Top Ulysses Alternatives: Find Your Perfect Writing App
Ulysses is a powerful and popular text editor, particularly favored by creative writers on Apple devices. Its elegant interface and robust features for long-form writing have earned it a dedicated user base. However, not everyone's needs are met by Ulysses, whether due to platform restrictions, pricing, or a desire for different functionalities. If you're searching for a writing tool that offers a similar experience or perhaps something entirely new, this guide to Ulysses alternatives is for you.
Best Ulysses Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free solution, cross-platform compatibility, or specific features like robust note-taking or project management, there are many excellent writing apps that can serve as a worthy alternative to Ulysses. Let's dive into some of the best options available.
Typora
Typora offers a seamless, distraction-free writing experience as a Free, cross-platform app available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It stands out with its real live preview and WYSIWYG features, letting you focus purely on your content. As a strong Ulysses alternative, it supports Markdown, tables, code fences, LaTeX, and provides features like distraction-free UI, export to HTML, Word, and PDF, and live preview for a smooth writing workflow.
Joplin
Joplin is a fantastic Free and Open Source Ulysses alternative for note-taking and to-do management, available across a wide array of platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone. Notes are in Markdown format, searchable, and can be synced with various cloud services. Its end-to-end encryption, hierarchical structure, and ability to import from Evernote make it a versatile and privacy-focused choice for writers who also need robust organization.
CherryTree
CherryTree is a Free and Open Source hierarchical note-taking application for Windows and Linux users. It's a great Ulysses alternative for those who need to organize a large volume of information with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single XML or SQLite file. Its features include a tree structure for organization, password encryption, Markdown support, and the ability to export to HTML and PDF.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a powerful Freemium Ulysses alternative tailored for long writing projects, available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad. It excels at allowing writers to compose in any order, manage scenes, and organize complex narratives. Features like a corkboard, character database, outline mode, and export options to Word, ePub, and PDF make it an ideal choice for novelists and academic writers seeking comprehensive project management.
FocusWriter
FocusWriter is a Free and Open Source, fullscreen, distraction-free word processor for Mac, Windows, and Linux. As a Ulysses alternative focused purely on writing, it provides an immersive environment with features like autosaving, daily progress tracking, and customizable skins. It's perfect for writers who want to eliminate all distractions and simply focus on putting words on the page.
iA Writer
iA Writer is a Commercial Ulysses alternative that prioritizes focus and simplicity, available on Mac, Windows, Android, and iPhone. It offers a truly distraction-free UI, nested folders for organization, and integrates seamlessly with iOS devices. With features like Markdown support, LaTeX support, and a dark theme, it's an excellent choice for writers who value minimalism and a clean, efficient writing environment.
Manuskript
Manuskript is a Free and Open Source Ulysses alternative for writers, compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. It provides comprehensive tools for creative writing, including an outliner, character management, plot development, and a distraction-free editor. Its ability to track characters, locations, and plots, along with Markdown support and export options to ePub and PDF, makes it a robust solution for novelists and storytellers.
Bear
Bear is a Freemium writing app available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, serving as a sleek Ulysses alternative for note-taking and prose. It offers a beautiful interface, Markdown support with inline image support, and robust organization through linking notes and hashtags. Cloud sync and encryption further enhance its appeal for writers who need their notes and drafts accessible and secure across Apple devices.
Zettlr
Zettlr is a Free and Open Source supercharged Markdown editor that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It's an excellent Ulysses alternative for academic and professional writers, combining various writing editor features into one application. It supports file tagging, multiple export options (HTML, LaTeX, Word, PDF), integrated search, and Zotero integration, making it ideal for research-heavy writing.
Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is a Commercial Ulysses alternative for Mac, Windows, and Web, focused on improving writing clarity and boldness. It's less of a full-fledged editor and more of a powerful writing assistant, highlighting wordy sentences, adverbs, passive voice, and complicated words. It offers a distraction-free UI, grammar check, spell checking, and writing suggestions, making it invaluable for polishing your prose.
With such a diverse range of Ulysses alternatives available, from simple distraction-free editors to comprehensive project management tools, you're sure to find an application that perfectly suits your writing style, workflow, and budget. Explore these options and discover the best fit for your next masterpiece.