# TextEditor vs Ulysses

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TextEditor at none against Ulysses's 7. TextEditor also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). Ulysses's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). On price, ratings volume 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. TextEditor asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3K and 2.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of TextEditor's written reviews are positive against 67% of Ulysses's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TextEditor ships an update every 10 months, Ulysses every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextEditor | Ulysses |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/texteditor-rich-text-editor/id296222961/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 2.2K |
| Positive reviews | **78.4% of reviews** | 67.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 42 MB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Savy Soda Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/295726257) | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) |

## What reviewers say

### TextEditor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/texteditor-rich-text-editor/id296222961)

This app provides a straightforward rich text editor for creating and editing documents on the go. It supports various file formats and offers seamless synchronization with Google Docs. Users can easily manage their saved files and enjoy a clean interface.

**Highlights:** Rich text editing, Google Docs synchronization, Portrait/Landscape mode, Multiple file format support, Save and browse files, Clean user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Useful for basic text editing
- 👍 Allows formatting like bold, italic, and underline
- 🚀 Lightweight and fast

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss
- 🔍 Difficult to find and manage saved files
- 🔍 Limited file format support
- 🔍 Lack of advanced features like search and spell check
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to access cloud storage services
- Saved files sometimes disappear or become inaccessible
- Formatting issues when copying and pasting text

**Requested features**

- Improved file management and organization
- Support for more file formats like .docx and .pdf
- Addition of search, spell check, and other advanced editing tools
- Option to disable ads or pay a one-time fee for ad-free usage


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextEditor free?

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

### Is Ulysses free?

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

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

Ulysses is rated higher. TextEditor averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Ulysses averages 4.6 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do TextEditor or Ulysses have ads?

TextEditor shows ads; Ulysses does not.

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

TextEditor ships an update every 10 months, and Ulysses every 3 weeks. Most recently, TextEditor was updated on November 6, 2026 and Ulysses on November 7, 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.*