or TypePress?

Ulysses ships an update every 3 weeks, and TypePress every 6 days. Most recently, Ulysses was updated on November 7, 2026 and TypePress 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.*