The Markdown Monster Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Markdown Monster in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Markdown Monster
The Insider’s Guide
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Markdown Monster’s own pages.
Made by West Wind Technologies · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Markdown Monster’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Markdown Monster’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 20 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Markdown Monster, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The AI side is the fiddly bit, since you bring a key from an OpenAI-compatible provider yourself.
- 1
Best for Markdown docs and blog posts on Windows
It's Windows only, the AI needs your own API key, and the free evaluation shows notices and expects you to buy.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license).
- 3
You can try it first
Free evaluation download with every feature and no stated time limit; it shows occasional evaluation notices.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 20 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Markdown Monster you could make: Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Markdown Monster at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $99 one-time per user (version 4 license)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free evaluation download with every feature and no stated time limit; it shows occasional evaluation notices.
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- West Wind Technologies
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for Markdown docs and blog posts on Windows
Markdown Monster is a Windows Markdown editor for docs and blog posts, with a preview that scrolls as you type, Git support and publishing to WordPress, Medium or Jekyll. The $99 license covers version 4 only, so the next major version costs about half again, or $399 buys lifetime. It's Windows only, the AI needs your own API key, and the free evaluation shows notices and expects you to buy.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $99 once per user, on any number of machines, which is about what a year of this category's middle price of $8.33 a month comes to. But it buys version 4 only: the next major upgrade is roughly half price again, and the Lifetime License that covers them all is $399. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan at all. The evaluation download does have every feature and no stated time limit, and it asks for no card, but it nags you with notices and the vendor says continued use needs a paid licence. |
| Features | B | A syntax-coloured editor with a preview that scrolls as you type, an interactive table editor, screenshot capture, PDF and HTML export, a Git commit dialog and publishing to WordPress, Medium or Jekyll. That covers the whole Markdown job. AI chat and grammar are there, on your own API key. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so the grade rests on what you do on day one: install a Windows program and start typing, with nothing to connect and no template to build. The AI side is the fiddly bit, since you bring a key from an OpenAI-compatible provider yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system. The download page asks for Windows 10 or later, and no Mac, Linux, phone or web version is listed. It does join up with plenty once you're there: WordPress, Medium, Jekyll, Git, SnagIt and GitHub Gist. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Markdown Monster is for
- Fits if you're on Windows and write documentation or blog posts in Markdown
- Works for developers who want Git status and commits inside the editor
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac, Linux, a phone or the web, as it needs Windows 10 or later
- Pricey if you always want the newest version, since each major upgrade costs about half the full price, or $399 for lifetime
- Not for you if you expect AI to be included, because the license includes no AI usage and you need your own API key
- Watch out: there's no free plan, and the evaluation shows notices and needs a paid license for continued use
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$99 one-time
To start
Markdown Monster is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license).
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.
Trying it first
Free evaluation download with every feature and no stated time limit; it shows occasional evaluation notices.
Read from markdownmonster.west-wind.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime single-user license for $399
The Lifetime License includes all future major-version upgrades for one user, against $99 for a license tied to version 4.
Stated on markdownmonster.west-wind.comOther savings
Upgrade from an earlier version for $49
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.
Stated on markdownmonster.west-wind.comOther savings
Free licenses for Microsoft MVPs and employees
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.
Stated on markdownmonster.west-wind.comOther savings
Location-adjusted discount on application
People in countries where the list price is prohibitive can apply for a discounted license, adjusted for their location using the Big Mac Index.
Stated on markdownmonster.west-wind.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, Markdown.
AI chat and grammar are there, on your own API key.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- WordPress
- Medium
- Jekyll
- Git
- SnagIt
- OpenAI
- Ollama
- GitHub Gist
Markdown Monster is made by West Wind Technologies.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
20/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Markdown Monster's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 20 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on features (B, above 36 of 69) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Markdown Monster’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 35 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- BFeaturesAbove 36 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 69
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Markdown Monster you could make: Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 38 of the 69 other writing tools grade higher. It costs $99, paid once.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, WordPress, Medium and Jekyll among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Markdown Monster’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Typora, MarkText, ghostwriter, Zettlr and iA Writer
The 5 tools Markdown Monster is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Typora
Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type.
- Only Typora lists macOS and Linux apps.
- 3.0GPA
MarkText
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering.
- MarkText has a free plan. Markdown Monster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MarkText lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Markdown Monster can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
ghostwriter
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. Markdown Monster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ghostwriter lists a Linux app.
- Markdown Monster can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Zettlr
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing.
- Zettlr has a free plan. Markdown Monster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zettlr lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Markdown Monster can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and iOS apps.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Markdown Monster free?
No, Markdown Monster is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free evaluation download with every feature and no stated time limit; it shows occasional evaluation notices.
How much does Markdown Monster cost?
Markdown Monster lists 6 plans. Single User: $99 one-time purchase, per user, for version 4.
What platforms does Markdown Monster work on?
Markdown Monster is available on Windows.
Does Markdown Monster offer any discounts?
Markdown Monster publicly lists the following: Lifetime single-user license for $399; Upgrade from an earlier version for $49; Free licenses for Microsoft MVPs and employees; Location-adjusted discount on application.
Does Markdown Monster have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Markdown Monster is listed for Windows.
Does Markdown Monster have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Markdown Monster is listed for Windows.
Is Markdown Monster open source?
Markdown Monster is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Markdown Monster integrate with?
Markdown Monster's listing names WordPress, Medium, Jekyll, Git, SnagIt, OpenAI, Ollama and GitHub Gist.
Who makes Markdown Monster?
Markdown Monster is made by West Wind Technologies.
What are the alternatives to Markdown Monster?
The closest alternatives to Markdown Monster in our directory are Typora, MarkText, ghostwriter, Zettlr and iA Writer.
How does Markdown Monster compare with other writing tools?
Markdown Monster's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 20 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 11.
Could I make my own version of Markdown Monster?
The plain part of Markdown Monster you could make: Markdown. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Markdown Monster’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Markdown Monster's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-04.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by West Wind Technologies. Prices change, so check markdownmonster.west-wind.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Markdown Monster, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/markdown-monster
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Markdown Monster: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/markdown-monster
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/markdown-monster/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Markdown Monster, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Markdown Monster’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Markdown Monster is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by West Wind Technologies. Prices and plans change: check markdownmonster.west-wind.com before you buy.