Open Source Ulysses Alternatives

The best open source alternative to Ulysses is Zettlr. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Ulysses and 16 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Ulysses are CherryTree, Manuskript, FocusWriter and Dendron.

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

Ulysses alternatives page was last updated

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...

More about Ulysses

Zettlr
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
File Organizer
Mac
Windows
Linux
145 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 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. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
4. Privacy focusedZettlr is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Ad-freeZettlr doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Syntax HighlightingZettlr supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
7. Dark ModeZettlr supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Zettlr.
9. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Zettlr without registration.
Zettelkasten note method
Multiple export options
Zotero integration
Note organization
Link files
Built-in themes
Export to LaTeX
Sync with Nextcloud
Interactive tables
Write files in markdown
CherryTree
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
21 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
100 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
89 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
198 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
ThinkComposer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mind Mapping Tool
Windows
193 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.
novelWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Qt
38 novelWriter alternatives
novelWriter is a Markdown-like text editor designed for writing novels and larger projects of many smaller plain text documents. It uses its own flavor of Markdown that supports a meta data syntax for comments, synopsis and cross-referencing between files.
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novelWriter Features
1. Dark ModenovelWriter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in novelWriter without registration.
3. Support for MarkDownnovelWriter supports MarkDown for document formatting.
4. Privacy focusednovelWriter is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with novelWriter.
6. No TrackingnovelWriter will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Spell CheckingnovelWriter can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
8. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
9. File VersioningnovelWriter has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Tree structure
Comments and metadata saving
Task Time Tracking
No Coding Required
File Tagging
Automatic Backup
Notepack
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Windows
Linux
345 Notepack alternatives
Privacy oriented, without vendor lock in note organizer, todo list desktop application. Work offline with text, markdown and pdf files.
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Notepack Features
Note organization
Knowledge Management
WebDAV Sync
(Un)colored
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
74 (Un)colored alternatives
Next generation desktop rich content editor that saves documents with themes. HTML & Markdown compatible. For Windows, OS X & Linux.
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(Un)colored Features
1. Support for MarkDown(Un)colored supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Discontinued
Last update on April 2021 and last release on November 2016: https://github.com/n457/Uncolored