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Ulysses

Distraction-free writing application for creative professionals

As of 30 August 2026, Ulysses starts at $5.99/month. Ulysses is a writing application exclusively for Apple devices that emphasizes minimalism and focus. Softwr lists it under Productivity. Ulysses is made by Ulysses (The Omni Group), launched in 2003, available on macOS, iOS.

Overview

What Ulysses does

Ulysses is a writing application exclusively for Apple devices that emphasizes minimalism and focus. With a clean interface, powerful text editing, organizational tools, and export options, Ulysses is perfect for writers, journalists, and content creators.

What people use it for

  • Writing and editing on Apple devices
  • Cross-device document synchronization
  • Markdown-based writing

The honest half

Where it falls short

Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about Ulysses.

  • No free tier available
  • Only subscription model, no one-time purchase option
  • Family Sharing limited to 5 additional members (6 total users)

Cross-shopped

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Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.

Pricing

What Ulysses costs

Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.

Annual Subscription

$39.99 /yr

  • Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
  • Full iCloud synchronization
  • Frequent improvements and updates
  • New releases via App Store
  • Apple Family Sharing for up to 5 family members
  • Student discount available

Monthly Subscription

$5.99 /mo

  • Ulysses on all Macs, iPads, and iPhones
  • Full iCloud synchronization
  • Frequent improvements and updates
  • New releases via App Store
  • Apple Family Sharing for up to 5 family members

Capabilities

Features

  • Distraction-free writing

  • Markdown support

  • Syntax highlighting

  • Organization with sheets and groups

  • iCloud sync

  • Dark and light themes

  • Full-screen mode

  • Search and filter

Answered, with sources

Questions people ask

Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

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
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
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
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

Behind it

Who makes Ulysses

Company
Ulysses (The Omni Group)
Based in
Lisbon, Portugal
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Where to go from Ulysses

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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Ulysses, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.

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