The Marp Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Marp 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.
Marp
The Insider’s Guide
Markdown presentation ecosystem with PDF and PowerPoint export
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among presentation tools, read from Marp’s own pages.
Made by Marp team · checked Nov 12, 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 Marp’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Marp’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 37 of the 51 other presentation tools we grade
Marp turns a Markdown document into a slide deck, with pages split by a horizontal rule. The ecosystem includes Marp for VS Code, a command-line converter, the Marp Core engine and the Marpit framework. The vendor says all of its tools are MIT-licensed.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Marp, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There is no visual editor, so you write text in VS Code or run a command line, and exports need Chrome or Chromium installed.
- 1
Best for slide decks written in Markdown
Marp turns a Markdown file into slides, with themes in CSS and export to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint.
- 2
It is free
Marp has no paid plan at all. Free. The vendor says all Marp tools and libraries are open source under the MIT license.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Markdown based on CommonMark
Slides are ordinary CommonMark Markdown, with a horizontal rule separating pages.
- 5
Directives and extended syntax
Directives and extra syntax cover image placement, math typesetting and auto-scaling text.
- 6
Themes in CSS
Three themes ship with the core engine (default, gaia and uncover), and you can write your own theme in plain CSS.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 37 of 51
That is against the other presentation tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Marp is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Marp at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Marp team
- Category
- Presentations
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for slide decks written in Markdown
Marp turns a Markdown file into slides, with themes in CSS and export to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint. It is free and open source. There is no visual editor, so you write text in VS Code or run a command line, and exports need Chrome or Chromium installed.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the MIT licence, and anyone can download and run it. Marp for VS Code, the command-line tool and the core library are all free. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid plan and no account. The vendor says all its tools are open source. |
| Features | C | Markdown slides, themes in CSS, and export to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller job: there is no visual editor. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You write Markdown and use a command line or VS Code, and exports depend on Chrome or Chromium being present. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Runs through VS Code or the command line on a computer. The site does not list operating systems. |
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 Marp is for
- Fits if you already write in Markdown and want slides from the same text file
- Works for developers who keep decks in Git
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want to drag boxes around, as there is no visual editor
- Skip it if you do not use a command line or VS Code
- Watch out: HTML, PDF and PowerPoint export needs Google Chrome or Chromium installed
- Watch out: the site does not say which operating systems it supports
Good to know
Good for
- Writers who want slides from plain Markdown, versioned in Git
- VS Code users who want a live preview while writing
- Anyone who needs HTML, PDF or PowerPoint output from one source
Worth knowing
- There is no standalone visual editor; you write Markdown in VS Code or any text editor and convert with the CLI.
- HTML, PDF and PowerPoint export is powered by Google Chrome or Chromium, which has to be present.
- The site does not list operating systems, so supported platforms were not confirmed beyond the VS Code extension and the command line.
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
Marp is free to use.
Free under the MIT licence, and anyone can download and run it.
Open source
$0
Marp for VS Code, Marp CLI, Marp Core and Marpit, all MIT-licensed and free to use.
The free plan
Free. The vendor says all Marp tools and libraries are open source under the MIT license.
Read from marp.app on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Markdown presentation ecosystem with PDF and PowerPoint export. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown, presentations.
Markdown slides, themes in CSS, and export to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint.
- Markdown based on CommonMark
- Slides are ordinary CommonMark Markdown, with a horizontal rule separating pages.
- Directives and extended syntax
- Directives and extra syntax cover image placement, math typesetting and auto-scaling text.
- Themes in CSS
- Three themes ship with the core engine (default, gaia and uncover), and you can write your own theme in plain CSS.
- Export to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint
- Markdown converts directly to HTML, PDF and PowerPoint files, using Google Chrome or Chromium.
- Marp for VS Code
- An extension that previews slide Markdown and custom themes inside the editor's Markdown preview pane.
- Marp CLI
- A command-line tool that converts Markdown into the supported formats, watches for changes and can run a server for on-demand conversion.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- VS Code
- Google Chrome
- Chromium
- npm
- CommonMark
Marp is made by Marp team.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
37/51
Other presentation tools it is graded above
Marp's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 37 of the 51 other presentation tools we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 44 of 51) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Marp has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 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 52 presentation tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Marp’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 42 of 51
- AFree plan and trialAbove 44 of 51
- CFeaturesAbove 6 of 51
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 51
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 51
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 42 presentation tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Marp 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
Marp is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 37 of the 51 other presentation tools we grade.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A slide editor.
- It plugs into other products, VS Code, Google Chrome and Chromium among them.
What this rests on. Marp’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
Slidev, reveal.js, Deckset, iA Presenter and Slides
The 5 tools Marp is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Slidev
Free
- 2.6GPA
reveal.js
Free
- 2.4GPA
Deckset
Free trial · from $35 one-time
Turns Markdown notes into themed slides on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Marp has a free plan. Deckset does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Marp lists a web app.
- Only Deckset lists macOS and iOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
iA Presenter
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Markdown presentation app that builds slides from your script.
- Marp has a free plan. iA Presenter does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Marp lists a web app.
- Only iA Presenter lists macOS and iOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
Slides
Free plan · from $5/mo
Browser-based presentation editor with HTML, CSS and code support.
- Marp is open source, according to its own site.
- Marp also covers Markdown.
- Slides also covers templates.
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 Marp free?
Yes. Marp is free to use.
How much does Marp cost?
Marp lists one plan. Open source: $0.
What platforms does Marp work on?
Marp is available on Web.
Does Marp have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Marp is listed for Web.
Does Marp have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Marp is listed for Web.
Is Marp open source?
Yes. Marp is open source, according to its own site.
What does Marp integrate with?
Marp's listing names VS Code, Google Chrome, Chromium, npm and CommonMark.
Who makes Marp?
Marp is made by Marp team.
What are the alternatives to Marp?
The closest alternatives to Marp in our directory are Slidev, reveal.js, Deckset, iA Presenter and Slides.
How does Marp compare with other presentation tools?
Marp's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 37 of the 51 other presentation tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is Marp good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Marp A for value for money. Marp has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Marp?
Marp is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Marp’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Marp's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Marp team. Prices change, so check marp.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Marp, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/marp
- 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, "Marp: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/marp
Know someone choosing between presentation tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/marp/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded presentation tools after Marp, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Presentations Insider's GuideEvery one of the 52 presentation tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft PowerPoint Insider's GuideSlide presentation app sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Zoho Show Insider's GuideOnline presentation software, free for individuals3.4 GPA
- Canva Insider's GuideTemplate-based design platform for slides, graphics and video3.2 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 Marp’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. Marp is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Marp team. Prices and plans change: check marp.app before you buy.