# Free alternatives to Ulysses

> Ulysses (Ulysses subscription) costs $39.99 a year. Free alternatives: novelWriter and Manuskript. Data checked 2026-10-17.

- Page: https://stoprenting.dev/apps/ulysses/
- Category: Writing (https://stoprenting.dev/categories/writing/)
- Vendor: Ulysses GmbH
- Plan: Ulysses subscription
- Price: $3.33/month, $39.99/year
- Billing: yearly or monthly
- Price quote from the vendor's page: "Get the Ultimate Writing App for Only $39.99 $39.99 per Year Or $5.99 per Month"
- Price source: https://ulysses.app/pricing (checked 2026-10-17)

## Alternatives

### novelWriter

- Website: https://novelwriter.io
- Repository: https://github.com/saga-soft/novelWriter (3,185 stars, last push 2026-10-17)
- License: GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: desktop app
- Linux: AUR: novelwriter
- Self-hostable: no
- Install: `yay -S novelwriter`
- Note: No Mac download (Mac users set it up through Python), and no iPhone or iPad app or sync.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/novelwriter/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

### Manuskript

- Website: https://www.theologeek.ch/manuskript
- Repository: https://github.com/olivierkes/manuskript (2,454 stars, last push 2026-09-01)
- License: GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: desktop app
- Linux: AUR: manuskript; Flathub: ch.theologeek.Manuskript
- Self-hostable: no
- Install: `yay -S manuskript`, `flatpak install flathub ch.theologeek.Manuskript`
- Note: No Mac download (on a Mac it runs from source with Python), and no iPhone or iPad app or sync.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/manuskript/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

## FAQ

### Is there a free alternative to Ulysses?

Yes. The 2 free alternatives are novelWriter (open source, GPL-3.0) and Manuskript (open source, GPL-3.0).

### How much does Ulysses cost?

Ulysses's Ulysses subscription plan costs $3.33 a month, which is $39.99 a year (yearly or monthly). Source: the official pricing page at ulysses.app, checked Oct 17, 2026.

### Which Ulysses alternatives run on Linux?

novelWriter (AUR: novelwriter) and Manuskript (AUR: manuskript; Flathub: ch.theologeek.Manuskript).

### Can you self-host a Ulysses alternative?

novelWriter and Manuskript are desktop apps that run on your own machine, so there's nothing to host.

### Are these Ulysses alternatives open source?

Yes. All 2 use OSI-approved open-source licenses: novelWriter (GPL-3.0) and Manuskript (GPL-3.0).

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Source: Stop Renting (https://stoprenting.dev). Methodology: https://stoprenting.dev/methodology/