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Productivity · head to head

Mealime vs Ulysses

Mealime logo

Mealime

Productivity

Freemium meal planning app that suggests simple recipes and builds a grocery list, subscription for full customisation

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 Mealime has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mealime its recipe library is its own and deliberately simple, so it does not accommodate importing or organising an existing personal recipe collection the way Paprika does.; Ulysses no free tier available
  • They diverge on capability: Mealime covers Personalised weekly meal plans, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mealime and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Mealime and Ulysses differ
AttributeMealimeUlysses
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelFreemium subscriptionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebMacOS, 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 Mealime

  • Personalised weekly meal plans
  • Consolidated grocery list
  • Simple recipe library
  • Recipe swapping
  • Dietary filters
  • Grocery delivery integration

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.

Mealime

  • Someone who finds deciding what to cook each week more tiring than the cooking itselfnot Ulysses
  • A household with specific dietary restrictions wanting meal suggestions pre-filtered to fit themnot Ulysses
  • A beginner cook who wants simple, short-ingredient recipes rather than an open-ended personal collectionnot Ulysses
  • Someone who wants a grocery list generated automatically from a week of planned meals without manual entrynot Ulysses

Ulysses

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mealime

  • Its recipe library is its own and deliberately simple, so it does not accommodate importing or organising an existing personal recipe collection the way Paprika does.
  • The free tier limits customisation and recipe swaps, pushing habitual users toward the paid Pro subscription for a fuller experience.
  • Recipes lean toward quick, mainstream weeknight cooking, so someone wanting more ambitious or cuisine-specific recipes will find the library thin.
  • Grocery delivery integration is only available in supported markets, so users outside those regions get the grocery list without the delivery convenience.
  • Because meal suggestions come from the Mealime catalogue rather than the wider web, variety is narrower than a service like Paprika that can import from anywhere.

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

Mealime

Free
  • MealimeFree
    • Basic weekly meal plan generation
    • Consolidated grocery list
  • Mealime Pro$5.99/month
    • More recipe swaps and customisation
    • Nutrition tracking
    • Larger recipe library access

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 Mealime if

  • You need personalised weekly meal plans.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want consolidated grocery list.
Mealime 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 Mealime or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. Mealime 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, Mealime or Ulysses?
Mealime has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mealime and $5.99/month for Ulysses.
Does Mealime or Ulysses run on more platforms?
Mealime runs on iOS, Android, Web. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use Mealime for free?
Yes. Mealime has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.
What is Mealime best used for?
Mealime is most often used for someone who finds deciding what to cook each week more tiring than the cooking itself, a household with specific dietary restrictions wanting meal suggestions pre-filtered to fit them, a beginner cook who wants simple, short-ingredient recipes rather than an open-ended personal collection, someone who wants a grocery list generated automatically from a week of planned meals without manual entry. Of those, someone who finds deciding what to cook each week more tiring than the cooking itself and a household with specific dietary restrictions wanting meal suggestions pre-filtered to fit them are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Mealime do that Ulysses cannot?
Mealime covers Personalised weekly meal plans, Consolidated grocery list, Simple recipe library, Recipe swapping. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mealime: Is Mealime free?

There is a free tier with basic weekly plans; a paid Pro subscription unlocks more customisation and nutrition tracking.

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
Mealime: Can I add my own recipes to Mealime?

No, it works from its own recipe library rather than importing external recipes, unlike Paprika.

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
Mealime: Does it integrate with grocery delivery?

Yes, in supported markets, generated grocery lists can be sent to a delivery or pickup service such as Instacart.

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
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