OpenMark vs Ulysses

Which markdown editor is right for you?

Ulysses is a premium writing environment for the Apple ecosystem — beautiful, powerful, and subscription-based. OpenMark is a one-time-purchase file editor built for standard Markdown with technical features like Mermaid diagrams and LaTeX math. Different tools for different writers.

Feature comparison

Feature
OpenMark
Ulysses
Purpose
File editor — open any .md file directly
Writing environment — library-based with sheets
Markdown format
Standard Markdown / GFM — compatible everywhere
Markdown XL — proprietary with enhanced features
Pricing
$9.99 — one-time purchase, own forever
$49.99/year subscription ($5.99/mo monthly)
Platform
Native macOS — built with SwiftUI, Liquid Glass
Native Apple — macOS, iOS, iPadOS
File access
Opens .md files directly — no library needed
Library system — imports files into managed sheets
Mermaid diagrams
Built-in — flowcharts, sequence, Gantt, and more
Not supported
LaTeX math
Built-in KaTeX — no setup required
Not supported
Syntax highlighting
Built-in for 40+ languages
Basic code block support only
Publishing
Export to PDF, HTML — focused on local files
Publish to WordPress, Ghost, Medium directly
Design
Liquid Glass — feels like a first-party Apple app
Custom UI — polished and beautiful

Which one should you choose?

Choose OpenMark if…

  • You work with standard .md files and need them compatible with GitHub, VS Code, and other tools
  • You write technical content with Mermaid diagrams, LaTeX math, or code blocks
  • You want to pay $9.99 once instead of $50/year forever
  • You just want to open a markdown file and see it rendered beautifully

Choose Ulysses if…

  • You write long-form prose — novels, articles, or blog posts — and need a full writing environment
  • You publish directly to WordPress, Ghost, or Medium from your editor
  • You want iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad
  • You prefer a managed library over loose files on disk

Try OpenMark — $9.99, one-time

Standard Markdown. Mermaid diagrams. LaTeX math. No subscription.

Download on the Mac App Store

Also compare OpenMark with:

vs Obsidian →vs VS Code →vs Typora →vs iA Writer →vs Bear →vs MacDown →vs MarkEdit →vs Mark Text →