Scrivener vs Ulysses
Last verified · repository stats fetched 27 Oct 2026
Both are long-form writing apps used by novelists, bloggers and non-fiction writers. Scrivener is built around a binder, corkboard and compile step for structuring big manuscripts, and runs on Windows too. Ulysses is a focused Markdown-style editor with one library synced across Mac, iPad and iPhone.
| Scrivener | Ulysses | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Proprietary Proprietary | Proprietary Proprietary |
| Source code | Not open source | Not open source |
| Runs on | Windows, macOS, iOS | macOS, iOS |
| Price model | One-off licence per platform | Subscription ($39.99/yr or $5.99/mo) |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 30 days | Yes, on all devices |
| Free alternative to | Microsoft Word | Scrivener |
Key differences
- Scrivener is sold as a licence per platform (macOS, Windows, iOS), with a Mac+Windows bundle and a 30-day free trial. (literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener)
- Ulysses is a subscription covering Mac, iPad and iPhone, listed at $39.99 a year or $5.99 a month, with a free trial on all devices. (ulysses.app/pricing · ulysses.app)
- Scrivener has a corkboard for rearranging a manuscript, and is available for iOS, macOS and Windows. (literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview)
- Ulysses has no Windows or Android version; it describes itself as the writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. (ulysses.app)
Which should you pick?
- Scrivener: Pick Scrivener if you write on Windows as well as Apple devices, want to pay once, or need heavy structuring and compile options for a long manuscript.
- Ulysses: Pick Ulysses if you write only on Apple devices and prefer a clean editor with seamless sync, and don't mind a subscription.
This verdict is based on the documented facts above, not on hands-on testing.
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Sources: literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener · ulysses.app/pricing · ulysses.app · literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview. Stars and last-commit dates come from each project's public repository. “Not available” or “Not documented” means we found no official source for it, not that the feature is missing.