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NotchNook VS HackMD

Compare NotchNook VS HackMD and see what are their differences

NotchNook

Music, calendar, notes, to-dos and files, right in your Mac’s notch.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $2 / Monthly (Relaunch until Oct 17, 2026; 2 Macs)
Alternatives Is it good?
HackMD

Fast and flexible, real-time collaborative markdown, inspired by Hackpad.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
EatAWhale
A habit and interest tracker for everything you care about. Set your own cadence, daily to monthly, and streaks follow your schedule. Buy once for $21, no subscription. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, HackMD seems to be a lot more popular than NotchNook. While we know about 76 links to HackMD, we've tracked only 2 mentions of NotchNook.

social mentions
2 vs 76
Productivity popularity
60% vs 40%
alternatives listed
169 vs 181

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

NotchNook
HackMD
Website getnotchnook.com hackmd.io
Pricing
Paid Free trial $2 / Monthly (Relaunch until Oct 17, 2026; 2 Macs) Official pricing
Official pricing
Listed in
Mac Productivity Note Taking Focus Music +1
Task Management Project Management Productivity Markdown Editor +1

About NotchNook and HackMD

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

NotchNook
HackMD

NotchNook turns the top of your Mac display into a useful workspace. Control music, see calendar events, keep quick notes and to-dos, start timers, use a camera mirror, and run Shortcuts. The Tray keeps files close for drag-and-drop and AirDrop. Works on Macs with or without a notch and on...

Read more about NotchNook

No description of HackMD yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

NotchNook 3 features
HackMD 5 features
  • Files Tray and AirDrop
    Keep files close for drag-and-drop between apps and AirDrop transfers.
  • Widgets
    Music controls, calendar, notes, to-dos, timers, a camera mirror and Shortcuts.
  • macOS compatibility
    macOS 14.6 or later, Apple silicon and Intel; works with or without a notch and on multiple displays.
  • Collaboration
    HackMD offers real-time collaborative editing, which allows multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. This feature enhances teamwork and productivity, especially for remote teams.
  • Markdown Support
    HackMD is built around Markdown, providing a simple yet powerful syntax for formatting documents. Markdown compatibility makes it easy to create well-structured content with minimal effort.
  • Version Control
    The platform includes version history, allowing users to track changes, revert to previous versions, and compare different iterations. This feature ensures that work is not lost and can be systematically reviewed.
  • Integration
    HackMD integrates with popular platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Dropbox, allowing for seamless workflow integration. This makes it easy to incorporate HackMD into existing development and project management processes.
  • Accessibility
    HackMD is a web-based tool, meaning it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. This ensures that users can collaborate and edit documents from different locations and devices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Offline Support
    Since HackMD is primarily a web-based tool, it offers limited functionalities when offline. Users may face challenges accessing and editing documents without an internet connection.
  • Subscription Model
    While HackMD offers a free tier, advanced features and greater collaboration capacities are locked behind a subscription model. This could be a disadvantage for users and small teams with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with Markdown or collaborative editing tools may have a learning curve to overcome. This could affect initial productivity and user experience.
  • Data Privacy
    As a cloud-based service, users may have concerns about data privacy and security. Sensitive information stored on the platform could potentially be accessed by third parties or become vulnerable to data breaches.
  • Performance Issues
    Under heavy usage or with large documents, some users might experience occasional performance issues such as lag or slow syncing. This can disrupt the workflow and collaborative efforts.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

NotchNook
HackMD

No analysis of NotchNook yet.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, HackMD is a strong choice for those looking for an effective and flexible markdown editor with robust collaboration features. Its convenience, ease of use, and extensive features make it a good option for both personal and professional use.

Why this product is good

  • HackMD is popular because it offers a collaborative markdown editing environment that's particularly useful for teams and individuals who need to work on documentation, notes, or any kind of markdown-based content. It allows real-time collaboration, version control, and easy sharing, making it ideal for productivity. Its interface is user-friendly, and it supports a variety of integrations with tools like GitHub, Google Drive, and Dropbox. This flexibility and the ability to seamlessly work across different platforms make HackMD a valuable tool for many users.

Recommended for

  • Teams needing real-time collaboration on documents
  • Developers working on project documentation
  • Educators and students for note-taking and sharing
  • Writers preferring markdown for content creation
  • Anyone looking for a cloud-based markdown editor with integrations

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

NotchNook 5 videos + Add
HackMD 3 videos + Add

NotchNook is back: a Dynamic Island for your Mac (MacBook notch app)

More videos

  • - Notchnook Review: UPGRADE your macOS notch (NEW)
  • - NotchNook: The Ultimate Tool for MacBook Pro Personalization!
  • - NotchNook Review: Best MacBook Notch Customization App?
  • - Notchnook vs Dynamic Lake vs Alcove – Don't Pick The Wrong macOS Notch in 2026! (FULL REVIEW!)

hackmd.io opensource application review

More videos

  • - Techstars Paris 2018 Demo Day - HackMD pitch
  • - Screencast-Tutorial zu HackMD

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
NotchNook
HackMD
60% 60%
Productivity
40% 40%
0% 0%
Task Management
100% 100%
100% 100%
Mac
0% 0%
100% 100%
Note Taking
0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing NotchNook and HackMD.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

NotchNook's answer

NotchNook is a native macOS application built with Swift and SwiftUI.

What makes your product unique?

NotchNook's answer

NotchNook combines everyday Mac tools in one panel at the top of the display: music controls, calendar, quick notes, to-dos, timers, a camera mirror and Shortcuts. The Tray keeps files within reach for drag-and-drop and AirDrop. It works with or without a physical notch and across multiple displays.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

NotchNook's answer

Choose NotchNook if you want music, calendar, notes, tasks and a file shelf together in a Mac-native interface. A 48-hour trial lets you try every feature before buying, without a card. Both monthly and lifetime plans include the same features.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

NotchNook's answer

Mac users who want quick access to everyday tools without interrupting their current work: people handling files, listening to music, taking notes or moving between meetings. It supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 14.6 or later.

What's the story behind your product?

NotchNook's answer

NotchNook launched in 2024 to make the Mac’s notch a useful part of the desktop. It has since grown into a workspace for music, calendar, notes, tasks and files. The app is available at its current official home, getnotchnook.com.

User comments

Share your experience with using NotchNook and HackMD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

NotchNook 2 mentions
HackMD 76 mentions
  • A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch
    I love this, but I’d rather have an indicator in the menu bar, an app notification, or maybe a nice flow around the "notch" like NotchNook. (https://lo.cafe/notchnook) Can't really afford to play with an app that would have such an... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Stripe blocks small dev sales and wants to refund $100k in legit purchases
    I wondered how the webpage https://lo.cafe/notchnook managed to sell $100k in download. I mean one cannot even zoom in on the screenshot, there's no list of features. Then I saw the tool was reviewed on, for example... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Which Markdown editor to choose
    Live preview. StackEdit, Dillinger, Markdown Live Preview, HackMD, and VS Code with its preview pane open. Toast UI Editor ships both modes and lets you switch. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Axios Compromised on NPM – Malicious Versions Drop Remote Access Trojan
    Many of the suggestions in this thread (min-release, ignore script) are defenses for the consumers. I've been working on Proof of Resilience, a set of 4 metrics for OSS, and using that as a scoring oracle for what to fund. Popularity... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • A decentralized peer-to-peer messaging application that operates over Bluetooth
    Bluetooth works most reliably across all devices (within its limited range), but all these p2p apps are indeed moving towards multi-transport support to diversify and widen the connectivity grid: https://hackmd.io/@grjte/bitchat-wifi-aware. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago

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Alternatives to NotchNook and HackMD

When comparing NotchNook and HackMD, you can also consider the following products.

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