The MarkText Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MarkText 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.
MarkText
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from MarkText’s own pages.
Made by Jocs and contributors · 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 MarkText’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MarkText’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
3.0
GPA, above 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
MarkText is a free desktop Markdown editor released under the MIT License and built by volunteers. It renders Markdown in place as it is typed instead of showing a separate preview pane, and it handles tables, KaTeX math, footnotes, front matter and diagrams. It runs on macOS, Windows and Linux with no account, and exports documents to PDF and HTML.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about MarkText, taken from its own pages and our grades.
On a Mac you do have to know whether you want the Apple Silicon or the Intel installer.
- 1
Best for free Markdown editing with no split preview
It's desktop only, with no web or phone version.
- 2
It is free
MarkText has no paid plan at all. The whole application is free and open source under the MIT License, with no account and no subscription. The project asks for optional sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Real-time preview
Markdown is rendered in place as it is typed, in a single pane with no split view. A source code mode shows the raw Markdown when full control is needed.
- 5
Extended Markdown
Supports the CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown specs, plus tables, footnotes, KaTeX math, syntax-highlighted code blocks and YAML, TOML or JSON front matter.
- 6
Diagrams
Flowcharts and charts written in Mermaid, Vega or Vega-Lite are drawn inside the document.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 57 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
MarkText is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
MarkText at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Jocs and contributors, since 2017
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free Markdown editing with no split preview
MarkText is a free, open-source Markdown editor for Mac, Windows and Linux that shows formatting in place as you type, with no split preview and no account. It's desktop only, with no web or phone version. Export stops at PDF and HTML, so there's no Word file or ebook at the end, and Mac users need macOS 11 and the right one of two installers.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT License, with no subscription and nothing to buy, where the middle of this category is $8.33 a month. Download it and go; the project asks for optional GitHub sponsorship and that's all. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole editor is free, every feature and all 33 themes, with no account to make. There's no paid tier above it, so nothing is held back. |
| Features | C | Markdown renders in place as you type, with tables, footnotes, KaTeX maths, highlighted code and Mermaid or Vega diagrams, plus focus and typewriter modes. It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job: the listing says export stops at PDF and HTML, so no Word file and no ebook at the end. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so this rests on day one: it's a download with no account and one pane to type in, nothing to connect or configure. On a Mac you do have to know whether you want the Apple Silicon or the Intel installer. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only, even if that's Mac, Windows and Linux. No web version, no iPhone, no Android, and the things it talks to are the maths and diagram libraries inside it rather than other apps. |
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 MarkText is for
- Fits if you want Markdown formatted in place as you type, on Mac, Windows or Linux
- Works for technical notes with math, code blocks and diagrams
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you write on a phone or in a browser, as it's desktop only
- Not for you if you need Word or ebook files at the end, because export covers PDF and HTML only
- Tight if your Mac is an older one, since the Mac builds need macOS 11, with separate Apple Silicon and Intel installers
- Watch out: Windows builds need Windows 10 or 11, and it connects to no other apps
Good to know
Good for
- Writers who want Markdown rendered as they type, without a split preview
- People who want one free editor on macOS, Windows and Linux
- Technical notes with math, code blocks and diagrams
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: no web, iOS or Android version is offered.
- macOS builds need macOS 11 or later and come as separate Apple Silicon and Intel installers; no universal build is published.
- Windows builds require Windows 10 or 11.
- Export covers PDF and HTML files only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
MarkText is free to use.
Download it and go; the project asks for optional GitHub sponsorship and that's all.
Free
$0
The complete editor for macOS, Windows and Linux, with every feature and theme included and no account required.
The free plan
The whole application is free and open source under the MIT License, with no account and no subscription. The project asks for optional sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors.
Read from marktext.me on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown.
It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job: the listing says export stops at PDF and HTML, so no Word file and no ebook at the end.
- Real-time preview
- Markdown is rendered in place as it is typed, in a single pane with no split view. A source code mode shows the raw Markdown when full control is needed.
- Extended Markdown
- Supports the CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown specs, plus tables, footnotes, KaTeX math, syntax-highlighted code blocks and YAML, TOML or JSON front matter.
- Diagrams
- Flowcharts and charts written in Mermaid, Vega or Vega-Lite are drawn inside the document.
- Themes
- Ships with 33 built-in light and dark themes. Each theme is plain CSS, so one can be copied and adjusted or replaced with a custom stylesheet.
- Focus and typewriter modes
- Focus mode dims everything except the line being written, and typewriter mode keeps that line centered in the window.
- PDF and HTML export
- Exports a document to PDF or to a self-contained HTML file with the chosen theme applied.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- KaTeX
- Mermaid
- Vega
- Vega-Lite
MarkText is made by Jocs and contributors, and has been around since 2017.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
MarkText's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 58 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
MarkText has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. MarkText’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 58 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. MarkText is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
MarkText is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. MarkText’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, ghostwriter, Zettlr, iA Writer and Markdown Monster
The 5 tools MarkText 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.
- MarkText has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
ghostwriter
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing.
- Only MarkText lists a macOS app.
- 2.8GPA
Zettlr
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing.
- Zettlr also covers linked notes, citations and long-form writing.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- MarkText has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MarkText lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- 2.4GPA
Markdown Monster
Free trial · from $99 one-time
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows.
- MarkText has a free plan. Markdown Monster does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MarkText lists macOS and Linux apps.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
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 MarkText free?
Yes. MarkText is free to use.
How much does MarkText cost?
MarkText lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does MarkText work on?
MarkText is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does MarkText have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MarkText is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does MarkText have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MarkText is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is MarkText open source?
Yes. MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
What does MarkText integrate with?
MarkText's listing names KaTeX, Mermaid, Vega and Vega-Lite. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes MarkText?
MarkText is made by Jocs and contributors. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to MarkText?
The closest alternatives to MarkText in our directory are Typora, ghostwriter, Zettlr, iA Writer and Markdown Monster.
How does MarkText compare with other writing tools?
MarkText's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is MarkText good value for money?
ToolGPA grades MarkText A for value for money. MarkText has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of MarkText?
MarkText is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MarkText’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 MarkText's own pages on 9 October 2026. Its home page would not load when we went back to check it, so we looked at its GitHub page instead. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-22.
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 Jocs and contributors. Prices change, so check marktext.me 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
- MarkText, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/marktext
- 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, "MarkText: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/marktext
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/marktext/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after MarkText, 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 MarkText’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. MarkText is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Jocs and contributors. Prices and plans change: check marktext.me before you buy.