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Productivity · head to head

Granola vs Ulysses

Granola logo

Granola

Productivity

AI notepad that transcribes meetings and merges transcripts with user notes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ulysses logo

Ulysses

Productivity

Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Granola has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Granola free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded; Ulysses no free tier available
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Granola and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Granola and Ulysses differ
AttributeGranolaUlysses
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft TeamsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
FoundedUnknown2003

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 Granola

Nothing recorded that Ulysses does not also cover.

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.

Granola

  • Automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-takernot Ulysses
  • Action item extraction and task assignmentnot Ulysses
  • Meeting context retrieval via AI agent queriesnot Ulysses
  • Multi-language meeting transcriptionnot Ulysses
  • Compliance-friendly note generation for regulated industriesnot Ulysses

Ulysses

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

Where each one falls short

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

Granola

  • Free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded
  • Premium pricing not published on main website; requires account signup or sales contact
  • Requires local computer audio; not suitable for purely phone-based calls via traditional phone lines
  • Note retention limits may affect long-term project documentation

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

Granola

Free
  • BasicFree
    • AI meeting notes with limited history
    • AI chat and shared folders
    • Customized templates
  • Business$14/month
    • Unlimited meeting notes and history
    • Advanced AI models
    • Integrations with Notion, Slack, HubSpot
  • Enterprise$35/month
    • Everything in Business plus
    • Enterprise security features
    • Single sign-on (SSO)

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 Granola if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
Granola 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 Granola or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. Granola 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, Granola or Ulysses?
Granola has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Granola and $5.99/month for Ulysses.
Does Granola or Ulysses run on more platforms?
Granola runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use Granola for free?
Yes. Granola has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.
What is Granola best used for?
Granola is most often used for automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-taker, action item extraction and task assignment, meeting context retrieval via ai agent queries, multi-language meeting transcription. Of those, automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-taker and action item extraction and task assignment are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Granola do that Ulysses cannot?
Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Granola: What is Granola's pricing model?

Granola offers a freemium model with a free Basic tier, Business tier at 14 USD per user per month, and Enterprise tier at 35 USD per user per month.

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
Granola: What features are included in the free tier?

The free Basic tier includes AI meeting notes with limited history, AI chat, shared folders, customized templates, and multi-language support.

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
Granola: What integrations does Granola support?

Granola Business tier and above support integrations with Notion, Slack, HubSpot, and includes API access with MCP integration capabilities.

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
Granola: What enterprise security features are included?

Enterprise tier includes single sign-on (SSO), priority support, admin controls, org-wide data deletion policies, and enterprise-grade security features.

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
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