Write anywhere.
Share with anyone.
Beautiful writing without the Apple lock-in. Craft works on every platform — with AI and collaboration included.
Which one is right for you?
Craft
Works on Windows and Web — not trapped in Apple-only like Ulysses
AI writing assistant included — Ulysses has zero AI features
Real-time collaboration — Ulysses has no sharing or teamwork features
One-click web publishing — not limited to WordPress/Ghost export
Free plan available — vs Ulysses' mandatory $5.99/mo subscription
Ulysses
Pure markdown source editing is essential to your writing process
Direct WordPress/Ghost CMS publishing is your primary workflow
Distraction-free long-form writing is your only need
You only use Apple devices and write solo without collaborators
Ulysses charges $5.99/mo for plain markdown editing on Apple-only devices — no AI, no collaboration, no web publishing. Craft gives you rich documents with AI, real-time collaboration, and publishing to anyone, anywhere — starting with a free plan.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See how Craft and Ulysses compare across key features
Feature
Craft
Ulysses
Winner
Performance
Native apps on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, Web
Apple-only — no Windows, no Web access
Craft
Sync
Sub-second across all platforms
iCloud only (Apple devices required)
Craft
Document Design
Rich documents with covers, images, media
Plain markdown text — no rich formatting
Craft
AI Features
Built-in AI assistant, free in all plans
No AI features available
Craft
Offline Access
Full offline on every platform
Offline on Apple devices only
Tie
Apple Pencil
Full drawing and annotation on iPad
Not supported
Craft
Web Publishing
One-click beautiful web pages to anyone
WordPress/Ghost export only
Craft
Pricing
Free plan available / $4.99/mo Plus
No free tier — $5.99/month required
Craft
Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, linked documents
Groups and keywords only
Craft
Why users switch to Craft
M
Mikailkraft
“ Craft gets rid of all the noise from Notion while not becoming as barebones as Obsidian. It’s a perfect balance of features – and it’s done seamlessly. Synching is immediate, and the app feels right at home on my Mac and my iPad.”
App Store Award
Mac App of the Year
Apple Design Awards
Finalist
Webby
Awarded three times in various categories
German Design Award
Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX
What matters most
Craft gets it right
Quick idea capture
Capture ideas on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, or Web — not limited to Apple devices
Fast, beautiful writing
Rich documents with covers, images, and layouts — beyond plain markdown text
Offline access
Full offline on every platform — not just Apple devices with iCloud
Easy Organization
Spaces, folders, and linked documents — more flexible than a flat sheet library
Task management
Built-in tasks with due dates and daily notes — not just a writing tool
API, MCP & Automations
Connect with Claude, ChatGPT, Apple Shortcuts, and build custom workflows
Why users switch to Craft
J
Jeffb129
“ Craft is way more functional than Apple or Google Notes while being much easier to use than Notion”
Compare the cost
Plan
Craft
Ulysses
Starter
Free
Free
Plus Personal
$4.8
$5.99/mo
Plus Family and Groups
$9.0 /person
N/A (personal only)
AI Assistant Feature
Included
In Business plan only
Switch From Ulysses To Craft
Export Your Sheets
In Ulysses, select your sheets and use File → Export. Choose Markdown format for compatibility.
Import to Craft
In Craft, use Import to bring in your Markdown files. Your writing is preserved with formatting.
Start Creating
Your writing is in Craft. Now you can add images, collaborate, publish to web, and use AI — on any device.
Ready for writing that goes beyond Apple?
Start for free. No credit card required.
Common Questions
For most writers, yes. Craft offers the same beautiful, distraction-free writing experience Ulysses is known for – plus publishing, collaboration, collections, and AI assistance. If you specifically need Ulysses' writing goals or multi-format export for book publishing, it remains excellent for that niche.
Writers and professionals who want beautiful documents with more flexibility than a pure writing app. Craft handles notes, tasks, publishing, and collaboration – making it your single workspace. Ulysses is focused solely on long-form writing.
Yes. Craft supports real-time collaboration, comments, and team spaces. Share documents with anyone via link. Ulysses has no collaboration features – it's strictly a personal writing tool.
Ulysses costs $5.99/month or $49.99/year. Craft Plus starts at $5/month ($60/year). Similar pricing, but Craft includes AI, publishing, collaboration, and organization features that Ulysses doesn't offer.
Publish web pages with one click, collaborate in real-time, organize with collections and spaces, use AI assistance, manage tasks, and create richly formatted documents with covers and styled blocks. Ulysses is limited to plain writing and export.
Yes. Both apps provide full offline access. Create, edit, and organize documents without internet. Both sync via iCloud when connected. The offline experience is equally good in both apps.
Yes. Export your Ulysses library as Markdown files, then import them into Craft. Your formatting, headers, and structure transfer cleanly. Ulysses' keywords become Craft tags with minimal manual adjustment.
Both offer excellent, distraction-free writing. Ulysses uses Markdown with real-time preview. Craft provides rich formatting directly – what you type is what you see. Craft's approach is more visual; Ulysses is more text-focused.
Both are fast native Apple apps with excellent performance. For pure text editing, they're comparable. Craft handles richer content (images, embeds, collections) while maintaining speed. Both sync via iCloud quickly.
Different strengths. Craft publishes beautiful web pages with one click – instant sharing online. Ulysses exports to WordPress, Medium, and formatted files (PDF, ePub, DOCX) for traditional publishing workflows.
Craft offers Spaces, folders, collections, and tags. Ulysses uses Groups and Keywords. Craft is more flexible for organizing diverse content types. Ulysses is streamlined for pure writing projects.
Yes. Craft has native Apple Pencil support on iPad for writing, drawing, and annotating. Mix handwritten notes with typed text. Ulysses has no handwriting support.
Yes. Craft includes AI assistant in all plans. Write, edit, summarize, and organize content with AI help. Ulysses has no AI features built in.
If you want publishing, collaboration, AI, and richer organization beyond pure writing, yes. Many writers switch when they need their writing app to do more than just write. If you only need focused long-form writing, Ulysses remains excellent.
Yes. Craft offers a free Education plan. Better for students who need organization, collaboration, and diverse content types beyond just essays. Ulysses is great if you only write long-form text.
Depends on your needs. Ulysses is specialized for long-form writing with goals and multi-format export. Craft is better if you want writing plus publishing, collaboration, and organization in one app. Many writers use Craft as their everything-app.
Both sync via iCloud with similar speed. Craft adds a web app for browser access and shareable links for anyone. Ulysses is limited to Apple devices with the app installed.
In Ulysses, select all sheets and export as Markdown (File → Export → Markdown). Use Craft's Import feature. Your formatting and structure transfer cleanly. Process group by group for large libraries.
Why users switch to Craft
Aaron
“ Best App for Everyone. It features every features with excellent UI and UX taking note taking to next level and I even replaced Notion with this one.”