Alternatives to MarkText
A Markdown editor that shows formatted text as you type, with no preview pane and no syntax symbols in the way. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
MarkText
A Markdown editor that shows formatted text as you type, with no preview pane and no syntax symbols in the way.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as MarkText.
Typora
A polished Markdown editor with live in-place rendering, sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
Typora offers polished live in-place Markdown rendering with CSS themes on the same platforms, but it is closed source and a one-time purchase.
ghostwriter
Write Markdown in a distraction-free desktop editor.
ghostwriter is a free, open source distraction-free Markdown editor with preview close by, but it runs only on Windows and Linux.
Zettlr
Write and organize Markdown documents for publication.
Zettlr is open source under GPL-3.0 and adds document organization with export workflows for publication, though some formats need extra dependencies.
iA Writer
Minimalist Markdown writing app focused on the text.
iA Writer is a minimalist paid Markdown app for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, adding mobile support and syntax highlighting of filler words, but it is closed source.
Also worth comparing
These listings name MarkText as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
StackEdit
An in-browser Markdown editor with live preview and sync to Google Drive, Dropbox and GitHub.
MarkText is a free, MIT-licensed desktop Markdown editor with in-place rendering and HTML and PDF export, replacing the browser with an Electron app.
VNote
An open-source desktop Markdown note-taking app written in native C++ that keeps notes as local files.
MarkText is a free, MIT-licensed Markdown editor with in-place rendering, built on Electron and lacking a library or notebook structure.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
QLMarkdown
Preview Markdown files with macOS Quick Look.
HedgeDoc
Collaborative Markdown editor for notes written together in real time.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
