Ulysses alternatives: 3 open-source picks
Ulysses costs $5.99/mo — $71.88 a year. These 3 alternatives replace it for $0, led by SiYuan, Zettlr and LanguageTool. All 3 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
A local-first writing library with blocks, links, huge documents, and real exports; less monastic than Ulysses, much harder to lose.
A serious Markdown desk with folders, writing targets, citations, and export machinery that occasionally admits Pandoc is under the hood.
Grammar, style and spell checker for 30+ languages; run the server locally and keep your prose private.
licenseLGPL-2.1
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: SiYuan · LanguageTool
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Ulysses alternative
Easiest to get running
SiYuan — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
SiYuan, with 45,641 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 3, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Works on your phone
SiYuan has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
what you give up by leaving Ulysses
- native Apple polish, iCloud sync, mobile apps, and publishing integrations
- cross-device sync
- large proprietary style models
- browser and office-suite extensions
- team style guides
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Ulysses alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiYuan | open source | one-click install | macos, windows, linux, ios, android, self-hosted | 45,641 | 2026-08 |
| Zettlr | open source | one-click install | macos, windows, linux | 13,300 | 2026-07 |
| LanguageTool | LGPL-2.1 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 13,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Ulysses
People still pay for Ulysses because the paid tool is already present everywhere they write and its suggestions have been tuned across millions of documents. The recurring cost buys model quality, extension compatibility, dictionaries, releases, and sync, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $71.88 a year.
questions about switching from Ulysses
Is there an open-source alternative to Ulysses?
Yes: SiYuan, Zettlr, LanguageTool. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Ulysses?
Our verdict is YES. SiYuan (46k stars), Zettlr (13k stars), LanguageTool (13k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Ulysses — self-host in one command and stop paying $5.99/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/ulysses.
What is the easiest open-source Ulysses alternative to set up?
SiYuan — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Ulysses alternative?
By GitHub stars, SiYuan (45,641). Zettlr is next with 13,300.
