Softwr

Productivity · head to head

SignWell vs Ulysses

SignWell logo

SignWell

Productivity

Electronic signature service priced per sender, with unlimited documents on paid plans

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 SignWell has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SignWell the free plan stops at three documents a month, which makes it a trial rather than a tier, so any genuine use converts to a paid seat within weeks.; Ulysses no free tier available
  • They diverge on capability: SignWell covers Per-sender pricing, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SignWell and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where SignWell and Ulysses differ
AttributeSignWellUlysses
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebMacOS, 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 SignWell

  • Per-sender pricing
  • Free signers
  • Free plan
  • Templates
  • Audit trail
  • Automatic reminders
  • In-person signing
  • Bulk send and template links

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.

SignWell

  • A small business sending a steady flow of contracts from one or two people, where per-envelope pricing elsewhere adds up faster than a seat would.not Ulysses
  • Replacing print, sign and scan for client agreements, offers of employment and consent forms.not Ulysses
  • Embedding signing into your own product through the API without committing to enterprise pricing first.not Ulysses
  • Repeated onboarding paperwork sent from a template with automatic chasing rather than manual reminders.not Ulysses

Ulysses

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

Where each one falls short

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

SignWell

  • The free plan stops at three documents a month, which makes it a trial rather than a tier, so any genuine use converts to a paid seat within weeks.
  • Pricing is per sender, so an organisation where many people occasionally need to send something either buys seats for staff who send a handful of documents a year or funnels everything through one person and creates a bottleneck.
  • Templates are rationed by tier, at one on free and five per sender on the entry plan, and templates are what makes the tool worth using at all, so the practical entry point is a tier above the headline price.
  • It is a smaller vendor in a category where signed agreements must be retrievable years later, so the safe practice is downloading every signed document and its audit certificate into your own storage rather than relying on the account still existing.
  • It provides standard electronic signatures rather than acting as a qualified trust service provider, so any transaction requiring a qualified electronic signature under European rules needs a different supplier alongside it.

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

SignWell

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 sender
    • 1 template
    • 3 documents per month
  • Light$10/month
    • Annual pricing: $10/month (monthly: $12/month)
    • 1 sender
    • 5 templates per sender
  • Business$30/month
    • Annual pricing: $30/month (monthly: $36/month)
    • 3 senders
    • Unlimited templates and documents
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing for teams of 50+
    • High volume support
    • Advanced compliance needs

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 SignWell if

  • You need per-sender pricing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want free signers.
SignWell 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 SignWell or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. SignWell 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, SignWell or Ulysses?
SignWell has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SignWell and $5.99/month for Ulysses.
Does SignWell or Ulysses run on more platforms?
SignWell runs on Web. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
Can I use SignWell for free?
Yes. SignWell has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ulysses starts at $5.99/month.
What is SignWell best used for?
SignWell is most often used for a small business sending a steady flow of contracts from one or two people, where per-envelope pricing elsewhere adds up faster than a seat would., replacing print, sign and scan for client agreements, offers of employment and consent forms., embedding signing into your own product through the api without committing to enterprise pricing first., repeated onboarding paperwork sent from a template with automatic chasing rather than manual reminders.. Of those, a small business sending a steady flow of contracts from one or two people, where per-envelope pricing elsewhere adds up faster than a seat would. and replacing print, sign and scan for client agreements, offers of employment and consent forms. are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can SignWell do that Ulysses cannot?
SignWell covers Per-sender pricing, Free signers, Free plan, Templates. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SignWell: Do signers need an account or a licence?

No. Recipients open a link, sign and are done, with no account and no cost. You pay only for the people who send documents.

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
SignWell: What does the free plan actually allow?

Three documents a month, one sender and one template, along with a small monthly allowance of API documents. It does not include custom branding or bulk send.

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
SignWell: Is an electronic signature legally binding?

Electronic signatures are recognised for most commercial agreements under the relevant American and European frameworks, and SignWell records an audit trail. Certain instruments are excluded by statute, and anything requiring a qualified signature needs a qualified provider.

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
SignWell: How hard is it to leave?

The signed documents are ordinary PDFs you can download with their certificates, so the records move easily. Your templates and the workflows built around them do not.

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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