The Typora Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Typora 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.
Typora
The Insider’s Guide
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Typora’s own pages.
Made by appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.) · checked Oct 5, 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 Typora’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Typora’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Typora is a desktop Markdown editor and reader for macOS, Windows and Linux. Instead of a split view with source on one side and a preview on the other, it renders headings, tables, code blocks, math and diagrams in place as they are typed. It works on local files, and it is sold as a one-time license that one person can activate on up to three devices.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Typora, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go.
- 1
Best for Markdown that looks finished as you type
There's no phone or web version, and syncing is left to something like Dropbox or iCloud.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- 3
You can try it first
15-day free trial before a license is needed. Purchases can be refunded within 30 days.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Live preview editing
Formats Markdown in place while typing, with no separate preview window or mode switch, so the document looks the same when writing and when reading.
- 6
Tables, code, math and diagrams
Tables resize by dragging, code fences highlight around 100 languages, MathJax handles equations, and flowchart, sequence and Mermaid diagrams are drawn from text.
- 7
Image handling
Images are inserted by drag and drop and shown inline, can be resized with an img tag, and on macOS can be uploaded to a cloud server through the iPic service.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 32 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Typora at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $14.99 one-time, before tax
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 15-day free trial before a license is needed. Purchases can be refunded within 30 days.
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.)
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for Markdown that looks finished as you type
Typora is a Markdown editor that formats text in place as you type, for $14.99 once on Mac, Windows and Linux after a 15-day trial. The license covers one person on 3 devices, with no team license, and major updates like 2.x aren't included. There's no phone or web version, and syncing is left to something like Dropbox or iCloud.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $14.99 once, before tax, for one person on up to 3 devices, with no subscription or renewal fee. That's less than two months of this category's $8.33-a-month middle, paid once and done, and refundable within 30 days. Major updates, 1.x to 2.x, aren't included. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. You get a 15-day free trial before a licence is needed, and a purchase can be refunded within 30 days if it isn't for you. |
| Features | C | It does the Markdown editor's job completely, and that's a smaller job than most of this category: text formats in place with no preview pane, tables resize by dragging, code highlights in about 100 languages, math and Mermaid diagrams come from text, and it exports PDF, docx, LaTeX and Epub. |
| Ease of use | B | There's no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It's a desktop app you install, and there's no mode switch to learn: what you type turns into the finished page. It works on ordinary files in any folder. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux on one licence, which is still only computers however many of them it is. Desktop only, with no mobile or web version listed, syncing left to Dropbox or iCloud, and iPic on macOS as the single integration. |
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 Typora is for
- Fits if you write Markdown and want to see the finished page as you type
- Works for notes that mix code blocks, math and Mermaid 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 want sync built in, because that's left to Dropbox or iCloud
- Tight if you're buying for a team, since a license covers one person on 3 devices and no bulk license is offered
- Watch out: major updates such as 1.x to 2.x aren't included in the $14.99
- Watch out: there's no free plan, only a 15-day trial and a 30-day refund window
Good to know
Good for
- People who write Markdown and want to see formatted text as they type
- Technical notes that mix code blocks, math and Mermaid diagrams
- Buyers who prefer a low one-time price to a subscription
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: downloads are offered for macOS, Windows and Linux, with no mobile or web version listed.
- A license covers one person on up to 3 devices at a time, and no bulk or organization-wide license is offered.
- Under the license agreement, free updates do not include major updates such as a move from 1.x to 2.x.
- Typora is file-based and does not store documents; syncing between devices is left to services such as Dropbox or iCloud.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.99 one-time
To start
Typora is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
Typora license
$14.99
one-time purchase, per user, before tax
Activates Typora on up to 3 devices for one person across macOS, Windows and Linux, with no expiry, subscription or renewal fee.
Trying it first
15-day free trial before a license is needed. Purchases can be refunded within 30 days.
Read from store.typora.io on Oct 5, 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
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, Markdown.
Mac, Windows and Linux on one licence, which is still only computers however many of them it is.
- Live preview editing
- Formats Markdown in place while typing, with no separate preview window or mode switch, so the document looks the same when writing and when reading.
- Tables, code, math and diagrams
- Tables resize by dragging, code fences highlight around 100 languages, MathJax handles equations, and flowchart, sequence and Mermaid diagrams are drawn from text.
- Image handling
- Images are inserted by drag and drop and shown inline, can be resized with an img tag, and on macOS can be uploaded to a cloud server through the iPic service.
- File tree and outline panels
- A file tree and an article list organize files in any folder, and an outline panel lists a document's headings for jumping to a section.
- Import and export
- Exports to PDF with bookmarks, and imports or exports other formats including docx, OpenOffice, LaTeX, MediaWiki and Epub.
- Focus mode, typewriter mode and themes
- Focus mode blurs every line but the current one, typewriter mode keeps the active line in the middle of the window, and themes are configured with CSS.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- iPic
Typora is made by appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Typora's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 44 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Typora’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 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.
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
You could make the core of Typora for yourself: Markdown. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $14.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
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. Typora’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
MarkText, Zettlr, iA Writer, Obsidian and Markdown Monster
The 5 tools Typora is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
MarkText
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering.
- MarkText has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Zettlr
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing.
- Zettlr has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- Only Typora lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Obsidian has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Markdown Monster
Free trial · from $99 one-time
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows.
- Only Typora lists macOS and Linux apps.
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 Typora free?
No, Typora is a paid product, but you can try it first. 15-day free trial before a license is needed.
How much does Typora cost?
Typora lists one plan. Typora license: $14.99 one-time purchase, per user, before tax.
What platforms does Typora work on?
Typora is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Typora have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Typora is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Typora have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Typora is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Typora open source?
Typora is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Typora work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Typora integrate with?
Typora's listing names iPic. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Typora?
Typora is made by appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.).
What are the alternatives to Typora?
The closest alternatives to Typora in our directory are MarkText, Zettlr, iA Writer, Obsidian and Markdown Monster.
How does Typora compare with other writing tools?
Typora's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
Could I make my own version of Typora?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. You could make the core of Typora for yourself: Markdown.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Typora’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Typora's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-25.
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 appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.). Prices change, so check typora.io 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
- Typora, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/typora
- 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, "Typora: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/typora
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/typora/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Typora, 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 Typora’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. Typora is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by appmakes (Qiyun (Shanghai) Technology Ltd.). Prices and plans change: check typora.io before you buy.