Download Excel For Mac Best free office software While Microsoft Office continues to dominate the world of office productivity suites, some users and businesses may be put off by the idea of monthly fees. Ulysses is great for Mac users, but it’s not available for other users. So no Windows or Linux. No writing apps for Android at this time, either. So only a sliver of the market will be able to use it at all. Ulysses App Pricing Plans. Ulysses uses a subscription model of $4.99/month or $39.99/year if you pay annually (which breaks down to $3.
Note-taking space is heating up in the iOS world. Ulysses and Bear are two excellent options out there. Read the below to see which one is better for you.
Oct 06, 2019 Ulysses Alternative Mac One thing the MacStories team loves to do is constantly try new apps, compare the serious contenders in each app category, and settle on the app that suits us best. Most of the time this app evaluation process takes place on a merely private level, for personal purposes, but today I wanted to share in public an in-depth comparison and analysis of two excellent writing apps.
What’s the best tool for a writer? Many use a typewriter, Microsoft Word, or even pen and paper, and get the job done. But writing is hard enough already, and there are writing software that promise to make the process as friction-free as possible, and offer tools that meet the unique needs of writers.
Ulysses claims to be “the ultimate writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone”. It’s my personal favorite and the winner of our Best Writing Apps for Mac review. Unfortunately, it’s not available to Windows users and the company has not announced any plans to create one, though they’ve hinted a few times that they may consider it one day.
The Windows version is in no way associated to us – unfortunately, it’s a shameless rip-off.
— Ulysses (@ulyssesapp) April 15, 2017
What’s the best alternative for those using Microsoft’s Windows 10?
How Can a Writing App Help?
But first, how can writing apps like Ulysses help writers? Here’s a quick summary, and for a full treatment of why we love the app, read our full Ulysses review.
Writing apps offer an environment that helps writers focus. Writing can be difficult, leading to procrastination. Ulysses offers a distraction-free mode that helps you keep typing once you get started, and uses Markdown so you don’t need to take your fingers off the keyboard to format your words. It’s pleasant to use, adding as little friction and as few distractions as possible.
Writing apps include a document library that syncs between devices. We live in a multi-platform, multi-device world. You might start a writing project on your computer and do some editing on your tablet. Ulysses syncs your complete document library between your Apple computers and devices and keeps track of previous versions of each document in case you need to go back.
Writing apps offer helpful writing tools. Writers need to quickly access statistics like word and character counts and appreciate a convenient way of checking if they are on target for their deadline. Spell check, formatting and maybe foreign language support are needed. Preferably these tools will be kept out of the way as much as possible until they are needed.
Writing apps help writers manage their reference material. Before starting the grunt work, many writers like to let their ideas marinate. That may involve brainstorming and research, and creating an outlining of the structure of your document before you start is often helpful. A good writing app offers tools to facilitate these tasks.
Writing apps allow writers to organize and rearrange the structure of their content. It can be helpful to visualize an overview of a long document in an outline or index card view. A good writing app will also let you easily move the pieces around so you can change the document structure on the fly.
Writing apps allow writers to export the finished product to a number of publishing formats. When you finish writing, an editor may want to use the revision tools in Microsoft Word to suggest changes. Or you may be ready to publish onto your blog, create an ebook, or produce a PDF for your printer to work with. A good writing app offers flexible export and publishing features that allow you to customize the final product.
Ulysses App Alternatives for Windows 10
Here’s a list of some of the best writing apps available on Windows. They won’t all do everything Ulysses can, but hopefully, you’ll find one that meets your needs.
1. Scrivener
Scrivener ($44.99) is Ulysses’ biggest competitor, and superior in some ways, including its awesome ability to collect and organize reference information. However, Windows users are still using version 1.9.7 while Mac users enjoy 3.1.1. A beta of Scrivener 3 for Windows has been available for some time, and if you purchase the current version, you’ll receive a free upgrade once it is ready. Read our full Scrivener review here or this comparison review between Ulysses and Scrivener here.
For writing. And writing. And writing. Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. https://coolqup617.weebly.com/addon-peds-not-working.html. Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing.
2. Inspire Writer
Inspire Writer (currently $29.99) has a striking resemblance to Ulysses but doesn’t include all of its core features. It does use Markdown for formatting and organizes all of your work in a single library which can be synced between multiple PCs.
Writing is hard enough, and the blinking icons in the system tray and flashy animations on the browser just make it even harder to stay focused on what you want to say. So your productivity suffers. Inspire is clean, light, and is free from everything that can get in the way of your writing.
3. iA Writer
iA Writer ($29.99) is a basic Markdown-based writing tool without all of the bells and whistles that Ulysses and Scrivener offer. It has a focus on distraction-free writing, and the current Windows version is ahead of the Mac version by including document outlining, chapter folding and automatic table alignment.
iA Writer creates a clean, simple and distraction-free writing environment for when you really need to focus on your words. It’s delightful to use.Registration code antares ilok.
4. FocusWriter
FocusWriter (free and open-source) is a simple, distraction-free writing environment that offers writing tools that get out of your way while you work. Live statistics, daily goals, and timers and alarms are included.
FocusWriter is a simple, distraction-free writing environment. It utilizes a hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen, allowing the program to have a familiar look and feel to it while still getting out of the way so that you can immerse yourself in your work.
5. SmartEdit Writer
SmartEdit Writer (free), formerly Atomic Scribbler, lets you plan your novel, prepare and maintain research material, and write chapter-by-chapter. Tools are included that help you improve sentence structure and identify word and phrase overuse.
SmartEdit Writer – free software to plan your novel, prepare and maintain research material, write your novel scene by scene and edit chapter by chapter in a modern Windows application that has a similar look and feel to Microsoft Word.
6. Manuskript
Manuskript (free and open-source) is a tool for writers who like to organize and plan everything before they start. It includes an outliner, distraction-free mode, and novel assistant that helps you create complex characters and plots. You can get an overview of your work through a story view at the bottom of the screen or on index cards.
Alpha gold rv manual. The snowflake method can help you grow your idea into a book, by leading you step-by-step and asking you questions to go deeper. While writing, keep track of notes about every character, plot, event, place in your story.
7. Typora
Ulysses Alternative Mac
Typora (free while in beta) is a Markdown-based writing app that automatically hides the formatting syntax when you’re not editing that section of the document. It offers an outliner and distraction-free mode and supports tables, mathematical notation, and diagrams. It’s stable, attractive, and custom themes are available.
Typora will give you a seamless experience as both a reader and a writer. It removes the preview window, mode switcher, syntax symbols of markdown source code, and all other unnecessary distractions. Replace them with a real live preview feature to help you concentrate on the content itself.
So What Should You Do?
If you’re looking for the next best thing to Ulysses on Windows, try Inspire Writer. It has the same look-and-feel, uses Markdown, offers light and dark mode, and can sync your document library to all your PCs. I’m reluctant to vouch for it too confidently because I haven’t used it on a long-term basis, but user reviews on Trustpilot are positive.
Alternatively, try our Best Choice for Long-Form Writing: Scrivener. While that review is for Mac apps, Scrivener is available for Windows, and that version should reach feature-parity with the Mac app in the near future. It is more functional than Ulysses, and that brings along a steeper learning curve. But it’s popular, and a favorite of many well-known authors.
But before jumping on one of those two programs, read through the descriptions of the alternatives. Download the trial version of a few programs that interest you and evaluate them for yourself. Writing is a very individual pursuit, and you’re the only one who can discover the best application for your working style.
Bear replaced Ulysses as my writing app. It is with a heavy heart that I moved on from Ulysses. At the same time, I’m delighted to have found true love in Bear.
Writing app
Before I started writing in Markdown, I used to draft my writing in Microsoft OneNote, and later in Evernote. I was an avid user and proponent of Evernote. However, due to the stagnation of the app and privacy concerns, I have moved away from it. I store my notes in Notes app on iOS and macOS. Notes also takes limited Markdown input.
OneNote and Evernote are WYSIWYG editors. My preference for Markdown meant I was writing plain text documents saved as .markdown. I used Sublime Text for that, mainly because it supports cross platform compatibility on the Mac and PC. I’ve since switched to BBEdit now that I work in a Mac-only environment.
Ulysses Alternatives For Mac Os
Both Sublime Text and BBEdit highlight Markdown syntax. However, I’m a sucker for writing apps and I tried apps such as Scrivener, iAWriter, Marked, Simplenotes and others I can’t recall.
Ultimately, I settled on Ulysses.
Growing with Ulysses
I started using Ulysses since Ulysses III was released in 2013. The Soulmen team did a fantastic job rethinking their app. The update form Ulysses II to Ulysses III brought a minimalist UI and writing-focused UX. I often spend hours in the distraction-free fullscreen mode.
Ulysses displays rich formatting even though I type in Markdown. I love this feature and I expected in any decent Markdown writing app.
Another feature I used a lot was the Daedalus iOS app, which was the IOS companion app for the Ulysses Mac app. I was writing a lot on my phone then and it was awesome to be able to start writing on iOS and continue on my Mac with the draft automatically synced.
The Daedalus app was later discontinued and replaced by the Ulysses iOS app. I have started compartmentalising my device habits by then, so I was writing less on iOS and did not switch to the Ulysses iOS app.
Content creation
I compartmentalise what I do based on the device I’m on. My phone is for quick content consumption on top of communications. I browse social media when I’m on my phone. Occasionally, I read books on my phone. I only consume content on the phone. That’s the conscious and subconscious behaviour when I’m using my phone. I don’t create content on the phone aside.
I keep my content creation to my MacBook Pro. When I’m on my laptop, I’m in the creation mindset. Of course, there are several content consumption outlets on the Mac. I read my RSS feeds, check my emails and read my ebooks on the Mac. These tasks require me to do some kind of content creation. When I read books and articles from my RSS feeds, I make notes and write down ideas for articles in my writing app. Checking emails means replying emails, that’s also a content creation task.
Ulysses Mac App
Anyway, I digress. Ulysses has become a treasure trove of ideas and thoughts. Some of these grow into articles and projects. Others remain in hibernation, waiting for the right time to germinate or they might just stay in cold storage until the end of time.
Ulysses going subscription
Unfortunately, the trend in the past few years has been a shift to subscription apps. Instead of a one-time payment to purchase an app and enjoy updates for the version, you pay a monthly or annual subscription.
I understand that app developers need the help of a subscription model to sustain their business. However, I’m more than willing to pay more for a one-time purchase. It’s not as though I would just sit on the app and not upgrade when new versions come out. For good apps and especially for apps that I literally live in, I buy new versions when they come out just to show support for the developers.
The argument against this stance is that subscriptions often amount to the same as one-time purchases. That’s true if the developers are able to churn out new versions on a regular basis. Some app developers show appreciation for existing users by releasing standalone versions along with subscription versions. However, if I was forced to move to a subscription model with no other options, I would choose to find an alternative.
Things and 1Password have adopted subscription models too, but they give users the option of one-time purchases. We don’t know how long these apps will continue to do so, but while they do I applaud them for doing so.
Ulysses had a one-time purchase option, but stopped providing it, forcing users down the subscription path. With a heavy heart, I decided to consign myself to moving away from an app that I love a lot, and has grown and inspired me over the years.
Ulysses alternatives
Ulysses had be so awesome that I didn’t feel the need to test any new writing apps that came out. Instead of testing apps, I was spending my time on writing. So I entered the hunt for a Ulysses alternative with a fresh eye. I have to say, Ulysses has pampered me so much that it was hard to find something as polished as Ulysses.
Scrivener
I tried Scrivener again, and confirmed my suspicions that it was too heavy for the writing I do. Scrivener is a great app, even if I felt it didn’t iterate fast enough compared to Ulysses. To be fair, it has caught up quite a bit in recent years. Unlike the minimalist take Ulysses applies on writing, Scrivener is a very comprehensive app, making it great for writers who need to work with scenes and acts that they need to move around, and with characters and locations.
My past experiences with it have shown that it is an overkill for me. It still is. When I work on screenplay and scriptwriting, my preference is still FinalDraft. Scrivener has a lot of bells and whistles, but for my working and writing style, it’s too much and often overwhelming.
Matt moved from iA Writer to Simplenote and had raved to me a lot about it. Being developed by Automattic was a plus. I gave it a spin but didn’t take to it. It is good for notes but I have Notes.app for that. It also doesn’t display Markdown formatting with the markup in the editor, something I prefer.
Ulysses Alternatives For Mac Pro
Writing app requirements
Here are some features that I look for when I was choosing the writing app to move to:
Markdown input
Keyboard shortcuts apply Markdown
Displays Markdown in rich format and shows Markdown syntax
Inline image display
Distraction-free full screen mode
Good typography and user interface design
Good file organisation
Saves file in plain text
Easy import from other formats
Easy export to other formats
No subscription fees
Bear
Bear was no stranger to me. I’ve heard many rave reviews for Bear but I never gave it a go since I was happy with Ulysses. For some reasons, Bear was not on the list of apps I thought I’d try as potential replacements for Ulysses.
I was chatting with Matt about the pros and cons of the different apps I tried and he mentioned Bear. The writing app offerings in the market I tried till then have been disappointing and was starting to convince myself to buy into the Ulysses subscription model. I downloaded Bear to give it a spin without expecting much.
To say Bear blew me away is an understatement. The app ticked ever single one of my requirements and more. It displays Markdown format along with the syntax. Bear has inline support for images, something that Ulysses didn’t have. It also has Cross-Note Links that lets you link notes together for quick reference.
Bear hashtags
Ulysses Software For Windows
It introduced me to a hashtag system of sorting my files. Instead of creating folders and moving files around, you can create folders simply through adding a hashtag to a note. The hashtag becomes the folder. If the hashtag exists, your note gets grouped under it. If the hashtag is new, it automatically creates a folder and puts your note there. How crazy is that? No more manually moving notes and articles around or having to create or sort folders.
Want to be more organised? You can add sub hashtags. Instead of just blog, I could do blog/draft and blog/published. Notes from both subfolders show up when I browse blog.
You can also add multiple tags to each note and they will appear in all the tagged folders. This is what modern file systems should be! Boyt secure vault 33013 manual transmission. We have been so tied down by the analogy of files and folders brought over from traditional filing systems that we haven’t leveraged the power of digital file systems.
Bear love
I was sold. I was prepared to buy the app. Bear had one last insane surprise. All the features I wanted are available on the free version of Bear. That blew my mind.
They have me firmly in the Bear camp. Sure, there are Pro features I don’t need that are available with subscriptions at $1.49 monthly or $14.99 annually. It is a bummer that they are on a subscription model, but they give away all those awesome features on the free version. This makes the subscription fee a very reasonable price to pay to support such a fantastic developer team.
Ulysses Software
If you are looking for a writing app or a note app, check out Bear. It’s free! You might fall in love with it like I have.