# Markdown Monster

> Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows

Markdown Monster is a Markdown editor for Windows from West Wind Technologies. It pairs a syntax-colored editor with a live preview that scrolls in step, and adds helpers for images, tables and code, Git integration, export to PDF and HTML, and publishing to weblogs. It can be downloaded and evaluated for free with every feature, and continued use needs a perpetual license for the current major version.

- **Category:** Writing Tools
- **Made by:** West Wind Technologies
- **Website:** https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com
- **Runs on:** Windows
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Markdown Monster is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license).

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** Free evaluation download with every feature and no stated time limit; it shows occasional evaluation notices.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Single User | $99 one-time purchase, per user, for version 4 | A perpetual license for one person on any number of machines, with free minor updates and a 60-day money-back guarantee. |
| 5 User License | $399 one-time purchase for 5 users | The same perpetual version 4 license for five users. |
| Lifetime License | $399 one-time purchase, per user | A single-user license that includes every future major-version upgrade at no further cost. |
| 10 User License | $749 one-time purchase for 10 users | The same perpetual version 4 license for ten users. |
| 25 User License | $1,899 one-time purchase for 25 users | The same perpetual version 4 license for twenty-five users. |
| Site License | $5,999 one-time purchase, per organization | Any number of users within a single organization, with a 5-year free upgrade guarantee. |

Read from https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Markdown Monster before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **Lifetime single-user license for $399** (Lifetime license): The Lifetime License includes all future major-version upgrades for one user, against $99 for a license tied to version 4. Source: https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase
- **Upgrade from an earlier version for $49** (Other savings): Holders of a version 1, 2 or 3 single-user license can move to version 4 for $49. Version 3 licenses bought on or after December 1, 2024 upgrade free. Source: https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase
- **Free licenses for Microsoft MVPs and employees** (Other savings): Microsoft MVPs, ASP.NET Insiders, Microsoft employees and staff of companies that give free tools to the MVP program can apply for a free license. Source: https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase
- **Location-adjusted discount on application** (Other savings): People in countries where the list price is prohibitive can apply for a discounted license, adjusted for their location using the Big Mac Index. Source: https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase

## Key features

- **Editor with synced live preview:** Syntax-colored Markdown editing beside a collapsible HTML preview that updates and scrolls as you type, with inline spell checking and word counts.
- **Image, table and code helpers:** Paste images from the clipboard, capture and embed screenshots, edit tables in an interactive table editor and insert formatted code snippets.
- **Export and weblog publishing:** Export to PDF or HTML, or publish to a WordPress, MetaWeblog, Jekyll or Medium blog, then edit and republish posts or download existing ones.
- **Git integration:** Shows Git status on files and folders and has a commit dialog for reviewing and committing changes from inside the editor.
- **AI features with your own key:** Chat, image generation, text suggestions, summaries, grammar checking and translation run on your own API key for OpenAI-compatible providers such as OpenAI, Azure, Gemini or Ollama.
- **.NET addins and command line:** A .NET addin model lets extensions hook into the interface, editor, rendering and publishing, and a command line converts Markdown to HTML and PDF.

## Good for

- Windows users who write documentation or blog posts in Markdown
- Developers who want Git status and commits inside the editor
- Bloggers publishing to WordPress, Medium or Jekyll from Markdown files
- Buyers who prefer a perpetual license to a subscription

## Worth knowing

- Windows only: the download page gives Windows 10 or later as the requirement, and no Mac, Linux, mobile or web version is listed.
- A standard license covers one major version. Upgrading to the next costs about half the full price unless the license was bought within a year of its release.
- The AI features need your own API key from an OpenAI-compatible provider; the license includes no AI usage.
- The free evaluation has every feature but shows occasional notices, and the vendor requires a paid license for continued use.

## Works with

WordPress, Medium, Jekyll, Git, SnagIt, OpenAI, Ollama, GitHub Gist

**Tags:** Markdown, One-time purchase, AI features

## Alternatives

- [Typora](https://toolgpa.com/tools/typora): Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markdown-monster-vs-typora)
- [MarkText](https://toolgpa.com/tools/marktext): Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markdown-monster-vs-marktext)
- [ghostwriter](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ghostwriter): Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ghostwriter-vs-markdown-monster)
- [Zettlr](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zettlr): Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/markdown-monster-vs-zettlr)
- [iA Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ia-writer): Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ia-writer-vs-markdown-monster)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/purchase
- https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/
- https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/download
- https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/docs/
- https://markdownmonster.west-wind.com/docs/AI-Integration-Features.html
- https://github.com/RickStrahl/MarkdownMonster

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/markdown-monster
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).