Free Ulysses Alternatives

The best free alternative to Ulysses is Zettlr, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Ulysses and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Ulysses are CherryTree, Manuskript, FocusWriter and Dendron.

Ulysses alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Novel Authoring Tools or Text Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Ulysses.

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Free + Novel Authoring

Ulysses

Paid • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool

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

Zettlr
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
140 Zettlr alternatives
Zettlr is a one-stop publication workbench that combines many writing features and collects them in one application. It aims at speeding up your workflow and help you write without any interruptions.
- - Zettlr is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ulysses.
- - Zettlr is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ulysses.
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Zettlr Features
1. Support for MarkDownZettlr supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. File TaggingZettlr can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
3. Ad-freeZettlr doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Zettlr without registration.
5. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
6. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Zettlr.
7. Syntax HighlightingZettlr supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
8. Privacy focusedZettlr is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
9. No Coding RequiredZettlr can be used without an coding or programming skills.
Zettelkasten note method
Multiple export options
Zotero integration
Note organization
Link files
Built-in themes
Export to LaTeX
Sync with Nextcloud
Tasklists
Interactive tables
CherryTree
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
29 CherryTree alternatives
A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.
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CherryTree Features
1. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with CherryTree.
2. Syntax HighlightingCherryTree supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
3. Support for MarkDownCherryTree supports MarkDown for document formatting.
4. Code FormattingCherryTree supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
5. PortableCherryTree can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Tree structure
Infinite hierarchical depth
Includes images in notes
Outliner
Tree view
Text-manipulation
Internal linking
Tree-style
Customizable
Export to HTML
Opinions about CherryTree as a Alternative to Ulysses
Most users think CherryTree is a great Ulysses alternative.
Manuskript
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
102 Manuskript alternatives
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.
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Manuskript Features
1. Works OfflineManuskript can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeManuskript doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeManuskript supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownManuskript supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. File VersioningManuskript has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Outliner
Tree structure
Tracking of plots
Distraction-free Writing
Tracking of characters
Plot visualisation
Track Characters
Export to EPUB
Visual timeline
Tracking of locations
Opinions about Manuskript as a Alternative to Ulysses
Most users think Manuskript is a great Ulysses alternative.
FocusWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
88 FocusWriter alternatives
FocusWriter is a fullscreen, distraction-free word processor designed to immerse you as much as possible in your work. The program autosaves your progress, and reloads the last files you had open to make it easy to jump back in during your next writing session, and has many...
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FocusWriter Features
1. Distraction-freeFocusWriter has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. LightweightFocusWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. PortableFocusWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Distraction-free Writing
Customizable
Daily progress tracker
Fullscreen support
Skin customization
Auto-saving
Writing statistics
Tabbed interface
Multiple languages
Opinions about FocusWriter as a Alternative to Ulysses
Most users think FocusWriter is a great Ulysses alternative.
Dendron
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Visual Studio Code
186 Dendron alternatives
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.
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Dendron Features
1. Support for MarkDownDendron supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Dendron.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsDendron can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Privacy focusedDendron is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Local Storage
Block reference
Graph view
VSCode
Backlinks
Quick reference lookup
Publishing
Tagging
Bidirectional links
Built-in themes
Bear
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
iPhone
iPad
210 Bear alternatives
Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app for note-taking and prose, both on the go for iOS devices and for the Mac OS desktop.
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Bear Features
1. Support for MarkDownBear supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
3. Syntax HighlightingBear supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Ad-freeBear doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Works OfflineBear can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Dark ModeBear supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. LightweightBear consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Bear.
9. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Bear without registration.
Distraction-free Writing
Nested tags
Search by tags
Notes synchronisation
Export to Word
Export to PDF
Tagging
Sync with iCloud
Note Manager
WYSIWYG Support
Opinions about Bear as a Alternative to Ulysses
Almost everyone thinks Bear is a great Ulysses alternative.
Notes
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Online
iPhone
iPad
98 Notes alternatives
Use Notes to capture a quick thought, create checklists, sketch ideas, and more. And with iCloud, you can keep your notes up to date across all your devices.
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Notes Features
1. Dark ModeNotes supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Notes simultaneously.
3. Works OfflineNotes can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. Full-Text SearchNotes lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
5. Ad-freeNotes doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Spell CheckingNotes can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Notes without registration.
8. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
9. WYSIWYG SupportNotes integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Sync with iCloud
Sync notes
Local Storage
Pressure Sensitivity
Handwritten Notes
Private notes
Support for MarkDown
Outliner
ThinkComposer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mind Mapping Tool
Windows
180 ThinkComposer alternatives
Create deep visual documents, adaptable and multi-level diagrams, flowcharts, concept maps, mind maps and models.
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ThinkComposer Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsThinkComposer can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Fluxograms
Discontinued
It hasn't been updated since 2015.
yWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Android
Android Tablet
57 yWriter alternatives
yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all manner of story elements (characters, locations, items) as well as place it and rearrange it within the context of chapters.
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yWriter Features
1. LightweightyWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableyWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Outline mode
Project Organization