Markor vs Zettel Notes
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Zettel Notes
Android Markdown note app built around the Zettelkasten method
Where they differ
- Markor is free. Zettel Notes starts at $0.99 one-time for the cheapest paid plugin; most are $2.99 to $5.99.
- Markor is open source, according to its own site.
- Markor also covers tasks.
- Zettel Notes also covers linked notes, web clipper and templates.
At a glance
| Markor | Zettel Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $0.99 one-time for the cheapest paid plugin; most are $2.99 to $5.99 |
| Free plan | 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. | The main app is free with no ads and includes Markdown notes, repositories, backlinks, encryption, templates and all four sync methods. The Location and Todo.txt plugins are free too. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Android | ||
| Made by | Gregor Santner | dax7 (Rohit Sharma) |
| Price read from | github.com | play.google.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Zettel Notes
- Android users who keep notes as Markdown files in their own folders
- People following the Zettelkasten method with linked notes
- Syncing notes through a Git repository, WebDAV server or SFTP
Worth knowing
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.
Zettel Notes
- The documentation covers an Android app only; it lists no iOS, desktop or web version.
- OCR, document scanning, speech to text, translation and AI features are separate plugin apps, priced from $0.99 to $5.99 each on Google Play.
- Sync runs through Dropbox, Git, WebDAV or SFTP that the user sets up; the developer does not run a sync service.
- With password-based encryption, notes cannot be decrypted if the password is forgotten or the app is uninstalled, which clears the salt.
Key features
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.
Zettel Notes
- Plain-text repositories
- Notes are saved as separate .md, .txt or .org files in one or more folders, called repositories, so an existing folder of notes can be opened by pointing the app at it.
- Wiki links and backlinks
- Typing [[ inserts a link to another note, and each note's information dialog lists the notes that link to it. Tags, authors and note IDs taken from file names or YAML are supported.
- Sync over Dropbox, Git, WebDAV and SFTP
- Each repository can sync with Dropbox, a Git remote, a WebDAV server such as Nextcloud, or SFTP, either manually or in the background at intervals from 15 minutes to 24 hours.
- Per-repository encryption
- A repository can be encrypted with a password, an in-app PGP key, or a key held in an external OpenPGP app. The feature list also includes an app lock.
- Note types and web capture
- Task, drawing, audio, bookmark and log notes are plain-text files with their own view. Sharing a web page from a browser converts it to Markdown and saves it as a note.
- Plugin apps
- Separate plugin apps add OCR, document scanning, speech to text, translation, Anki cards, alarms, AI chat and on-device AI actions. Most are paid; two are free.
Plans
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.
Zettel Notes
Zettel Notes$0
The full note app, which the developer says will stay free of charge and ad-free. The Location and Todo.txt plugins also cost nothing.
Latex Plugin$0.99
one-time purchase (US Google Play)
A searchable list of LaTeX symbols that inserts the code for the chosen symbol into a note.
Publish plugin$2.49
one-time purchase (US Google Play)
Publishes a Markdown note as a public page on Telegraph and returns a link to share.
$2.99 plugins$2.99
one-time purchase per plugin (US Google Play)
Alarm, Anki, Speech2Text, SpeedRead, TextUtils and Translate plugins. Each is a separate app bought on its own.
Local AI Actions$3.19
one-time purchase (US Google Play)
On-device AI actions such as summarize, rewrite and expand on selected text, with no API key or internet connection.
$5.99 plugins$5.99
one-time purchase per plugin (US Google Play)
AI Chat, Scanner, OCR and Donation plugins, each bought separately. AI Chat also needs an OpenAI API key or a compatible server.
