Ulysses
Distraction-free, library-organized markdown writing for Mac and iOS
At a glance
Long-form writers on Apple platforms managing multiple ongoing projects
Our take
Ulysses is built for writers managing many documents at once — books, blog series, long-running projects — with a sheet-and-group library structure that’s more organized than a folder of loose text files. We think it’s the best long-form writing environment on Apple platforms specifically for people who write consistently and need structure across dozens of pieces. It’s markdown-based and exports cleanly to nearly any format, including direct WordPress publishing. The subscription-only pricing (no perpetual license) is a real sticking point for people used to one-time purchase writing tools.
Key features
- ✓Sheet-and-group document library
- ✓Markdown-based distraction-free editor
- ✓Direct WordPress and Medium publishing
- ✓Goal tracking for word counts
- ✓Export to PDF, Word, ePub, and more
What we like
- ✓Excellent organization for large writing projects
- ✓Clean, distraction-free interface
- ✓Strong export and publishing options
- ✓iCloud sync across Apple devices
What could be better
- ✗Subscription only, no one-time purchase
- ✗Apple-only, no Windows or Android
- ✗Less useful for short, one-off notes
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