Key takeaways
- Apple Design Award winner focused on long-form writing
- Subscription model at $5.99/month or $39.99/year across all Apple devices
- Two major releases in the past year — v39's Liquid Glass redesign (Nov 2025) and v40 (May 2026) — show active development
FAQ
What is Ulysses app?
Ulysses is a professional markdown writing app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad designed for long-form writers with powerful organization, goals, and export features.
How much does Ulysses cost?
Ulysses costs $5.99/month or $39.99/year as a subscription that includes all Apple devices with iCloud sync.
Who competes with Ulysses?
Competitors include iA Writer, Scrivener, Bear, and Byword in the professional writing app space.
Executive Summary
Ulysses is a professional writing application for Apple devices created by Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG, a small team based in Leipzig, Germany.[1] Founded in 2011 by Marcus Fehn and Max Seelemann—who have a long history creating writing software for Mac—Ulysses won the Apple Design Award in 2016. The app's predecessor launched in 2003 as the first text processing software specifically aimed at creative writers.[2]
As of June 2026 the app remains under active development: version 40 shipped May 5, 2026 with a reworked iPad main menu and native Word equation export, following version 39's November 2025 redesign around Apple's Liquid Glass design language.[3][4]
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG |
| Founded | 2011 (Writing software since 2003) |
| Funding | Bootstrapped |
| Employees | ~16 |
| Headquarters | Leipzig, Germany |
| Current Version | 40 (May 5, 2026)[3] |
Product Overview
Ulysses combines a distraction-free writing environment with powerful organization and publishing features.[2] The app uses a unified library system to manage all writing in one place, with groups, filters, and keywords for organization. Built specifically for long-form writers, it includes writing goals, statistics, a built-in grammar and style checker covering 20+ languages, and direct publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog.[2]
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Library System | Unified storage for all writing with groups and filters |
| Writing Goals | Track progress with word count and deadline targets |
| Markdown XL | Extended markdown syntax with code, comments, annotations |
| Grammar & Style Check | Built-in text check in 20+ languages[2] |
| Publishing | Direct export to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, Micro.blog, ePub |
| Seamless Sync | Full iCloud synchronization across Apple devices |
Product Surfaces / Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Native Mac app | GA |
| iOS | iPhone app | GA |
| iPadOS | iPad app with keyboard support | GA |
Recent Developments (2025–2026)
- Version 40 (May 5, 2026) — iPad main menu completely reworked to mirror the Mac app, separately toggleable line marker and fixed scrolling, themes selectable from the View menu, copy/paste for sheets and groups, and mathematical equations exported as native Word equations (OMML).[3]
- Version 39 (November 17, 2025) — major redesign embracing Apple's Liquid Glass design language across library, dashboard, toolbars, and buttons; resizable dashboard on Mac and iPad; Revision Mode moved into a dedicated dashboard tab; a "Hide Interface" editor-only mode; swipe actions; project sharing as zipped archives; and copy support for Substack and Basecamp.[4][5]
- Version 38 (May 13, 2025) — expanded library customization, iCloud section renamed to "Notes," and 60+ new group icons.[3]
Notably, Ulysses has not added generative-AI writing features as of June 2026—the marketing instead positions it as "a lightweight composing app that is faster and more elegant than any big-tech competitor."[2]
Technical Architecture
Ulysses uses its own internal library format based on groups and sheets, synced via iCloud.[6] While it writes in a markdown-like syntax, files are stored in a proprietary format rather than plain .md files.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Storage | Proprietary library (iCloud sync) |
| Format | Markdown XL (Ulysses-specific extensions) |
| Export | Plain text, Markdown, PDF, DOCX, HTML, ePub |
| Sync | iCloud (built-in, no extra cost) |
| Open Source | No |
Strengths
- Purpose-built for writers — Designed specifically for long-form writing with goals, statistics, and organization[2]
- All devices included — Single subscription covers Mac, iPhone, and iPad with seamless sync[7]
- Publishing integration — Direct publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog
- Professional export — Clean export to ePub, PDF, DOCX with customizable styles
- Active development — Two major releases (v39, v40) shipped between November 2025 and May 2026[3]
- Family Sharing — Subscription can be shared with up to 5 family members[7]
Cautions
- Subscription-only — No one-time purchase option; $40/year ongoing cost[7]
- Apple-only — No Windows, Android, or web version available
- Proprietary storage — Notes stored in library format, not plain markdown files[8]
- Sync concerns — Some users report sync issues, stuck downloads, and occasional data reordering[8]
- Controversial switch — 2017 move from one-time purchase to subscription upset long-time users[9]
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $5.99/month | All features, all Apple devices |
| Yearly | $39.99/year | All features, all Apple devices |
| Student | Discounted | Reduced pricing for students |
| Business | Custom | Volume licensing available |
Pricing is unchanged as of June 2026: $5.99/month or $39.99/year, covering all Macs, iPads, and iPhones with full iCloud sync and Family Sharing for up to 5 additional family members. Ulysses is also available through the Setapp subscription bundle.[7]
Licensing model: Subscription with Apple Family Sharing
Hidden costs: Subscription never ends; stopping means losing access to writing features (can still export)
What Users Say
The r/ulyssesapp community thread "Worried about Ulysses—should I be?" captures the app's polarized reputation on sync reliability.[8]
Praise:
"I've been a heavy user since Ulysses 2. Never lost anything. It is rock solid." — u/Distinct_Accounting[8]
"I'm sticking to Ulysses for novels because it's still the most reliable way to have my projects synced between devices, including structure, tags, notes and everything else the app offers that's writing-related." — u/TheRabidOstrich[8]
Criticism:
"Be very careful with Ulysses - I love the writing on the app, but the sync issues are very prevalent. As we speak I've got 20 projects stuck in 'Download' and old versions of papers... Ulysses support keeps blaming it on Apple." — u/Fair_Trust_1697[8]
"I'm still doing multiple backups of Ulysses, still suffering from weird random problems, and still living with it because I haven't found anything else." — u/papasong[8]
The pragmatic consensus in the thread: keep using it for the writing experience, but maintain regular manual backups by exporting plain .md files to local folders.[8]
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| iA Writer | Ulysses has more organization; iA Writer is one-time purchase |
| Scrivener | Ulysses is simpler with better sync; Scrivener has more research tools |
| Bear | Ulysses is for long-form writing; Bear is for shorter notes |
When to Choose Ulysses Over Alternatives
- Choose Ulysses when: You're a serious long-form writer who values organization and publishing
- Choose iA Writer when: You want focused writing without subscription
- Choose Scrivener when: You need research management and complex document structure
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Long-form writers (novelists, bloggers, journalists)
- Apple ecosystem users with multiple devices
- Writers who publish directly to web platforms
Poor fit:
- Occasional note-takers
- Users who need Windows or Android
- People opposed to subscription software
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Strong |
| Market Position | Leader (professional writing) |
| Innovation Pace | Active (v39 redesign Nov 2025, v40 May 2026) |
| Community/Ecosystem | Established |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive |
Ulysses GmbH has operated since 2011 with a focused team of around 16 people.[1] The company's roots go back to 2003 in writing software, and the steady release cadence through mid-2026—including a full interface redesign for Apple's Liquid Glass era—demonstrates continued long-term commitment to the space.[3][4]
Bottom Line
Ulysses is the professional writer's choice in the Apple ecosystem—combining focused writing with powerful organization and publishing workflows. The subscription model funds ongoing development, which has stayed visibly active through the v39 Liquid Glass redesign and v40, but sync-reliability complaints persist in the community and the proprietary library format makes regular exports prudent.
Recommended for: Serious long-form writers in the Apple ecosystem who value organization and publishing features.
Not recommended for: Casual note-takers, subscription-averse users, anyone needing Windows/Android support, or writers unwilling to maintain their own backups against occasional sync hiccups.
Outlook: Stable leader for professional Apple writers; subscription model and consistent release cadence ensure sustainable development.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology