Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zettlr VS MarkText.app

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

Zettlr logo Zettlr

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

MarkText.app logo MarkText.app

Mark Text is a Markdown editor for Mac, Windows and Linux.
  • Zettlr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-08-23
  • MarkText.app Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-26

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.

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 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

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

Zettlr videos

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

More videos:

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

MarkText.app videos

Using MS Word Review Tools to Mark Text

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zettlr and MarkText.app)
Note Taking
74 74%
26% 26
Text Editors
43 43%
57% 57
Markdown Editor
46 46%
54% 54
Markdown Viewer
0 0%
100% 100

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 MarkText.app

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

MarkText.app Reviews

We have no reviews of MarkText.app yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zettlr should be more popular than MarkText.app. It has been mentiond 10 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 (10)

  • 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: over 2 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 2 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: over 3 years ago
  • Any open source markdown editor having live preview like Typora?
    Is https://zettlr.com an option for you? Source: over 3 years ago
  • Typora alternative? (or any desktop Markdown editor with export to PDF?)
    Zettlr is open source and has export-to-PDF. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

MarkText.app mentions (4)

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

Typora - A minimal Markdown reading & writing app.

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.

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

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

iA Writer - Minimal Design, Maximum Focus