MarkText is a markdown editor with a focus on simplicity and speed. MarkText’s primary goal is to help developers and technical writers write and share documentation in markdown format.
The editor itself is free and open-source, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows users as a desktop application. The codebase uses the Electron framework, which powers many other editors like Visual Studio Code. However, it also includes some unique features that make it worth looking into.
What makes MarkText stand out from other markdown editors?
Only one free and open-source markdown editor offers true WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editing, and this is it
A simple interface that stays out of your way
An iOS app that provides more than the typical markdown editor experience
Some people have evaluated MarkText as a means of managing website or structured content, with mixed practical results
MarkText supports these platforms
Like other modern applications, MarkText runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. You’ll find the download link on its website. Alternatively, it is available via an AppImage file that should work on any distribution of Linux.
MarkText stands apart by using a real-time WYSIWYG approach
If you’ve used other markdown editors, then you’re probably familiar with their limitations. In many cases, markdown editors are built around two windows — one for editing and one for previewing. Some markdown editors allow you to toggle between them, while others require you to move back and forth to see how your changes appear.
In contrast, MarkText is the only free and open-source markdown editor that uses a true WYSIWYG model. Unlike the latter, however, MarkText places the focus entirely within the text document. That said, both apps provide a much better experience than other markdown editors, which still separate the preview window.
While there aren’t too many markdown editors out there, most do offer a comparable feature set. For example, MarkText has similar features to Typora, a paid markdown editor.
You can also download a separate iOS version of MarkText
MarkText’s official website doesn’t mention any mobile versions of its editor. However, you can install a standalone “Markdown Editor” application on Apple’s App Store. This isn’t quite the same as the desktop version, however.
For example, the mobile app offers real-time syntax highlighting, allows you to export notes as HTML, PNG, or PDF, and even lets you share markdown notes with friends.
But be aware that this application is distinct from the MarkText open source project, as well as the MarkText Mac application.
MarkText is under active maintenance and development
There are very few updates to MarkText since the last release. Version 0.19.0 was discussed on r/linux, along with several other features that will likely improve the code quality.
Automated reviews by a large language model will identify issues that human reviewers may miss. If the process goes smoothly, the team behind MarkText could publish an updated version soon.
Has MarkText been tried for website or content management?
Some people have evaluated MarkText as a possible tool to manage website content or structured content, especially given its cross-platform availability. However, our practical assessment of it didn’t uncover much value.