Comparison · Novel and long-form writing apps
Plottr vs Ulysses: which is better in 2026?
Plottr88.5#5 in best novel and long-form writing apps
Ulysses90.5#3 in best novel and long-form writing appsUlysses ranks higher in our list of novel and long-form writing apps (#3 against #5, score 90.5 against 88.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
- 88.5Editorial score90.5
- 3Platforms3
- NoFree to useNo
- NoOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Plottr if you want
Visual plotting for novels and series.
The strongest visual outliner here, with timelines, scene cards and a series bible. It does not draft text, so it works best beside a writing app such as Scrivener.
Choose Ulysses if you want
Apple users who write daily and export to Word.
A polished writing app with iCloud sync, goals and exports to PDF, Word and ebook. It runs only on Apple devices and costs a subscription, while Scrivener is a one-time purchase.
The main differences
- Only Plottr runs on Windows.
- Only Ulysses runs on iOS.
- Only Plottr runs on Web.
- Plottr is paid; Ulysses is subscription.
Side by side
| Plottr | Ulysses | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 88.5 | 90.5 |
| Rank in list | #5 of 10 | #3 of 10 |
| Price | PaidFrom $60 a year or $150 lifetime; 30-day free trial | Subscription$39.99 a year or $5.99 a month in the US; free trial on all devices |
| Free to use | No | No |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WindowsmacOSWebWindows, macOS, Web | macOSiOS, iPadOSmacOS, iOS, iPadOS |
| Made by | Not stated | Ulysses GmbH & Co. KG |
| Planning tools | Visual timelines and scene cards | Projects with writing goals |
| Export formats | Outline to Word and Scrivener | PDF, Word, ebook, blog posts |
| Storage and sync | Offline app; cloud sync on Pro | iCloud sync across Apple devices |
| Best for | Visual plotting for novels and series | Apple users who write daily and export to Word |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Plottr vs Ulysses
- Is Ulysses better than Plottr?
- Ulysses ranks higher in our list of novel and long-form writing apps (#3 against #5, score 90.5 against 88.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Plottr is best for: visual plotting for novels and series. Ulysses is best for: Apple users who write daily and export to Word.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.
