Best Markdown Editors

Ronalds Vilcins
5 min readOct 23, 2016

Markdown is a easy-to-read and easy-to-write markup language in a plain text format. Originally written as a Perl script by John Gruber and Aaron Swartz in 2004 as a way to write in an easy-to-read format that can be converted into HTML (or XHTML). It uses a very simple formatting syntax of familiar punctuation marks and regular characters, which makes writing content for the web quick and easy, and without learning a lot of complicated codes and shortcuts. If you are a fan of the Markdown syntax like me and are looking for a good Markdown editor here are some of my favorites:

  • iA Writer — It comes with its own live Markdown rendering & preview, iCloud & Dropbox live sync, Document Library, natural language Syntax Highlight, HTML-Export, Medium and WordPress integration, Focus Mode and many other nice things like Night Mode, Word Import/Export or Reading Time.
  • Byword — Byword is designed to make writing more enjoyable with Markdown. All the tools you need to write effectively, with keyboard shortcuts, word counters with live update, and more.
  • LightPaper — Simple, beautiful yet powerful text editor for your Mac.
  • MarkdownPad — is a full-featured Markdown editor for Windows.
  • Markable.in — a remarkable Markdown Editor.
  • Markdown Here — Markdown Here will help you to write email more quickly and powerfully than you thought possible. With no extra effort on your part, Markdown Here eliminates all the hassle of formatting email. Empowerment through simplicity.
  • Texts — Rich Editor for Plain Text. Separate Content from Formatting. Store in Markdown.
  • MultiMarkdown Composer — MultiMarkdown Composer is a text editor that is designed from the ground up around the MultiMarkdown Syntax. It is designed to make writing in MultiMarkdown even easier than it already is, with automatic syntax highlighting, built in previews, easy export to any format that is supported by MultiMarkdown, and more!
  • Mou — Mou is a Markdown editor for developers, on Mac OS X. Features live preview, sync scroll, auto save, powerful actions, auto pair, custom themes and CSS, HTML and PDF export, enhanced CJK support and more.
  • Writemonkey — Writemonkey is a Windows zenware writing application with an extremely stripped down user interface, leaving you alone with your thoughts and your words. It is light, fast and free. With an array of innovative tools under the hood and full Markdown support, it helps you write better.
  • Markdown Pro — A beautiful and easy to use editor for the popular Markdown markup language, combined with a themed live preview feature, you will never have to write boring documents again.
  • Easy Markdown — Easy Markdown lets you create Web pages just writing plain text with Markdown simple syntax.
  • Dillinger — Dillinger is an online cloud-enabled, HTML5, buzzword-filled Markdown editor.
  • MarsEdit 3 — Desktop blog editing for the Mac. The best way to write, preview, and publish your blog.
  • Scrivener — Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft.
  • Notebooks — Use Notebooks to create carefully formatted documents with styles and embedded photos, or to quickly write plain text notes. Convert between these formats any time, and if you want to use Markdown, Notebooks knows how to handle that as well. It is a perfect, distraction free writing environment.
  • Ulysses — Ulysses is used and loved by authors, bloggers, journalists and academics from all over the world.
  • Haroopad — The Markdown enabled Next Document Processor.
  • MacDown — MacDown is an open source Markdown editor for OS X.
  • Focused — Focused is not just a distraction-free writing app — it’s the first writing app that actually aids your focus.
  • Quiver — Quiver is a notebook built for programmers. It lets you easily mix text, code, Markdown and LaTeX within one note, edit code with an awesome code editor, live preview Markdown and LaTeX, and find any note instantly via the full-text search.
  • MWeb for Mac — Pro Markdown writing, note taking and static blog generator App.
  • Lenote — Lenote is a simple, distraction-free notetaking app that lets you capture and organize thoughts more productively.
  • Gingko — Gingko is a new kind of tool, that lets you shape your ideas
    with lists, outlines and cards, all in the same clean interface.
  • Whiskey — A modern Markdown app from Nothing Magical for Mac & iOS.
  • Typora — Typora will give you a seamless experience as both a reader and a writer. It removes the preview window, mode switcher, syntax symbols of markdown source code, and all other unnecessary distractions. Replace them with a real live preview feature to help you concentrate the content itself.
  • TextWrangler — TextWrangler is an all-purpose text and code editor for Mac OS X, based on the same award-winning technology as BBEdit, our leading professional HTML and text editor.
  • TextMate — TextMate brings Apple’s approach to operating systems into the world of text editors. By bridging UNIX underpinnings and GUI, TextMate cherry-picks the best of both worlds to the benefit of expert scripters and novice users alike.
  • Draft — Easy version control and collaboration for writers.
  • Pandoc — If you need to convert files from one markup format into another, pandoc is your swiss-army knife.
  • Nottingham — In the spirit of Notational Velocity, Nottingham is an elegant notepad for Mac OS X. Designed to be lightweight and easy to use, it’s a breath of fresh air perfect for storing whatever is on your mind. Best of all, it keeps your data safe by syncing to your iPhone and the web via Simplenote.
  • Clean Writer Pro for Mac — Distraction-free minimalist text editor for Mac with great features for writers.
  • Smultron — Since Smultron 9 is easy to use, quick and uses powerful technologies like auto save, it helps you to do what you want to do without getting in your way. So you can save time and get things done. Use Smultron 9 for all your text needs.
  • BBEdit — BBEdit is the leading professional HTML and text editor for the Macintosh. Specifically crafted in response to the needs of Web authors and software developers, this award-winning product provides an abundance of high-performance features for editing, searching, and manipulation of text.

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Ronalds Vilcins

I drink a lot of tea and build beautiful websites. If you are looking to work together or just start a conversation 👉 https://www.ronaldsvilcins.com/