GitJournal vs Markor
We give GitJournal a 2.8 GPA and Markor a 3.0, out of 4.0. GitJournal grades higher on platforms. Markor grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
GitJournal
Mobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAGitJournalGood | 3.0GPAMarkorVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APro is pay what you want, from $31.99 once on the US App Store, or from $1.99 a month in instalments that turn into the one-time purchase. No subscription. That's less than a year of a typical notes app here. On iPhone, add $3.99 for the app itself. | AFree, open source under Apache 2.0, and no ads. There's no paid version to compare with the $5.99 a month that's typical for this category. |
| Free plan and trial | BBasic is free on Android, with folders, basic search, a raw editor and dark mode. But tags, backlinks and multiple repos all need Pro. And on iOS there's no free version at all: Basic is a $3.99 download. | AThe whole app is free from F-Droid, GitHub or Google Play. Nothing is held back and nothing nags you to upgrade, because there's nothing to upgrade to. |
| Features | BSync over SSH with any Git host, plain Markdown files with optional YAML headers, everything available offline, and [[Name]] links between notes. The gaps are on the listing too: encrypting notes isn't supported yet, the graph view is experimental, and tags sit behind Pro. | BHighlighting and buttons for Markdown, todo.txt, Zim wiki, AsciiDoc, Org-Mode and CSV, a preview, export to HTML or PDF, and AES256 encryption for files. But there's no sync of its own, encryption skips pictures and attachments, and Org-Mode has no rendered view. |
| Ease of use | CThere's no GitJournal account, but you do need a Git repository and SSH access wired up before anything syncs. Easy for a developer, a wall for everyone else. No App Store rating is on record to go by. | BNo App Store rating exists for an Android-only app, so a B is our ceiling. Install it and start typing into QuickNote. Getting the files onto another device is the fiddly bit, since that takes a separate sync app. |
| Platforms and integrations | CAndroid and iOS only. It works with GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Gogs, and the same files open in Obsidian, Notable or Foam on a computer. But those are other people's tools. GitJournal itself has no desktop or web app. | DAndroid only. The README calls it a text editor for Android and lists no iOS, desktop or web version. The files do open in any text editor elsewhere, if you move them yourself with Syncthing, Nextcloud or Dropbox. |
| Best for | phone notes that sync through your own Git repo | plain-text notes and todo.txt on Android |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: GitJournal and Markor. How we grade
Where they differ
- GitJournal starts at $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums). Markor is free.
- Only GitJournal lists an iOS app.
- GitJournal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- GitJournal also covers linked notes and daily notes.
- Markor also covers tasks.
At a glance
| GitJournal | Markor | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums) | Free |
| Free plan | Basic is free on Android: basic search, dark mode, raw editor, folder support, and custom default file names and note metadata. On iOS the Basic app is a $3.99 download. | The whole app is free, with no ads. The code is licensed under Apache 2.0 and the README describes it as openly developed free software. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Vishesh Handa | Gregor Santner |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | github.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
GitJournal
- Developers who already keep notes in a Git repository
- People who want phone notes as plain Markdown files they control
- Pairing a phone with Obsidian or Foam on the desktop
Markor
- Android users who keep notes as Markdown or plain-text files
- People who already use the todo.txt format for tasks
- Pairing with Syncthing, Nextcloud or Dropbox to reach the same files elsewhere
Worth knowing
GitJournal
- Tags, backlinks, Zen mode and multiple repositories need Pro, and on iOS even the Basic app is a $3.99 download.
- The store listings say encrypting notes is not supported yet.
- The site offers only Android and iOS apps; on a desktop the same files are edited with other tools such as Obsidian, Notable or Foam.
- The Google Play listing was last updated on Aug 27, 2024, and the website's copyright notice ends in 2022.
Markor
- Android only: the README describes Markor as a text editor for Android and lists no iOS, desktop or web version.
- There is no built-in sync. The README says Markor will stay an offline app and that a separate sync client has to move the files.
- Encryption covers a file's text only, not pictures or attachments, and needs Android Marshmallow or newer.
- Org-Mode support is limited to syntax highlighting and editing buttons; there is no rendered view for it.
Key features
GitJournal
- Sync with any Git host
- Notes sync over standard SSH with a Git repository on GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, Gogs or a custom or self-hosted provider. No GitJournal account is required.
- Markdown files with optional YAML
- Notes are standard Markdown or plaintext files, optionally with a YAML header, so they stay readable outside the app with no import or export step.
- Offline first
- All notes are available offline on the device, and they are organized into folders.
- Wiki links and backlinks
- Typing [[Name]] links one note to another, and backlinks show which notes point at the current one. Backlinks need Pro, and the graph view is experimental.
- Multiple editors and views
- The same Markdown notes can be edited in several editors, including a raw editor, and the note list can be displayed in different views to suit the task.
- Works with desktop tools
- Because the repository holds ordinary files, it also opens in Obsidian, Notable, Foam or a terminal, and can be used to manage Hugo, Jekyll or Gatsby sites.
Markor
- Plain-text files in many formats
- Markdown, todo.txt, Zim wiki text, AsciiDoc, Org-Mode, CSV and plain text get syntax highlighting and format-specific buttons, and the files open in any other text editor.
- Notebook, QuickNote and To-Do
- Notebook is the root folder for documents and can sit anywhere on the file system. QuickNote is a single Markdown file for fast capture and To-Do is a todo.txt file.
- todo.txt task lists
- Each line is a task, with @contexts and +projects for grouping. Finished tasks are marked with an x and can be moved to a separate done file.
- Preview and export to HTML or PDF
- Documents can be previewed, converted and shared as HTML or PDF. Markdown follows the CommonMark specification, with optional math rendering through KaTeX.
- Share Into
- Text and links shared from other apps can be appended to QuickNote, To-Do or a recent file, or saved to a new one, with URL tracking parameters removed.
- File encryption
- Text files can be encrypted with AES256 under a password set in the settings. The companion jpencconverter tool decrypts the same files on a desktop.
Plans
GitJournal
Basic (Android)$0
Basic search, dark mode, raw editor, folder support, and customizable default file names and note metadata.
Basic (iOS)$3.99
one-time purchase on the US App Store
The same Basic feature set as a paid download for iPhone and iPad.
Pro, monthly installments$1.99 - $9.99
per month, pay what you want (US App Store)
Tags, backlinks, custom home screen, Zen mode and multiple repos. After 12 months or the minimum yearly amount it becomes the one-time purchase.
Pro, one-time purchase$31.99 - $54.99
one-time, pay what you want (US App Store)
Permanently enables every Pro feature now in GitJournal and any added in the following 12 months.
Markor
Markor$0
The full app from F-Droid, the GitHub releases page or Google Play. The project recommends F-Droid for installing and updating.
Ways to pay less
GitJournal
- Lifetime license
Pro as a one-time purchase, no subscription
GitJournal's pricing page says there are no subscriptions: a one-time purchase permanently enables all current Pro features plus those added in the following 12 months.
- Other savings
Reduced Pro price on request
The pricing page invites anyone who cannot afford Pro, or finds its price too high, to email the developer to work out a plan.
Markor
No public discounts listed.
