Scrivener vs Ulysses

Scrivener9.3Visit Ulysses7.4Visit

Higher score Scrivener #2 in Writing Apps 9.3/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Scrivener

vs

Ulysses #21 in Writing Apps 7.4/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Ulysses

• Scrivener fits best

  Novelists and other long-form authors

• Ulysses fits best

  Writers working across Mac, iPad, and iPhone

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Side by side

Feature	Scrivener 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Ulysses 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.4
Ranking	#2 in Writing Apps	#21 in Writing Apps
Best for	Novelists and other long-form authors	Writers working across Mac, iPad, and iPhone
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$23.99 one-time	$39.99/user/yr
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	30 days	7 days
Free trial length	30 days	7 days
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	macOS, Windows, iOS	macOS, iOS
Integrations	4 integrations	7 integrations
Features Scrivener 4/5 · Ulysses 4/5
Publishing tools	✓	✓
Real-time collaboration	—	—
Version history	✓	✓
Offline mode	✓	✓
Mobile apps	✓	✓
Specs
Export formats	Extensive	Advanced
Our review
Pros	Organizes drafts and research in a binder-style project structure Snapshots, targets, and progress tracking support revision Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks for export	Organizes projects with groups, sheets, and filters Checks grammar and style in over 20 languages Exports to six formats and publishes to supported platforms
Cons	Separate perpetual licences are required for each platform No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration Its extensive project structure may be unnecessary for short-form writing	Requires a paid subscription after the 7-day free trial Available only on macOS and iOS Does not include collaboration features
Our verdict	Scrivener is a writing application for novelists, screenwriters, academics, journalists, and other long-form writers. Its binder-style structure lets authors divide a project into sections, rearrange them, and keep research alongside the… Read the review →	Ulysses is a writing workspace for authors, bloggers, students, and other writers using Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Its markup-based editor supports long-form work such as books and articles, while projects, groups, sheets, and filters help keep… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Scrivener — where it wins

  • Organizes drafts and research in a binder-style project structure
  • Snapshots, targets, and progress tracking support revision
  • Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks for export

  Where it doesn't

  • Separate perpetual licences are required for each platform
  • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration
  • Its extensive project structure may be unnecessary for short-form writing

• Ulysses — where it wins

  • Organizes projects with groups, sheets, and filters
  • Checks grammar and style in over 20 languages
  • Exports to six formats and publishes to supported platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires a paid subscription after the 7-day free trial
  • Available only on macOS and iOS
  • Does not include collaboration features

• Scrivener9.3/10 · 30-day trial

  A structured workspace for drafting, organizing, and compiling long-form work.

  Visit ScrivenerFull verdict →
• Ulysses7.4/10 · 7-day trial

  A structured writing workspace for Apple users, with goals, language checks, exports, and publishing.

  Visit UlyssesFull verdict →