U 
Ulysses
A distraction-free writing app in an era of assisted writing.
KINDA
why this verdict
Downgrade — pay for the workflow, not the AI
Obsidian covers the headline feature free, so the $5/mo is now paying for the workflow around it.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- AI writing surfaces arrived in every editor. OpenAI, October 3, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers headline only editorial call
- The headline feature, but not the workflow, data or integrations around it.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 1 of 2 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Obsidian.
- What the call is worth $60/yr
- $5/mo at the entry paid tier — $60 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- October 3, 2024
- List price
- $5/mo
- Per year
- $60
The backstory
Ulysses is a beloved long-form writing environment for Apple users — library management, goals, publishing. Its deliberate lack of AI is a feature to some and a gap to others now that Canvas, Claude and even Apple's own writing tools sit one keystroke away. Wounded rather than dead: its readers are people who want the machine to stay quiet.
Escape hatches
switching could free up $60/yr O 
Obsidian Free with AI plugins if you want them.
obsidian.md open_in_new S 
Scrivener One-time purchase, deeper structure.
literatureandlatte.com open_in_new1 of 2 replacements have a usable free tier.