The Zettlr Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zettlr 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.
Zettlr
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Zettlr’s own pages.
Made by Hendrik Erz · 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 Zettlr’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zettlr’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
2.8
GPA, above 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Zettlr is a free and open-source Markdown editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, built around academic writing. It connects to reference managers such as Zotero to insert citations, links notes Zettelkasten-style, and exports papers and presentations through Pandoc profiles and templates. Files stay on the user's computer, with no forced cloud sync and no telemetry, and development is funded by donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Zettlr, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The editor itself can show anything from raw Markdown to rich text.
- 1
Best for free academic writing in Markdown
Citations need an outside reference manager, and grammar past the spellchecker means connecting LanguageTool.
- 2
It is free
Zettlr has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source, with no paid tier. Development is funded by voluntary donations through Patreon, PayPal, GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Citations from a reference manager
Loads a library from Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M, previews citations in the text and formats them in any of more than 9,000 citation styles.
- 5
Export profiles with Pandoc
A profile pairs an export format with a template, so a paper can be exported for a journal or conference in one click. Beamer, reveal.js and PowerPoint slides are supported too.
- 6
Zettelkasten tools
Supports note IDs, wiki-style links between notes, related files and a graph view for building a personal knowledge base.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 43 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
Zettlr is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Zettlr at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Hendrik Erz, since 2017
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free academic writing in Markdown
Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing that pulls citations from Zotero, links notes Zettelkasten-style and exports through Pandoc. It's desktop only, on Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer and Linux, with no phone or web app and no sync of its own. Citations need an outside reference manager, and grammar past the spellchecker means connecting LanguageTool.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source, with no paid tier at all, in a category where paid plans start around $8.33 a month in the middle. Development runs on voluntary donations through Patreon, PayPal, GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free on Windows, macOS and Linux. There's no paid tier, so nothing is held back and there's no cap to reach. |
| Features | C | It covers academic Markdown by leaning on other programs: citations come from a library you keep in Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M, export runs through Pandoc, and grammar past the spellchecker means connecting LanguageTool. Its own parts are Zettelkasten links and a graph view. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and the academic parts take wiring: citations come from an outside reference manager, export profiles run on Pandoc, and grammar checks need LanguageTool connected. The editor itself can show anything from raw Markdown to rich text. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer and Linux. It hooks up to Zotero, JabRef, Juris-M, LanguageTool and Pandoc, but those are other desktop programs: this is computers only, with no mobile or web app and no cloud sync of its own. |
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 Zettlr is for
- Fits if you write papers or a thesis in Markdown and keep your references in Zotero
- Works for people who keep a Zettelkasten of linked notes on their own computer
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 files stay on your computer with no cloud service of its own
- Too light for grammar checking out of the box, since anything past the spellchecker means connecting LanguageTool
- Watch out: citations need a library kept in Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M, and exports run through Pandoc profiles
- Tight if your computer is older, as downloads are listed for Windows 10 or newer and macOS 12 or newer
Good to know
Good for
- Researchers and students writing papers or theses in Markdown
- Zotero users who want citations inside a plain-text editor
- People who keep a Zettelkasten of linked notes
- Writers who want their files kept on their own computer
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: downloads are listed for macOS 12 or newer, Windows 10 or newer and Linux, with no mobile or web app.
- It has no cloud service of its own: files stay on the computer, with no built-in cloud synchronization.
- Citations draw on a library kept in an external reference manager such as Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M.
- Grammar and style checking beyond the spellchecker relies on connecting LanguageTool.
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
Zettlr is free to use.
Development runs on voluntary donations through Patreon, PayPal, GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi.
Free
$0
The full editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, free and open source, with optional donations to support development.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source, with no paid tier. Development is funded by voluntary donations through Patreon, PayPal, GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi.
Read from zettlr.com 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 for academic writing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, Markdown, linked notes, citations, long-form writing.
Its own parts are Zettelkasten links and a graph view.
- Citations from a reference manager
- Loads a library from Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M, previews citations in the text and formats them in any of more than 9,000 citation styles.
- Export profiles with Pandoc
- A profile pairs an export format with a template, so a paper can be exported for a journal or conference in one click. Beamer, reveal.js and PowerPoint slides are supported too.
- Zettelkasten tools
- Supports note IDs, wiki-style links between notes, related files and a graph view for building a personal knowledge base.
- Adjustable Markdown rendering
- The editor can show anything from raw Markdown to rich text. LaTeX math and Mermaid charts render inline, and the look can be changed with custom CSS.
- Spelling, grammar and style checks
- Includes a spellchecker and a Markdown linter, and can connect to LanguageTool for grammar and style checking.
- Projects, snippets and statistics
- Project support groups the files of a longer work, snippets insert reusable text with variables and tab stops, and writing statistics track progress.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Zotero
- JabRef
- Juris-M
- LanguageTool
- Pandoc
Zettlr is made by Hendrik Erz, 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
43/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Zettlr's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 58 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Zettlr has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. Zettlr’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 58 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 1 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. Zettlr 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
Zettlr is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Markdown, linked notes and long-form writing: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Citation records for millions of papers.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Zotero, JabRef and Juris-M among them.
What this rests on. Zettlr’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, Obsidian, MarkText, ghostwriter and Logseq
The 5 tools Zettlr 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.
- Zettlr has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
MarkText
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering.
- Zettlr also covers linked notes, citations and long-form writing.
- 3.0GPA
ghostwriter
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing.
- Only Zettlr lists a macOS app.
- Zettlr also covers linked notes, citations and long-form writing.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists iOS and Android apps.
- Zettlr also covers citations and long-form writing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Zettlr free?
Yes. Zettlr is free to use.
How much does Zettlr cost?
Zettlr lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Zettlr work on?
Zettlr is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Zettlr have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zettlr is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Zettlr have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zettlr is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Zettlr open source?
Yes. Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
Does Zettlr 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 Zettlr integrate with?
Zettlr's listing names Zotero, JabRef, Juris-M, LanguageTool and Pandoc.
Who makes Zettlr?
Zettlr is made by Hendrik Erz. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to Zettlr?
The closest alternatives to Zettlr in our directory are Typora, Obsidian, MarkText, ghostwriter and Logseq.
How does Zettlr compare with other writing tools?
Zettlr's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
Is Zettlr good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Zettlr A for value for money. Zettlr has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Zettlr?
Zettlr 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 Zettlr’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 Zettlr's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-23.
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 Hendrik Erz. Prices change, so check zettlr.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
- Zettlr, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zettlr
- 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, "Zettlr: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zettlr
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zettlr/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Zettlr, 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 Zettlr’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. Zettlr is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hendrik Erz. Prices and plans change: check zettlr.com before you buy.