# Zoho Writer vs Ulysses

The clearest difference is rating: Ulysses at 4.6 against Zoho Writer's 2.9. Ulysses also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 30%) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 140). Zoho Writer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). 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. Zoho Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ulysses holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ulysses has 2.1K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Zoho Writer's written reviews are positive against 67% of Ulysses's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zoho Writer | Ulysses |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoho-writer-document-editor/id808719064/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 140 | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | **67.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 132 MB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zoho Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/388384807) | [Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/385113765) |

## What reviewers say

### Zoho Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoho-writer-document-editor/id808719064)

Create and edit documents with a clean, distraction-free interface. Collaborate with others in real-time, import and export various file formats, and access your work across all devices. Your changes are automatically saved and synced.

**Highlights:** Create and edit documents, Real-time collaboration, Import/export MS Word, PDF, ODT, Sync across devices, Offline access, Automatic saving

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface design
- 🔒 Privacy-focused alternative to Google Docs
- 📝 Good font variety and formatting options
- 💾 Automatic document saving
- 🌐 Cross-platform functionality (desktop, mobile, web)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⚠️ Severe data loss issues
- 🐢 Significant lag and slow typing response
- ❌ Missing core formatting features on mobile
- 🔐 Permission and access errors

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on document open
- Cursor jumps randomly in document
- Keyboard disappears during typing
- Punctuation disappears after saving
- Text erased or goes missing

**Requested features**

- Dark mode for mobile app
- Text wrapping around images
- Adjustable image sizing
- Cover page and page formatting options
- Document list view (not just icon view)


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zoho Writer free?

Zoho Writer 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, Zoho Writer or Ulysses?

Ulysses is rated higher. Zoho Writer averages 2.9 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while Ulysses averages 4.6 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do Zoho Writer or Ulysses have ads?

Neither Zoho Writer nor Ulysses shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zoho Writer or Ulysses?

Zoho Writer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ulysses every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zoho Writer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Ulysses on October 27, 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.*