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Productivity · head to head

Time Doctor vs Ulysses

Time Doctor logo

Time Doctor

Productivity

Employee time tracking and productivity monitoring

From
$4/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: Time Doctor historical tracking data retention is capped by plan: 3 months on Basic and 6 months on Standard, versus 2 years on Premium and Enterprise; Ulysses subscription only at $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with no one off purchase option
  • They diverge on capability: Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer, Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Time Doctor and Ulysses actually diverge.

Attributes where Time Doctor and Ulysses differ
AttributeTime DoctorUlysses
Starting price$4/month$5.99/month
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, WindowsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS
Founded20112003

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 Time Doctor

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • Screenshots
  • GPS tracking
  • Webcam monitoring
  • Reports and invoicing
  • Mobile apps
  • Team management

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.

Time Doctor

  • Productivitynot Ulysses
  • Collaborationnot Ulysses
  • Task managementnot Ulysses
  • Organizationnot Ulysses

Ulysses

  • Long form writing and drafting across Mac, iPad and iPhonenot Time Doctor
  • Managing a library of drafts with markdown and export to publishing formatsnot Time Doctor

Where each one falls short

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

Time Doctor

  • Historical tracking data retention is capped by plan: 3 months on Basic and 6 months on Standard, versus 2 years on Premium and Enterprise
  • HRIS and Payroll native integrations are paid add-ons at $200 per integration per month
  • Software Cost Insights add-on costs $3 per user per month on top of the base plan

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

Time Doctor

$4/month
  • Basic$4/month
    • Time tracking
    • Reports
    • Mobile apps
  • Standard$6/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Activity monitoring
    • Screenshots
  • Premium$10/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • GPS tracking
    • Webcam snapshots

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 Time Doctor if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Time Doctor 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 Time Doctor or Ulysses better?
Neither clearly leads. Time Doctor starts at $4/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, Time Doctor or Ulysses?
Time Doctor starts at $4/month and Ulysses at $5.99/month.
Does Time Doctor or Ulysses run on more platforms?
Time Doctor runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Ulysses runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS.
What is Time Doctor best used for?
Time Doctor is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what Ulysses is typically brought in for.
What can Time Doctor do that Ulysses cannot?
Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, Screenshots, GPS tracking. Ulysses covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown support, Syntax highlighting, Organization with sheets and groups.
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