Joplin
Ulysses
| Feature | Joplin | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2017 | 2013 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Joplin Pros
- Free and open-source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-host option
- Import from Evernote
✗ Joplin Cons
- Less polished UI
- Sync requires setup
- Limited collaboration
✓ 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
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
Pricing is close: Joplin starts at $2.99/mo versus $5.99/mo for Ulysses — not a deciding factor on its own.
Joplin 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.
Bottom line: Ulysses has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.