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Productivity · head to head

Memtime vs Ulysses

Memtime logo

Memtime

Productivity

Automatic time tracking that never leaves your machine

From
€10/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ulysses logo

Ulysses

Productivity

Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Memtime no free tier. There is a 14 day trial and after that the cheapest route is €10 a user a month on a two-year commitment, or €15 quarterly.; Ulysses no free tier available
  • They diverge on capability: Memtime covers Automatic activity timeline, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 24 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memtime and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Memtime and Ulysses differ
AttributeMemtimeUlysses
Starting price€10/month$5.99/month
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
Founded20162003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Memtime

  • Automatic activity timeline
  • Local-only storage
  • Timesheet automation
  • Offline tracking
  • 100+ project software integrations
  • Calendar integration
  • Phone call tracking
  • Billability reporting

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.

Memtime

  • Reconstructing a day nobody remembered to timenot Ulysses
  • Billing clients accurately without running a stopwatchnot Ulysses
  • Tracking time where activity data must not leave the machinenot Ulysses
  • Filling timesheets in Jira or Asana from a recorded timelinenot Ulysses
  • Separating billable from non-billable work after the factnot Ulysses

Ulysses

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

Where each one falls short

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

Memtime

  • No free tier. There is a 14 day trial and after that the cheapest route is €10 a user a month on a two-year commitment, or €15 quarterly.
  • The integrations most buyers arrive for are on Connect, not Basic, so the entry tier is a local tracker with no link to the project software you already run.
  • Desktop only. There is no mobile app, so work done away from the computer has to be entered by hand.
  • Local-only storage is the product's point and also its limit: there is no central view for a manager, and a lost or wiped machine takes its timeline with it.
  • Tracking is at five or six minute granularity rather than to the second, which is right for reconstructing a day and wrong for anyone billing in one-minute units.

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

Memtime

€10/month
  • Basic$15/month
    • Per user, quarterly billing
    • €12 annual, €10 on two years
    • Automatic desktop tracking
  • Connect$22/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • €18 annual, €15 on two years
    • 100+ software integrations
  • Premium$30/month
    • Everything in Connect
    • €25 annual, €20 on two years
    • Call system integrations
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom pricing from 50 seats
    • From €10 a month on a two-year term
    • Team trial and onboarding

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 Memtime if

  • You need automatic activity timeline.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want local-only storage.
Memtime 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 Memtime or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. Memtime starts at €10/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, Memtime or Ulysses?
Memtime starts at €10/month and Ulysses at $5.99/month.
Does Memtime or Ulysses run on more platforms?
Memtime runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
What is Memtime best used for?
Memtime is most often used for reconstructing a day nobody remembered to time, billing clients accurately without running a stopwatch, tracking time where activity data must not leave the machine, filling timesheets in jira or asana from a recorded timeline. Of those, reconstructing a day nobody remembered to time and billing clients accurately without running a stopwatch are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Memtime do that Ulysses cannot?
Memtime covers Automatic activity timeline, Local-only storage, Timesheet automation, Offline tracking. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memtime: Does Memtime send my activity data to a server?

No. Activity is stored locally on the device that recorded it and never reaches a server, which is the basis of the product's "built for privacy" positioning and why no manager console exists.

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
Memtime: What does Memtime cost?

Per user per month, falling with commitment: Basic is €15 quarterly, €12 annual or €10 on two years. Connect is €22, €18 or €15. Premium is €30, €25 or €20. Enterprise is custom from 50 seats. Every tier has a 14 day trial with no card required.

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
Memtime: Which plan includes the integrations?

Connect and above. Basic covers automatic tracking, timesheets, calendars and reporting, but the 100+ project software integrations and the sync with them start at Connect.

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
Memtime: How does the automatic tracking work?

It records the program and document in your foreground window at five or six minute granularity and builds a timeline from that. There is no timer to start, so nothing is lost to forgetting.

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
Memtime: Which platforms does it run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktops. There is no mobile application.

Source
Memtime: Who makes Memtime?

Memtime GmbH, a German company founded in 2016.

Source
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