Apps with Markdown support
15 apps
Top Markdown support apps ranked by the community
Notion combines notes, documents, databases and project management in a flexible block-based workspace, with an integrated AI assistant.
17 Notion alternativesPros
- Docs, wikis and databases combined in one flexible workspace
- Large template gallery for roadmaps, trackers and wikis
- Real-time collaboration with comments, mentions and an API
Cons
- Databases and relations take time to master
- Offline access is limited compared with local-first apps
- Large workspaces can feel slow to load
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesObsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files on your device, links them into a knowledge graph and extends with a large plugin ecosystem.
17 Obsidian alternativesPros
- Notes are plain Markdown files stored on your device
- Large ecosystem of community plugins and themes
- Graph view and backlinks for connected notes
Cons
- Official sync and publishing are paid add-ons
- Plugin-heavy setups take time to configure and maintain
- No real-time collaboration on notes
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesJoplin is an open source note-taking app with Markdown notes, notebooks, end-to-end encrypted sync and a web clipper.
11 Joplin alternativesPros
- Open source, with Markdown notes stored in an open format
- End-to-end encrypted sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV or Joplin Cloud
- Web clipper and plugins extend the core app
Cons
- Interface feels dated next to newer note apps
- Sync setup takes more effort than turnkey services
- No web app for reaching your notes from a browser
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesLogseq is a privacy-first outliner that stores notes locally in Markdown or Org files, with bidirectional links, journals and whiteboards.
7 Logseq alternativesPros
- Notes live in local Markdown or Org files that you fully own
- Bidirectional links, block references and daily journals
- Free and open source, with a plugin ecosystem
Cons
- Outliner-only structure is a poor fit for long-form writing
- Can slow down with very large graphs
- Syncing between devices takes extra setup
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesFeaturesBear is a writing and note-taking app for Mac, iPhone and iPad from Shiny Frog, built on Markdown with nested tags, links between notes and a choice of themes. The app is free to use on a single device, while Bear Pro adds iCloud sync across devices, OCR search in images and PDFs, and more export formats.
12 Bear alternativesPros
- Elegant Markdown editor with a choice of themes
- Nested tags and note links keep things organized without folders
- Native, fast apps designed for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Cons
- Apple only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Sync across devices requires the Pro subscription
- No shared notes or real-time collaboration
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesStandard Notes is an open source note-taking app focused on privacy, with end-to-end encryption for every note and file and apps on all major platforms. Notes work offline and sync across devices, and paid plans add rich editors, file storage and longer revision history. The company became part of Proton in 2024, and the sync server can be self-hosted.
9 Standard Notes alternativesPros
- End-to-end encryption for every note and file
- Open source apps on all major platforms
- The sync server can be self-hosted
Cons
- Rich editors, file storage and longer history need a paid plan
- Collaboration features are minimal compared with mainstream apps
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesSimplenote is a free note app from Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, that sticks to plain text with optional Markdown, tags and quick search. Notes sync instantly across web, desktop and mobile apps, every change is kept in version history, and notes can be shared with collaborators or published as a web page. The apps are open source.
8 Simplenote alternativesPros
- Free, ad-free and fast plain-text notes
- Instant sync across web, desktop and mobile
- Version history keeps every change to a note
Cons
- No images, attachments or rich formatting
- Organization is limited to tags and search
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesRoam Research is an outliner for networked thought that helped popularize bidirectional links, block references and daily notes pages among researchers and writers. Every page and block can be linked and embedded elsewhere, a graph shows how ideas connect, and Roam Depot provides community extensions. It is a paid subscription after a trial period.
8 Roam Research alternativesPros
- Pioneer of block references and bidirectional links
- Daily notes pages make quick capture a habit
- Roam Depot adds community extensions
Cons
- Paid subscription after the trial, with no free plan
- The outliner and its conventions have a steep learning curve
- Mobile use is less comfortable than on desktop
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesUpNote is a note-taking app with a clean editor, notebooks, tags and links between notes, available on the web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Notes are stored locally for offline use and synced across devices, with a web clipper and Markdown shortcuts. The free version is capped at a small number of notes, and Premium can be bought once or as a subscription.
11 UpNote alternativesPros
- Clean editor with notebooks, tags and links between notes
- Apps on every platform, including Linux and the web
- Premium is available as a one-time purchase
Cons
- The free version is capped at a small number of notes
- No shared notebooks or real-time collaboration
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesNotesnook is an open source note-taking app that encrypts every note end to end on your device before syncing it. It offers notebooks, tags, rich text with Markdown shortcuts, an app lock, a private vault and a web clipper, on the web, desktop and mobile. A free plan is available, and the sync server can also be self-hosted.
9 Notesnook alternativesPros
- Every note is end-to-end encrypted on your device before syncing
- Open source apps on web, desktop and mobile
- The sync server can be self-hosted
Cons
- Fewer integrations and plugins than mainstream note apps
- Some features are limited on the free plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesZulip is an open-source team chat app whose threading model files every channel message under a named topic, so people can catch up on several discussions without losing context. It supports Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX math, and integrates with common developer tools. It can be self-hosted for free or used through Zulip Cloud, which suits open-source projects, research groups and remote teams.
8 Zulip alternativesPros
- Topic-based threading makes catching up on discussions easy
- Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX suit technical teams
- Free to self-host under an open source license
Cons
- The topic model takes some getting used to after Slack
- Video calls rely on external services such as Jitsi or Zoom
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesButtondown is a small, independent newsletter service for writers and developers who prefer a lightweight tool. You write in Markdown or a rich text editor, publish an archive on the web and can charge for subscriptions through Stripe. It offers a complete API, custom domains and RSS-to-email, and is built by a very small team.
6 Buttondown alternativesPros
- Write in Markdown or a rich text editor
- Complete API and RSS-to-email for developers
- Paid subscriptions through Stripe and custom domains
Cons
- Templates and design options are minimal
- Few audience growth tools compared with beehiiv or Substack
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPlatformsUlysses is a writing app for Apple devices made by the German company Ulysses GmbH. Texts live in a single library synced through iCloud, are written in a Markdown-based markup and can be exported to PDF, Word or ePub or published directly to WordPress, Ghost and other platforms. It suits bloggers, authors and students and is sold as a subscription after a free trial.
8 Ulysses alternativesPros
- Single library synced across Mac, iPhone and iPad via iCloud
- Publishes directly to WordPress, Ghost and other platforms
- Distraction-free writing with Markdown-based markup
Cons
- Only available on Apple devices
- Sold only as a subscription
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesiA Writer is a minimalist Markdown editor from the design studio Information Architects. Its Focus Mode, syntax highlighting and style check help tighten prose, and it can mark text pasted from AI tools to keep track of what you wrote yourself. Files stay as plain text, locally or in iCloud and Dropbox, with export to HTML, PDF and Word. It is a one-time purchase per platform, after a free trial.
9 iA Writer alternativesPros
- Focus Mode and style check help tighten prose
- Plain-text Markdown files stored wherever you choose
- One-time purchase instead of a subscription
Cons
- A separate purchase is needed for each platform
- No real-time collaboration
- Formatting options are minimal by design
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesSlidev is an open source presentation tool that builds slide decks from a Markdown file, aimed at developers giving technical talks. It supports code highlighting, live code editing, Vue components, LaTeX, diagrams, themes and a presenter mode with notes, served locally and shown in the browser. Decks can be exported to PDF, PPTX or PNG, or built as a static site to host anywhere.
7 Slidev alternativesPros
- Slides written in Markdown are easy to keep in version control
- Code highlighting, live coding and Vue components suit technical talks
- Free and open source, with PDF, PPTX and static site exports
Cons
- Requires Node.js and comfort with code, so not suited to non-developers
- Custom layouts often mean writing CSS or Vue components
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategories
