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Productivity · head to head

RowShare vs Ulysses

RowShare logo

RowShare

Productivity

Shared online table where each contributor sees only their own rows

From
On request
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: RowShare it is a table rather than a spreadsheet, so the formula and analysis capability people expect from Excel is not there, and anything requiring modelling or charting has to be exported and finished elsewhere.; Ulysses no free tier available
  • They diverge on capability: RowShare covers Row-level permissions, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RowShare and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where RowShare and Ulysses differ
AttributeRowShareUlysses
Starting priceOn request$5.99/month
PlatformsWebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
FoundedUnknown2003

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 RowShare

  • Row-level permissions
  • Column-level permissions
  • Typed columns
  • Forms
  • Automatic reminders
  • Microsoft Teams integration
  • Zapier connections
  • Excel import and export

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.

RowShare

  • Collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries.not Ulysses
  • Replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month.not Ulysses
  • A shared list where some columns belong to the contributor and others are only for the administrator.not Ulysses
  • A structured departmental table inside Microsoft Teams that does not warrant a full database or a heavier platform licence.not Ulysses

Ulysses

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

Where each one falls short

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

RowShare

  • It is a table rather than a spreadsheet, so the formula and analysis capability people expect from Excel is not there, and anything requiring modelling or charting has to be exported and finished elsewhere.
  • It is a small independent product, so putting a recurring business process on it means a single vendor decision can end that process, and unlike the larger alternatives there is no ecosystem or partner network to fall back on.
  • Integration is largely through Zapier rather than deep native connectors, which adds an intermediary service, another subscription and another place for a data flow to fail silently.
  • The niche it occupies is increasingly covered by list tools included in Microsoft 365, so the purchase has to be justified against something the organisation may already be paying for and already administers.
  • Licensing in this category is per user, so if contributors need accounts rather than form links, an occasional contributor costs the same per head as a daily one, and it is worth confirming which model applies before planning a rollout.

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

RowShare

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the RowShare review.

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 RowShare if

  • You need row-level permissions.
  • You also want column-level permissions.
RowShare 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 RowShare or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. RowShare starts at On request and Ulysses at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RowShare or Ulysses?
RowShare starts at On request and Ulysses at $5.99/month.
Does RowShare or Ulysses run on more platforms?
RowShare runs on Web. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
What is RowShare best used for?
RowShare is most often used for collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries., replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month., a shared list where some columns belong to the contributor and others are only for the administrator., a structured departmental table inside microsoft teams that does not warrant a full database or a heavier platform licence.. Of those, collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries. and replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month. are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can RowShare do that Ulysses cannot?
RowShare covers Row-level permissions, Column-level permissions, Typed columns, Forms. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RowShare: How is this different from a shared spreadsheet?

Sharing is per row rather than per file. Everyone works in one table, and each person sees only their own rows, which removes the consolidation step rather than speeding it up.

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
RowShare: Can I get my data out?

Tables export to Excel and CSV, so the data itself moves. The permission structure, forms and reminders that made the process work do not, so an exit means rebuilding the workflow.

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
RowShare: Is it a database?

No. It is a permissioned table with typed columns, not a relational store you can query, so it collects structured data rather than modelling it.

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
RowShare: Who is behind it?

A French vendor with named enterprise customers. It is a small company, so weigh continuity carefully before making it the home of a process you expect to run for years.

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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