Scrivener
Ulysses
| Feature | Scrivener | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $23.99/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | novelists, screenwriters, researchers, academic-writers | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Binder Organization | ✓ | ✗ |
| Corkboard | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outliner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Snapshots | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compile Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Research Folder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Scrivener Pros
- Great for long documents
- Powerful organization
- Research binder
- One-time purchase
✗ Scrivener Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Dated interface
- Complex for simple writing
✓ 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
Scrivener is built for novelists and screenwriters, with a focus on binder-organization and corkboard. 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 $23.99/mo for Scrivener. That $18/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.