Software · head to head
iA Writer vs Ulysses
iA Writer
Software
Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode
- From
- $4.99/month
- Rated
- -
Ulysses
Software
Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals
- From
- $5.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: iA Writer licences are per platform rather than per person, at $49.99 for Mac, $49.99 for iPhone and iPad and $29.99 for Windows; Ulysses subscription only at $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with no one off purchase option
- They diverge on capability: iA Writer covers Markdown editing, Ulysses covers Markdown support.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which iA Writer and Ulysses actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 iA Writer
- Markdown editing
- Cross-platform sync
- Typewriter mode
- Focus mode
- Statistics
Only in Ulysses
- Markdown support
- Organization with sheets and groups
- iCloud sync
- Full-screen mode
- Search and filter
Both cover
- Distraction-free writing
- Syntax highlighting
- Dark and light themes
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
iA Writer
- Distraction free markdown writing on desktop and mobilenot Ulysses
- Drafting and exporting long form text with focus modenot Ulysses
Ulysses
- Long form writing and drafting across Mac, iPad and iPhonenot iA Writer
- Managing a library of drafts with markdown and export to publishing formatsnot iA Writer
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
iA Writer
- Licences are per platform rather than per person, at $49.99 for Mac, $49.99 for iPhone and iPad and $29.99 for Windows
- Writing on a Mac and a PC therefore means buying the software twice
Ulysses
- Subscription only at $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with no one off purchase option
- The apps stop being usable as a writing tool when the subscription lapses, since there is no perpetual licence to fall back on
- The student discount is mentioned without a figure on the pricing page
Pricing, plan by plan
iA Writer
$4.99/month- Monthly$4.99/month
- All platforms
- Sync
- All features
- Annual$39.99/year
- All platforms
- Sync
- All features
Ulysses
$5.99/month- Monthly$5.99/month
- All features
- iCloud sync
- Cross-platform access
- Annual$49.99/year
- All features
- iCloud sync
- Cross-platform access
Which should you pick?
Choose iA Writer if
- You need markdown editing.
- You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web.
- You also want cross-platform sync.
Choose Ulysses if
- You need markdown support.
- You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
- You also want organization with sheets and groups.
Questions people ask
- Is iA Writer or Ulysses better?
- Neither clearly leads. iA Writer starts at $4.99/month and Ulysses at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, iA Writer or Ulysses?
- iA Writer starts at $4.99/month and Ulysses at $5.99/month.
- Does iA Writer or Ulysses run on more platforms?
- iA Writer runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
- What is iA Writer best used for?
- iA Writer is most often used for distraction free markdown writing on desktop and mobile, drafting and exporting long form text with focus mode. Of those, distraction free markdown writing on desktop and mobile and drafting and exporting long form text with focus mode are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
- What can iA Writer do that Ulysses cannot?
- iA Writer covers Markdown editing, Cross-platform sync, Typewriter mode, Focus mode. Ulysses covers Markdown support, Organization with sheets and groups, iCloud sync, Full-screen mode. Both handle Distraction-free writing, Syntax highlighting, Dark and light themes.