ghostwriter
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
What is ghostwriter?
ghostwriter is a free Markdown editor made by KDE and released under the GNU General Public License v3.0. It pairs a plain, full-screen-capable editor with a live HTML preview, a document outline, and focus and Hemingway modes that cut down on distraction and on editing while drafting. Documents are exported through processors such as Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and commonmark. Windows and Linux are supported, and macOS only by building from source.
ghostwriter is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Linux and Windows users who want a free Markdown editor
- Writers who draft first and format later
- Bloggers who need clean HTML from Markdown
Worth knowing
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided: there is no installer, so the app has to be compiled from source.
- The Windows download is offered only as a portable 64-bit build for Windows 10.
- No mobile or web version is listed.
- Export to other formats relies on processors such as Pandoc or MultiMarkdown.
Key features
- Live preview
- Shows the Markdown document as HTML beside the editor, tuned to stay responsive on large documents. The HTML can be copied into a blog.
- Focus Mode
- Highlights the text around the cursor and fades the rest. It can be set to highlight the current line, sentence, paragraph or three lines.
- Hemingway Mode
- Disables the backspace and delete keys so that drafting cannot be interrupted by editing, in the manner of a typewriter.
- Outline navigation
- A sidebar outline jumps to any section of the document, in the editor and in the live preview, by mouse or with Ctrl+J and the arrow keys.
- Document and session statistics
- A live word count sits at the bottom of the window, and sidebar tabs show further statistics for the document and the current session.
- Export through Markdown processors
- Exports to other formats using Pandoc, MultiMarkdown or commonmark, and uses Pandoc to render equations with MathJax.
ghostwriter pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole application is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The site invites optional donations to KDE.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The complete editor at no cost: a portable 64-bit build for Windows 10 and packages for Linux distributions, with source code for other platforms. |
Read from ghostwriter.kde.org on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ghostwriter before you buy.
Works with
- Pandoc
- MultiMarkdown
- MathJax
ghostwriter alternatives
- ghostwriter vs Typora
Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
- ghostwriter vs iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Common questions
Is ghostwriter free?
Yes. ghostwriter is free to use. The whole application is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The site invites optional donations to KDE.
How much does ghostwriter cost?
ghostwriter lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from ghostwriter.kde.org on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does ghostwriter work on?
ghostwriter is available on Windows and Linux.
Does ghostwriter have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ghostwriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Does ghostwriter have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ghostwriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Is ghostwriter open source?
Yes. ghostwriter is open source, according to its own site.
What does ghostwriter integrate with?
ghostwriter's listing names Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and MathJax. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes ghostwriter?
ghostwriter is made by KDE. It dates from 2015.
What are the alternatives to ghostwriter?
The closest alternatives to ghostwriter in our directory are MarkText, Typora, Zettlr, FocusWriter and iA Writer. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ghostwriter.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.