Is Focusmate or Ulysses better?

Neither clearly leads. Focusmate starts at Free and Ulysses at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Focusmate or Ulysses?

Focusmate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focusmate and $5.99/month for Ulysses.

Does Focusmate or Ulysses run on more platforms?

Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.

Can I use Focusmate for free?

Yes. Focusmate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.

What is Focusmate best used for?

Focusmate is most often used for virtual co-working sessions, accountability partnerships, focus and productivity. Of those, virtual co-working sessions and accountability partnerships are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.

What can Focusmate do that Ulysses cannot?

Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Productivity · head to head

Focusmate vs Ulysses

Focusmate

Productivity

Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Ulysses

Productivity

Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals

From: $5.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only Focusmate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week; Ulysses no free tier available
They diverge on capability: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focusmate and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Focusmate and Ulysses differ
Attribute	Focusmate	Ulysses
Starting price	Free	$5.99/month
Pricing model	freemium	subscription
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Web, IOS, Android	MacOS, IOS, IPadOS
Founded	2017	2003

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Focusmate

25-minute work sessions
Partner matching
Video co-working
Goal setting and tracking
Session history
Reflection notes
Weekly sessions
Mobile-friendly

Only in Ulysses

Distraction-free writing
Markdown support
Syntax highlighting
Organization with sheets and groups
iCloud sync
Dark and light themes
Full-screen mode
Search and filter

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Focusmate

Virtual co-working sessionsnot Ulysses
Accountability partnershipsnot Ulysses
Focus and productivitynot Ulysses

Ulysses

Writing and editing on Apple devicesnot Focusmate
Cross-device document synchronizationnot Focusmate
Markdown-based writingnot Focusmate

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Focusmate

The free plan caps sessions at 3 per week
Unlimited sessions require the Plus plan at $8 per month billed annually or $12 per month billed monthly
The Business plan is priced by quote with no published rate

Ulysses

No free tier available
Only subscription model, no one-time purchase option
Family Sharing limited to 5 additional members (6 total users)

Pricing, plan by plan

Focusmate

Free

FreeFree
- 3 sessions per week
- No credit card required
Plus$8/month
- Unlimited sessions
Business$null/mo
- For enterprises, small businesses, learning communities

Ulysses

$5.99/month

Annual Subscription$39.99/year
- Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
- Full iCloud synchronization
- Frequent improvements and updates
Monthly Subscription$5.99/month
- Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
- Full iCloud synchronization
- Frequent improvements and updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Focusmate if

You need 25-minute work sessions.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, IOS, Android.
You also want partner matching.

Focusmate review

Choose Ulysses if

You need distraction-free writing.
You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
You also want markdown support.

Ulysses review

Questions people ask

Is Focusmate or Ulysses better?: Neither clearly leads. Focusmate starts at Free and Ulysses at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Focusmate or Ulysses?: Focusmate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focusmate and $5.99/month for Ulysses.
Does Focusmate or Ulysses run on more platforms?: Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use Focusmate for free?: Yes. Focusmate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.
What is Focusmate best used for?: Focusmate is most often used for virtual co-working sessions, accountability partnerships, focus and productivity. Of those, virtual co-working sessions and accountability partnerships are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Focusmate do that Ulysses cannot?: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Focusmate: Does Focusmate offer a free plan?

Yes. Focusmate's free plan includes up to 3 sessions per week at no cost, with no credit card required. Session duration is approximately 25 minutes each. Upgrade to Plus to unlock unlimited sessions.

Source

Ulysses: What are Ulysses pricing options?

Ulysses costs $39.99 per year (annual) or $5.99 per month (monthly). Student discounts are available. Volume licensing is available for businesses through their licensing portal.

Source

Focusmate: What is the difference between Plus monthly and annual billing?

Focusmate Plus costs $12 per month when billed monthly, or $8 per month when billed annually. Annual billing provides a 33 percent discount compared to monthly billing.

Source

Ulysses: Does Ulysses include Family Sharing?

Yes, both annual and monthly Ulysses subscriptions include Apple Family Sharing, allowing up to five additional family members to use Ulysses on their devices at no extra cost.

Source

Focusmate: What features are included in Focusmate Business?

Business is designed for enterprises, small businesses, and learning communities, but specific features and pricing are not listed publicly. Contact Focusmate directly for details on Business plan capabilities and costs.

Source

Ulysses: Can I get Ulysses through a subscription service?

Yes, Ulysses is available through the Setapp subscription service as an alternative to direct subscription. Volume licensing is also available for businesses and organizations through their licensing portal.

Source

Ulysses: Does Ulysses pricing vary by location?

Prices listed apply to the U.S., and local pricing may differ in other regions. Check your regional App Store for exact pricing.

Source

Focusmate vs Ulysses

Focusmate

Ulysses

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Focusmate

Only in Ulysses

What people use each for

Focusmate

Ulysses

Where each one falls short

Focusmate

Ulysses

Pricing, plan by plan

Focusmate

Ulysses

Which should you pick?

Choose Focusmate if

Choose Ulysses if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Focusmate

More on Ulysses

Keep looking

Other head to heads