Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

yWriter VS MarkText.app

Compare yWriter VS MarkText.app and see what are their differences

yWriter logo yWriter

Free writing software designed by the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series. yWriter6 helps you write a book by organising chapters, scenes, characters and locations in an easy-to-use interface.

MarkText.app logo MarkText.app

Mark Text is a Markdown editor for Mac, Windows and Linux.
  • yWriter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-30
  • MarkText.app Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-26

yWriter features and specs

  • Free to Use
    yWriter is available for free, allowing users to access its functionality without any financial investment.
  • Organized Structure
    The software divides your novel into scenes, chapters, and character profiles, providing a clear and organized way to manage your project.
  • Flexible
    yWriter offers flexibility in terms of structuring your writing process, making it adaptable to various writing methods and styles.
  • Automatic Backups
    The software includes an automatic backup feature to help prevent data loss.
  • Character Development Tools
    yWriter includes tools specifically designed to help with building characters, including tracking character details and development throughout the story.
  • Progress Tracking
    The application provides various metrics and progress tracking features, helping writers stay motivated and monitor their progress.

Possible disadvantages of yWriter

  • Complex Interface
    The user interface can be overwhelming and confusing for beginners due to its many features and options.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility
    yWriter is primarily designed for Windows, with limited functionality available on other operating systems like MacOS and Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    It may take some time to learn how to use yWriter effectively, especially for those who are not familiar with more complex software.
  • Limited Design and Formatting Options
    The software focuses more on organizational and writing tools rather than providing extensive design and formatting options.
  • Lack of Real-Time Collaboration
    yWriter does not support real-time collaboration features, which may be a disadvantage for writers who work in teams or with editors.
  • No Native Mobile App
    There is no native mobile app, which might limit accessibility for users who prefer to write on the go using mobile devices.

MarkText.app features and specs

  • Open Source
    MarkText is an open-source application, which means its source code is publicly accessible. This allows users to inspect, modify, and enhance the app according to their needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    The application is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that users can enjoy a consistent experience across different operating systems.
  • Clean and Minimalistic Interface
    MarkText features a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to focus on writing without getting distracted by overly complex features.
  • Real-Time Preview
    Users can see a real-time preview of their Markdown content as they write, enabling them to format their documents accurately without needing to switch between edit and preview modes constantly.
  • Support for CommonMark
    MarkText supports CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Markdown documents and applications.

Possible disadvantages of MarkText.app

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While MarkText is excellent for basic Markdown editing, it may lack some of the advanced features found in other Markdown editors, such as built-in table of contents or more sophisticated export options.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with larger documents. This can cause the app to be sluggish or unresponsive at times.
  • Limited Plugin Ecosystem
    Unlike some other Markdown editors, MarkText does not have an extensive plugin ecosystem. This limits the ability to extend the app's functionality easily.
  • Syncing and Collaboration
    MarkText does not offer built-in features for real-time collaboration or document syncing across devices, which can be a drawback for teams or users working across multiple devices.
  • Documentation and Support
    While there is some documentation available, it might not be as comprehensive as some users would like. Additionally, since it's open-source, the level of official support can be limited.

Analysis of yWriter

Overall verdict

  • Overall, yWriter is considered a very effective tool for writers who want to streamline their creative process. Its strong feature set and user-friendly design make it a valuable asset for both novice and experienced authors.

Why this product is good

  • yWriter is a piece of software designed specifically for authors. It offers a range of features that allow users to organize their novels by chapters and scenes, making it easy to manage complex plots and characters. Many users appreciate its focus on the writing process rather than getting bogged down with formatting, and it supports a distraction-free environment which helps writers concentrate solely on content creation.

Recommended for

    yWriter is recommended for novelists, scriptwriters, and anyone else embarking on long-form writing projects. It is especially beneficial for those who appreciate a structured environment to keep their stories organized and coherent.

Analysis of MarkText.app

Overall verdict

  • MarkText is generally considered a good Markdown editor for those looking for a simple and efficient tool. It provides essential features for Markdown enthusiasts, though it may lack some advanced functionalities found in more comprehensive editors.

Why this product is good

  • MarkText.app is a popular Markdown editor known for its clean and intuitive interface. It supports various Markdown features, including tables, images, and math expressions. With live preview and a distraction-free mode, it is designed to enhance the writing experience for Markdown users. Additionally, MarkText is open-source and cross-platform, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Recommended for

  • Writers and bloggers using Markdown for content creation
  • Developers documenting code and projects
  • Students and academics leveraging Markdown for notes and documents
  • Anyone looking for a free, open-source Markdown editor with cross-platform compatibility

yWriter videos

yWriter vs Scrivener Preview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to use yWriter like I did to create your own novel - book writing software, self-publishing
  • Review - An Introduction to Two Awesome Writing Programs (yWriter vs Scrivener Part 1)

MarkText.app videos

Using MS Word Review Tools to Mark Text

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to yWriter and MarkText.app)
Markdown Editor
40 40%
60% 60
Text Editors
36 36%
64% 64
Writing Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Markdown Viewer
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MarkText.app seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

yWriter mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of yWriter yet. Tracking of yWriter recommendations started around Mar 2021.

MarkText.app mentions (4)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing yWriter and MarkText.app, you can also consider the following products

Scrivener - Scrivener is a content-generation tool for composing and structuring documents.

Typora - A minimal Markdown reading & writing app.

Manuskript - Open-source tool for writers.

Zettlr - Write Markdown documents with a comprehensive GUI and many workflow/time management tools.

Celtx - Celtx is a scriptwriting software platform with applications in a wide range of mediums but that specializes in helping screenwriters.

StackEdit - Full-featured, open-source Markdown editor based on PageDown, the Markdown library used by Stack Overflow and the other Stack Exchange sites.