AppFlowy
Ulysses
| Feature | AppFlowy | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $12.5/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-focused-teams, open-source-enthusiasts, notion-alternatives, self-hosters | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
| Documents | ✓ | ✗ |
| Databases | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assistant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hostable | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ AppFlowy Pros
- Open-source with full self-hosting option
- Familiar Notion-like interface and features
- Local-first with offline support
- AI features powered by multiple models
✗ AppFlowy Cons
- Less mature than Notion with fewer integrations
- Template library is limited
- Collaboration features still developing
✓ Ulysses Pros
- Beautiful distraction-free writing
- Excellent library management
- Direct publishing to blogs
- iCloud sync across devices
✗ Ulysses Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Subscription model controversial
- No Windows support
The Verdict
AppFlowy is built for privacy focused teams and open source enthusiasts, with a focus on documents and databases. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
On pricing, Ulysses is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5.99/mo compared to $12.5/mo for AppFlowy. That $6.51/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
AppFlowy has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Ulysses requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, AppFlowy offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Ulysses takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Ulysses has a slight overall edge — but if open-source with full self-hosting option matters most to you, AppFlowy may still be the right call.