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Zettlr VS CodesKeep

Compare Zettlr VS CodesKeep and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Zettlr logo Zettlr

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

CodesKeep logo CodesKeep

Markdown editing, code syntax highlighting for 12+ languages, real-time sync, and Google Drive backup. The note-taking app developers have been waiting for.
  • Zettlr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-08-23
  • CodesKeep
    Image date //
    2026-04-11
  • CodesKeep
    Image date //
    2026-04-11

CodesKeep โ€” Google Keep for Developers CodesKeep is the note-taking app built specifically for developers who live in code. If you've ever pasted a SQL query into Google Keep and watched it turn into an unreadable wall of gray text, you already know why CodesKeep exists.

Markdown & Syntax Highlighting, Finally. Write your notes in full GitHub Flavored Markdown with live rendering. CodesKeep supports syntax highlighting for 12+ programming languages โ€” JavaScript, Python, Rust, Go, SQL, Java, C++, PHP, HTML, CSS, and more โ€” all powered by CodeMirror 6. Your code looks like code: colored, indented, and instantly readable. The split-view editor lets you type Markdown on one side and see the rendered output on the other in real time.

Built on the Google Ecosystem You Already Use. No new account to create. No new password to remember. CodesKeep integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace โ€” sign in with your existing Google account and you're ready to go. Your notes sync instantly across all your devices via Firestore, so you're always working with the latest version whether you're on your laptop, tablet, or phone.

Your Data Stays Yours. Every note is automatically backed up to your own Google Drive in both JSON and PDF formats. JSON for programmatic access and re-importing; PDF for sharing with teammates or archiving. You keep full control over your data at all times โ€” no vendor lock-in, no proprietary formats. If CodesKeep ever goes down, your notes are still sitting safely in your Drive.

Designed for Real Developer Workflows. Organize notes with color-coded labels, folders, tags, and pinning. Search across all your notes instantly. Archive what you don't need right now without deleting it. Whether you're saving API documentation, debugging journals, deployment runbooks, or quick code snippets, CodesKeep keeps everything structured and accessible.

Stop fighting tools that weren't built for you. Start at www.codeskeep.com.

Zettlr

Website
zettlr.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-
Startup details
Country
Germany
Edit details

CodesKeep

Website
codeskeep.com
Pricing URL
Official CodesKeep Pricing
$ Details
freemium $5.0 / Monthly
Release Date
2026 April
Startup details
Country
Canada
State
Quebec (QC)
City
Laval
Founder(s)
Alain Picard
Employees
1 - 9
Edit details

Zettlr features and specs

  • Markdown Support
    Zettlr supports Markdown, enabling easy formatting and readability of documents.
  • Zettelkasten Methodology
    The software is tailored for the Zettelkasten note-taking method, which helps in organizing and linking notes efficiently.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Zettlr is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible for users on different operating systems.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source tool, Zettlr allows users to contribute to its development and customize it to their needs.
  • Citation Management
    The application includes built-in citation management, which is beneficial for academic writing and research.
  • Multiple Export Formats
    Zettlr allows exporting documents to various formats such as PDF, Word, and LaTeX.
  • Tagging and Metadata
    Users can categorize notes using tags and metadata, enhancing searchability and organization.

Possible disadvantages of Zettlr

  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those unfamiliar with Markdown or the Zettelkasten method, might face a steep learning curve.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Zettlr can be resource-intensive, which may affect performance on older or lower-end systems.
  • Lack of Mobile App
    There is no official mobile app, which limits the ability to access and edit notes on mobile devices.
  • Limited WYSIWYG Editing
    The software lacks full WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing capabilities, which might be a drawback for users preferring a more visual approach to editing.
  • UI Complexity
    The user interface can be overwhelming due to the wide array of features and options available.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, users might encounter occasional bugs or instability.
  • Dependency on External Tools
    Some features, like citation management, depend on external tools (e.g., Zotero), adding setup complexity.

CodesKeep features and specs

  • Built for developers
    Built for developers
  • Markdown support
    Markdown support
  • Syntax highlighting
    Syntax highlighting
  • Google Drive backup
    Google Drive backup
  • Export notes as PDF
    Export notes as PDF
  • Google authentication
    Google authentication

Analysis of Zettlr

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Zettlr is a strong option for those involved in academic writing or anyone who needs a powerful markdown editor with extensive features.

Why this product is good

  • Zettlr is considered good by many users due to its versatility and feature-rich environment for writers and researchers. It supports multiple file formats, integrates well with reference management tools, and provides a distraction-free writing experience. Additionally, it is an open-source platform, which allows for community-driven improvements and customizability.

Recommended for

  • Academics and researchers who need citation management
  • Writers looking for a clean and distraction-free interface
  • Users who prefer open-source software with regular updates
  • Anyone in need of a versatile markdown editor

Zettlr videos

+ Add

Meet Zettlr, your all-in-one companion for writing #Markdown

More videos:

  • Review - Zettlr Introduction: Getting Started
  • Review - Citing with Zettlr

CodesKeep videos

No CodesKeep videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zettlr and CodesKeep)

Zettlr

CodesKeep

Note Taking
96 96%
Note Taking
4% 4
Markdown Editor
95 95%
Markdown Editor
5% 5
Productivity
0 0%
Productivity
100% 100
Text Editors
100 100%
Text Editors
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Zettlr and CodesKeep

Zettlr Reviews

Best Next-Level Note Apps for 2021
Zettlr is simply an open-source Markdown editor. The system authorizes various citation formats, includes theme customization and writing statistics, as well as supporting the Zettelkasten method. File and tag management permits user-friendly note organization. Noteworthy of Mem is that the app is available in 14 languages and notes can be exported in 40 different formats.
Source: zenkit.com

CodesKeep Reviews

We have no reviews of CodesKeep yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zettlr seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 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.

Zettlr mentions (11)

  • Pandoc Templates
    I used to use pandoc for my bachelors papers, which needed to be submitted as word documents. I never used templates but had a rather large "one-liner" pandoc command to convert my markdown files. At the time I'd not got round to understanding the yaml front matter etc. I even user Zettlr for a while [0]. I then discovered quarto [1] and this changed everything. Much nicer experience. I used this for my masters... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Zettlr in the fediverse and on matrix?
    Oh! That's nice. :D Is this mentioned on zettlr.com? Seems as if I've missed it... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Suggestion for open source note taking app
    I'd strongly recommend trying out Zettlr (https://zettlr.com), which in many ways is close to Obsidian (except Zettlr is open source). A new Zettlr release is close to arriving and implements lots of improvements. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Scrivener alternatives for academic writing and research?
    You might give Zettlr a spin. It's another Markdown-based tool like Obsidian, but it is really focussed on Zettelkasten, and of interest to you, with a stronger focus on long-form academic writing. It supports citations, footnotes and uses Pandoc for document productionโ€”so there are lots of ways to get your work out. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Any open source markdown editor having live preview like Typora?
    Is https://zettlr.com an option for you? Source: over 4 years ago
View more

CodesKeep mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CodesKeep yet. Tracking of CodesKeep recommendations started around Apr 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Zettlr and CodesKeep, you can also consider the following products

Logseq - Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

Google Keep - Capture notes, share them with others, and access them from your computer, phone or tablet. Free with a Google account.

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

MarkNote - A simple markdown note management app.

Joplin - Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

Notable App - The Markdown-based note-taking app that doesn't suck.

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