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Ulysses vs novelWriter: catalog facts
Ulysses	novelWriter
Paid Paid app with a free trial on all devices.	Free The open-source software is available without a license fee. Hosting, hardware and…
macOS, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Distraction-free editor for long-form writing Library for organizing large writing projects	Keeps chapters, notes and cross-references in readable project files.
Apple platforms only Paid after the trial	Uses lightweight markup rather than a word processor's visual layout.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.