If you are going to write, it makes sense that your primary tool is something that helps you express yourself clearly and simply. In fact, Markdown has long been a favorite among writers and developers for its simplicity, clarity, and flexibility.
But not every Markdown editor is created equal, particularly on mobile devices. Some editors try to be too much with features, gimmicks, and ads — which can take away from the experience of editing. And some don’t have any real benefit at all.
In this post, we look at what defines a simple Markdown editor and how to find one. We also consider several options available in the wild, including one specifically built for Android.
What Is a Markdown Editor?
A markdown editor is a text-editing program that allows users to create formatted documents using Markdown syntax. The goal is to convert plain text into HTML or other document formats suitable for web display.
Markdown sits somewhere between an extremely simple text editor (which doesn’t provide any formatting) and a complex word processor. It’s ideal for writers who want to create clean, readable content without getting bogged down by formatting details.
The appeal of Markdown
The beauty of Markdown is that it’s basically any program that you can type into, whether it’s Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs. There are even Markdown-aware versions of those applications; however, they’re often proprietary programs with limited sharing options.
You can’t easily share a Markdown file, like a .docx, .odt, or .rtf file, with someone who doesn’t use the same program. That means a Markdown file won’t render properly in another person’s default text editor.
However, you can download any number of Markdown editors, viewers, or previewers to read and edit Markdown files. They range from very simple tools to rich WYSIWYG editors.
And then there’s the issue of Markdown itself. If you want to format a document in Markdown, you’ll need a text editor that supports it — but again, most of them do. However, the absence of an easy GUI interface for Markdown-based document creation can frustrate users who otherwise enjoy Markdown for its elegance.
Ultimately, what you want from a markdown editor depends on how you use it. Are you writing technical documentation? Then you may need more sophisticated formatting tools than just basic Markdown offers. Are you editing once, and reading multiple times? Then readability should not come second to editing features.
Options for a simple Markdown editor
Simple Markdown: This is the minimal option for Android users, but it still works great as a lightweight alternative to traditional word processors. You can get it via Google Play, where it enjoys over 100,000 downloads, a 4.2-star rating, and over 745 reviews. You can access it via phone, Chromebook, and tablet, and it lets you quickly edit and share markdown files. The app’s source code lives on GitHub.
StackEdit: StackEdit is essentially a full-featured Markdown editor, though it’s a bit simpler than some of its alternatives. It is open-source and runs entirely within the browser, making it an excellent alternative if you’d prefer to avoid installing new software on your device. Based on PageDown, the open-source WYSIWYG editor used by Stack Overflow, StackEdit provides several useful capabilities, including Scroll Sync, which binds the scrollbars of the editor and preview panel together. The app also syncs with cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub, while offering offline access. Inline comments, LaTeX expressions, and emoji markup help simplify the editing process, and StackEdit is completely free to use.
For desktop users
There are plenty of Markdown apps to choose from on your desktop computer, but many are complicated, feature-heavy alternatives to traditional word processors. For our purposes, “simple” is key. Here are a couple of options worth considering:
Ghostwriter is currently preferred by many writers, as well as by several other publications. It’s also an excellent choice if you are working on long-form writing projects. Like many Markdown apps, Ghostwriter supports exporting to multiple formats, and includes support for LaTeX math formulas.
Zettlr isn’t quite as feature-rich as some other options, but that’s why it’s called “robust.” While Zettlr does offer additional features such as citation integration, it also functions as a simple Markdown editor. One of its unique features is that it can be accessed either through its Windows or Mac desktop clients, or through an online version running inside the browser.
Some people praise Markdown for being program-agnostic when performing general-purpose writing tasks, but not for specific programming needs. A Microsoft programmer named Booe praised markdown’s program-agnostic nature, saying it allows him to focus on his message rather than the mechanics of writing.