Medium vs Ulysses
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Medium is a platform that features articles and essays on various topics, including technology, culture, and politics. It allows users to read, write, and share their thoughts and ideas with a community of like-minded individuals.
Ulysses is a writing app exclusive to Apple platforms, built for writers who manage long or multiple writing projects at once, from novels and articles to blog posts. It combines a distraction-free, markup-based editor with a library system for organizing texts into projects, along with writing goals and deadline tracking to keep longer works on schedule. Built-in grammar and style checking covers more than 20 languages, and finished work can be exported as PDFs, Word documents, ebooks, or published directly to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog. Everything syncs seamlessly across Mac, iPad, and iPhone via iCloud, and the app has won an Apple Design Award for its interface and workflow.
- Large community of writers and readers
- Variety of topics and articles
- Easy to use and navigate
- Customizable layouts and profiles
- Direct publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog saves a copy-paste step
- Library system suits writers juggling multiple long-form projects
- Family Sharing extends value to up to five people at no extra cost
- Won an Apple Design Award for interface quality
- Limited monetization options for writers
- Some users may find the platform too crowded or noisy
- Limited control over article formatting and design
- Exclusive to Apple devices, with no Windows, Android, or web version
- Subscription model rather than a one-time purchase
- Not suited to writers who need real-time collaborative editing with others
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataUlysses is a paid, Apple‑only writing app focused on long‑form project management and direct publishing, while Medium is a free, web‑based platform for publishing to a large audience.
Key differences
- •Platform: Ulysses runs only on macOS/iOS; Medium is accessed via any web browser.
- •Cost model: Ulysses requires a subscription; Medium is free to use.
- •Purpose: Ulysses is a personal drafting tool with export options; Medium is a public publishing platform with built‑in audience.
- •Collaboration: Ulysses lacks real‑time co‑authoring; Medium allows readers to comment and share but not co‑edit.
- •Export vs. hosting: Ulysses exports to PDF/Word/ePub; Medium hosts the article online.
Pricing & value
Medium is free; Ulysses requires a paid subscription.
Ease of use / learning curve
Medium is a cloud SaaS with minimal setup; Ulysses needs installation on Apple devices.
Features & depth
Ulysses offers markdown editing, grammar checking, goal tracking, and multiple export formats.
Integrations & ecosystem
Ulysses integrates directly with WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog for publishing.
Collaboration
Medium provides a community with comments and follows; Ulysses has no real‑time collaboration.
Scalability
Medium scales to unlimited readers without user‑managed infrastructure; Ulysses is limited to the writer’s device.
Support
Medium lists email support; Ulysses does not specify support options.
Choose Medium if…
Anyone wanting free, instantly publishable content to a built‑in audience.
Choose Ulysses if…
Apple‑only writers needing offline drafting, project organization, and export to multiple formats.
Common questions
Can I use Ulysses on Windows or Android?
No, Ulysses is exclusive to Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
Is there any cost to publish on Medium?
Medium is free to read and write; there is no subscription fee.
Does Ulysses let me export my work as an ebook?
Yes, Ulysses can export to PDF, Word, and ebook formats.