The Best Ulysses AlternativesTop Text Editors & Novel Authoring Tools like Ulysses

Ulysses is described as 'Text editor for creative writers. Used by bloggers, poets, students and published novelists all over the world, it offers an integrated environment to brainstorm, draft, revise and even submit text on a professional level' and is a popular Text Editor in the news & books category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Ulysses for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Ulysses alternative is Typora. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Zettlr or CherryTree. Other great apps like Ulysses are Microsoft Word, Scrivener, Manuskript and Dendron.

Ulysses iconUlysses
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Ulysses is a text editor for creative writers. Used by bloggers, poets, students and published novelists all over the...

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Ulysses alternatives page was last updated Apr 5, 2024
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Alternatives
  1. Typora icon

    Typora

     321 likes
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    A minimalist Markdown editor offering cross-platform synchronization, live preview, and seamless export/import in various formats like PDF, DOCX, and LaTeX. Features include distraction-free Focus and Typewriter modes, file management with tree and articles panels, and content organization through an outline panel.

    170 Typora alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    Typora screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Clean design
    5.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Live Preview
    3.  Write files in markdown
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Save as Markdown
    6.  Simple text editor
    7. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Multiplatform
    10.  Export to PDF
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Works Offline

    Typora VS Ulysses

     
    Comments about Typora as an Alternative to Ulysses
    Wonder Warthog
    Positive •Oct 24, 2017
    4

    Also features a handy files panel to the left. Display and editing is distraction free and very clean (cleaner than Ulysses).

    Ulysses Icon
    Typora icon

    • Most users think Typora is a great Ulysses alternative.

    • Typora is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ulysses.

    • Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to Ulysses.

    • Typora is Paid and ProprietaryUlysses is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Typora is LightweightUlysses is not according to our users
  2. Zettlr icon

    Zettlr

     223 likes
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    Unified writing platform offering note-taking, easy citations with Zotero integration, LaTeX/Word templates, snippets, themes, dark modes, code highlighting, multi-language support, and knowledge management with Zettelkasten for seamless writing from notes to books.

    163 Zettlr alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Export to LaTeX
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Write files in markdown

    Zettlr VS Ulysses

     

    • Zettlr is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ulysses.

    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceUlysses is Paid and Proprietary
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusedUlysses is not according to our users
  4. Microsoft Word icon

    Microsoft Word

     926 likes
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    Microsoft's leading word processor, enables professional-quality document creation with SmartArt graphics, seamless PDF support, and extensive search capabilities. Compatible across desktop, online, and mobile platforms with necessary subscription or standalone purchase options.

    91 Microsoft Word alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    New document view

    Top Microsoft Word Features

    1.  Convert Word documents to PDF
    2.  Document structure management
    3.  Ribbon Interface
    4.  Text to Speech
    5.  Real time collaboration
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Full-Text Search
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  PDF annotation

    Microsoft Word VS Ulysses

     

    • Microsoft Word is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Ulysses.

    • Microsoft Word is Paid and ProprietaryUlysses is also Paid and Proprietary
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    Scrivener icon
    Scrivener

    Tailored for extensive writing, this tool offers flexible structure and organization, integrates project outlines, supports various formats, and allows reorganization through drag and drop, ensuring research materials are within ...

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  6. CherryTree icon

    CherryTree

     311 likes
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    Hierarchical note-taking software that is free, open-source, cross-platform. Features include rich text, syntax highlighting, multi-level lists, embedded files, customizable interface, code execution, PDF export, spell check, images & tables, and comprehensive project management support.

    76 CherryTree alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    CherryTree screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Infinite hierarchical depth
    4.  Includes images in notes
    5.  Outliner
    6.  Tree view
    7.  Tree Style Tabs
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Portable
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  No registration required

    CherryTree VS Ulysses

     
  7. Scrivener icon

    Scrivener

     256 likes
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    Tailored for extensive writing, this tool offers flexible structure and organization, integrates project outlines, supports various formats, and allows reorganization through drag and drop, ensuring research materials are within reach for efficient work.

    106 Scrivener alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    Scrivener screenshot 1

    Top Scrivener Features

    1.  Corkboard
    2.  Document compiler
    3.  Character database
    4.  Scene Management
    5.  Visual Organization
    6.  Split files into sections
    7.  Support for scripting
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Multi-document View
    10.  Integrated Search
    11.  Folders
    12.  Word counter

    Scrivener VS Ulysses

     
    Comments about Scrivener as an Alternative to Ulysses
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Jul 20, 2018
    3

    Ulysses is WYSIWYM, while Scrivener is WYSIWYG. It can be extremely time-consuming to set the font styling right in every dialog box that controls the fonts. Ulysses, on the other hand, has one font setting, then the styles dictate how the editor is displayed. It's much more focused on content than appearance.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative •Aug 29, 2021
    0

    Not convenient about keyboard shortcuts on formatting on windows platform

    Guest
    Negative •Feb 3, 2021
    0

    Scrivener is a terrible alternative to Ulysses. It's not a markdown editor, the interface is cluttered, and there are so many features that are cumbersome and unintuitive that it takes forever to figure them out. With Ulysses, it's more what you see is what you get. You can focus more on writing. You don't have to try to learn the app as much, and it's markdown, so you can focus on content, not formatting.

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    3 of 5 comments
    Ulysses Icon
    Scrivener icon

    • Most users think Scrivener is a great Ulysses alternative.

    • Scrivener is Paid and ProprietaryUlysses is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     160 likes
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    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    109 Manuskript alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Track Characters
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for MarkDown

    Manuskript VS Ulysses

     
  10. Dendron icon

    Dendron

     66 likes
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    Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.

    192 Dendron alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Hierarchical Structure
    4.  Block reference
    5.  Graph view
    6.  VSCode
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Backlinks
    9.  Quick reference lookup
    10.  Publishing
    11.  Tagging
    12.  Bidirectional links

    Dendron VS Ulysses

     
  11. FocusWriter icon

    FocusWriter

     204 likes
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    Simple but configurable and themeable, distraction-free text editor for writers. Open-source and available across desktop platforms.

    96 FocusWriter alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Distraction-free Writing
    2.  Daily progress tracker
    3.  Fullscreen support
    4.  Skin customization
    5.  Auto-saving
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Spell Checking
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Writing statistics
    12.  Multiple languages

    FocusWriter VS Ulysses

     
  12. Marknote icon

    Marknote

     18 likes
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    Marknote lets you create rich text notes and easily organise them into notebooks. You can personalise your notebooks by choosing an icon and accent color for each one, making it easy to distinguish between them and keep your notes at your fingertips.

    85 Marknote alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Marknote screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Save as Markdown
    5.  Notebook
    6.  KDE
    7.  No registration required
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Note Manager

    Marknote VS Ulysses

     
  13. iA Writer icon

    iA Writer

     94 likes
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    The key to good writing is not that magical glass of Bordeaux, the right kind of tobacco or that groovy background music. The key is focus. What you need to write well is a spartan setting that allows you to fully concentrate on your text and nothing but your text.

    116 iA Writer alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    iA Writer screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Distraction-free Writing
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Nested Folders
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  No registration required
    9. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Integrated into iOS

    iA Writer VS Ulysses

     
    Comments about iA Writer as an Alternative to Ulysses
    hildissent
    Positive •Nov 26, 2018
    6

    Solid application. I like the file browser in Ulysses better (tags are cool but can get messy), but iA Writer has some solid features like referencing files (write frequently used text once, update it at the source and be sure it is up to date anywhere it is used in the larger work) and using .csv files for tables. Also, they've avoided the subscription model. As long as there are alternatives, I'm not letting companies ding me for monthly fees.

    Guest
    Positive •Jun 3, 2020
    1

    I use iA Writer on Mac and mobiles and it is a first-class tool for handling notes and actual writing. In some ways I prefer it to Ulysses -- it's a proper Markdown editor and I can write jumps and anchors on long documents. I have a iA licence for Windows for when I use that platform.

    Ulysses Icon
    iA Writer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks iA Writer is a great Ulysses alternative.

    • iA Writer is Paid and ProprietaryUlysses is also Paid and Proprietary
    • iA Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightUlysses is not according to our users
10 of 111 Ulysses alternatives