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MarkText
Distraction-free editorsReal-time preview markdown editor
- Stars
- ★ 62.9k
- Licence
- MIT
- Updated
Free alternatives to Ulysses
Last updated · 8 options
Quick answer: MarkText has the most stars on its repository of the 8 options here (★ 62.9k), followed by Zettlr (★ 13.8k). Stars show popularity, not fit, so check formats, platforms and licence for your own work.
Markdown writing app for Apple devices with a library and export styles. Here are 8 free options, most-starred first.
Zettlr
Distraction-free editorsMarkdown IDE for writers and researchers with citations
- Stars
- ★ 13.8k
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Updated
ghostwriter
Distraction-free editorsMarkdown editor with a clean preview, from the KDE project
- Stars
- ★ 5k
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Updated
novelWriter
Novel & long-form writingMarkdown novel editor with a project tree and plain-text storage
- Stars
- ★ 3.2k
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Updated
FocusWriter
Distraction-free editorsFull-screen distraction-free writer with goals and themes
- Stars
- ★ 721
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Updated
Apostrophe
Distraction-free editorsGNOME markdown writer with a focus mode
- Stars
- ★ 111
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Updated
Alternative to Ulysses
iA Writer
Distraction-free editorsFocused markdown writing app for Apple and Windows
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Status
- Proprietary
Typora
Distraction-free editorsWYSIWYG markdown editor with a seamless preview
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Status
- Proprietary
Alternative to Ulysses
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FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Ulysses?
Yes. WriterAlts lists 8 options: MarkText, Zettlr, ghostwriter, novelWriter, FocusWriter, Apostrophe, iA Writer and Typora.
Which Ulysses alternatives are open source?
MarkText (MIT), Zettlr (GPL-3.0), ghostwriter (GPL-3.0), novelWriter (GPL-3.0), FocusWriter (GPL-3.0) and Apostrophe (GPL-3.0). The others are free or freemium but not open source.
Which Ulysses alternatives run on a Mac?
MarkText, Zettlr, novelWriter, FocusWriter, iA Writer and Typora. The others listed here aren't listed for macOS.
Related categories: Distraction-free editors · Novel & long-form writing
Free tools are not always drop-in replacements. Check that a tool exports a format your editor, agent or printer accepts, and back up your manuscript before you switch mid-draft.