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Ulysses alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Ulysses: apple devices only, and subscription pricing. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Ulysses, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. iA Writer currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1iA Writer logoiA WriterPaidNomacOS, Windows, iOS4 of 466.5
2Scrivener logoScrivenerPaidNomacOS, Windows, iOS3 of 362.6
3Obsidian logoObsidianFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +22 of 361.5
  1. iA Writer logo

    1. iA WriterTop pick

    Best for: Writers who want a distraction-free Markdown editor and plain-text files

    PaidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulysses

    One-time purchase with plain-text files and a Windows version.

    Pros

    • Focus Mode and style checks keep writing tight
    • Plain-text Markdown files with no lock-in
    • One-time purchase per platform

    Cons

    • No page layout, complex tables or tracked changes
    • Separate purchase for each platform
    • No real-time collaboration
    Visit iA Writer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is iA Writer a good Ulysses alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    7 days, no card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ia.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac price
    $49.99 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ia.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows price
    $29.99 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ia.net(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirements
    macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ia.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Scrivener logo

    2. Scrivener

    Best for: Novelists, screenwriters and academics working on book-length projects

    PaidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulysses

    Stronger for book-length projects, with a one-time license.

    Pros

    • Binder, corkboard and outliner make restructuring long drafts easy
    • Research files live inside the project
    • One-time purchase rather than a subscription

    Cons

    • Compile and settings have a steep learning curve
    • No real-time collaboration
    • Mobile sync relies on Dropbox
    Visit Scrivener Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Scrivener a good Ulysses alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free trial
    30 days of use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Export formats
    Word, PDF, Final Draft, plain text
    Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Import formats
    Word, OpenOffice, Final Draft, PDF and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Obsidian logo

    3. Obsidian

    Best for: People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    61.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulysses

    Free Markdown editor with local files and cross-platform support.

    Pros

    • Notes are plain Markdown files you own
    • Works fully offline
    • Huge plugin ecosystem

    Cons

    • Official sync is a paid add-on
    • Real-time collaboration is limited
    Visit Obsidian Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Obsidian a good Ulysses alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up required
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown files
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Paid add-on
    Not checked yetobsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)

The best Ulysses alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

iA Writer logo

Best Ulysses alternative for most people

iA Writer

One-time purchase with plain-text files and a Windows version.

Bear logo

Best Ulysses alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bear

Cheaper Markdown notes and writing app on Apple devices.

Scrivener logo

Best Ulysses alternative for Mac

Scrivener

Stronger for book-length projects, with a one-time license.

Obsidian logo

Best Ulysses alternative for Windows

Obsidian

Free Markdown editor with local files and cross-platform support.

Obsidian logo

Best Ulysses alternative for Linux

Obsidian

Free Markdown editor with local files and cross-platform support.

Obsidian logo

Best Ulysses alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

Free Markdown editor with local files and cross-platform support.

Apple Pages logo

Best Ulysses alternative for working in the browser

Apple Pages

Free on Apple devices when you need page layout rather than pure writing.

Ulysses alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Ulysses?

iA Writer ranks first right now. One-time purchase with plain-text files and a Windows version. Bear and Scrivener follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Ulysses?

Yes. Bear (free plan + paid), Obsidian (free plan + paid) and Apple Pages (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Ulysses?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Ulysses alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Ulysses?

The complaints we hear most: apple devices only; subscription pricing; library storage is less portable than plain files.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Ulysses, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.