Apple Notes
Ulysses
| Feature | Apple Notes | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, casual-note-takers, students, families | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2012 | 2013 |
| Rich Text | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scanning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Folders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Icloud Sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Apple Notes Pros
- Free with Apple devices
- Fast and reliable
- Good scanning
- Shared folders
✗ Apple Notes Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Limited organization
- No markdown
✓ 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
Apple Notes is built for apple users and casual note takers, with a focus on rich-text and scanning. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
Apple Notes uses custom enterprise pricing, while Ulysses starts at $5.99/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Apple Notes 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.
Ulysses edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Both tools are a solid fit for apple users — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Ulysses has a slight overall edge — but if free with apple devices matters most to you, Apple Notes may still be the right call.