Best Markdown Editors 2024: Obsidian, Typora, iA Writer, Bear Compared
I write everything in Markdown.
Blog posts, documentation, meeting notes, project plans, book drafts—all Markdown files.
Why Markdown?
- Future-proof: Plain text will be readable forever
- Portable: Works anywhere (no proprietary formats)
- Version-control-friendly: Git diffs work perfectly
- Distraction-free: No formatting toolbar decisions
- Fast: No loading heavy word processors
The challenge: Which Markdown editor makes the writing experience actually good?
I tested 8 editors over 60 days of real writing work (blog posts, technical documentation, long-form content). Here's what I learned.
What I Tested For
1. Writing Experience
- Does the editor get out of the way?
- Is live preview smooth?
- Does formatting feel natural?
2. Organization
- How does it handle hundreds of files?
- Can I find notes quickly?
- Linking between notes?
3. Technical Capabilities
- Syntax highlighting for code blocks?
- LaTeX/math support?
- Tables, images, embeds?
4. Portability
- Do files stay pure Markdown?
- Cross-platform?
- Export options?
The 8 Editors Tested
- Obsidian (knowledge management)
- Typora (WYSIWYG Markdown)
- iA Writer (focused writing)
- Bear (Apple-native notes)
- Ulysses (long-form writing)
- Zettlr (academic writing)
- Marktext (open source)
- VS Code + Extensions (developer tool)
1. Obsidian
Price: Free (Personal), $50/year Commercial, $96/year Sync
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
The Philosophy:
Local-first knowledge management with bidirectional links.
Writing Experience:
Live preview mode: Type Markdown, see formatted output
Source mode: See raw Markdown
Can toggle instantly with Cmd+E
Feel: More tool than editor. Optimized for linking notes, not prose.
Organization:
Vault = folder of Markdown files
- Link notes with [[wikilinks]]
- Graph view shows connections
- Tags, folders, search
For PKM (Personal Knowledge Management): Brilliant
For linear writing (blog posts, docs): Overkill
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Code highlighting ✅ LaTeX math ✅ Tables ✅ Mermaid diagrams ✅ Embeds ✅ Plugins for everything
Most extensible editor tested.
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown files (with some proprietary features) ✅ Local-first (your files, your computer) ⚠️ Wikilinks non-standard (but convertible to standard links)
Best For:
- Building interconnected knowledge base
- Researchers, students
- People who think non-linearly
Not Great For:
- Simple, focused writing
- People who want "just write" simplicity
- Linear documents (where linking doesn't matter)
My Usage:
I use Obsidian for:
- Networked notes
- Research databases
- Idea connections
I DON'T use it for:
- Blog posts (too much UI)
- Quick notes (too heavy)
- Long-form prose (distracting features)
Rating: 8/10 for PKM, 6/10 for pure writing
2. Typora
Price: $15 one-time (3 devices)
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
The Philosophy:
WYSIWYG Markdown. Type syntax, see formatted result instantly.
Writing Experience:
This is the smoothest Markdown writing experience available.
Example:
- Type
**bold**→ instantly becomes bold (syntax hidden) - Type
# Heading→ instantly becomes large heading - Type
```python→ code block with syntax highlighting appears
You're writing Markdown without seeing Markdown.
Feel: Like a word processor, but the file is pure Markdown.
Organization:
⚠️ Basic.
- File tree sidebar
- No linking between notes
- No tags
- Search exists but basic
This is a Markdown editor, not a note manager.
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Excellent code highlighting ✅ Math support (LaTeX) ✅ Tables (visual editor) ✅ Diagrams (Mermaid, flowcharts) ✅ Images (paste directly)
Themes:
Beautiful built-in themes. Can install custom CSS.
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown (100%) ✅ Cross-platform ✅ Local files (no cloud lock-in) ✅ Export to PDF, HTML, Word, etc.
Best For:
- Writing Markdown that feels like rich text
- People transitioning from Word/Google Docs
- Technical documentation (great code support)
Not Great For:
- Building knowledge systems (no linking)
- Mobile writing (desktop only)
My Usage:
This is my daily driver for blog posts and documentation.
Why:
- Writing experience is unmatched
- Code blocks look beautiful
- Export to HTML/PDF works perfectly
- One-time £15 payment
I write 90% of my content in Typora.
Rating: 10/10 for focused Markdown writing
3. iA Writer
Price: £30 (Mac), £9 (iOS), £30 (Windows), £30 (Android)
Platform: Mac, iOS, Windows, Android
The Philosophy:
Distraction-free writing. Nothing but you and the words.
Writing Experience:
Ultra-minimal.
- No sidebar
- No toolbar
- No formatting buttons
- Just text, cursor, and subtle Markdown highlighting
Can enter "Focus Mode":
- Dims all sentences except current one
- Extreme focus on one thought at a time
Feel: Meditative. Forces you to think about writing, not tools.
Organization:
⚠️ Basic.
- iCloud sync
- File browser
- Tags
- No linking
Not a knowledge management tool—a writing tool.
Technical Capabilities:
⚠️ Limited compared to others.
✅ Basic Markdown support ❌ No math support ❌ Limited code highlighting ⚠️ Tables supported but basic
This is intentional—fewer features = fewer distractions.
Unique Feature: Content Blocks
Can create templates (snippets) for repeated content.
Example: Blog post header template
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown ✅ Cross-platform (but expensive—£30 per platform) ✅ iCloud sync (works seamlessly)
Best For:
- Writers who want zero distraction
- Long-form prose (articles, essays, books)
- People willing to pay premium for simplicity
Not Great For:
- Technical writing (limited code support)
- Complex documents (tables, math, diagrams)
- Budget-conscious (expensive across platforms)
My Usage:
I used iA Writer for novel writing.
The focus mode is unmatched for creative prose.
But for technical blog posts, I need better code support.
Rating: 8/10 for creative writing, 5/10 for technical writing
4. Bear
Price: Free (limited), £15/year Pro
Platform: Mac, iOS only
The Philosophy:
Beautiful Apple-native notes app with Markdown support.
Writing Experience:
Gorgeous.
- Native Mac/iOS design
- Smooth animations
- Markdown rendered beautifully
But: Markdown syntax is visible (not WYSIWYG like Typora)
Feel: Delightful. Apple users will love it.
Organization:
✅ Excellent.
- Nested tags
- Quick search
- Pin notes
- Archive
- Todo checkbox support
Better organized than Typora, simpler than Obsidian.
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Code highlighting ✅ Tables ✅ Images ⚠️ No math support ⚠️ No diagrams
Good for general writing, limited for academic/technical.
Portability:
⚠️ Modified Markdown (Bear uses proprietary extensions) ⚠️ Apple ecosystem only ✅ Can export to pure Markdown
Lock-in risk: If you leave Bear, need to convert notes.
Best For:
- Apple users who prioritize beauty
- General note-taking
- People who want organized Markdown notes
Not Great For:
- Cross-platform users (Mac/iOS only)
- Technical writing (limited capabilities)
- People wanting pure Markdown (Bear adds extensions)
My Usage:
I used Bear for personal journaling and quick notes.
Beautiful and fast.
But left when I needed Linux support.
Rating: 7/10 (would be 9/10 if cross-platform)
5. Ulysses
Price: £45/year or £5/month
Platform: Mac, iOS
The Philosophy:
Professional long-form writing tool with Markdown-like syntax.
Writing Experience:
Polished.
- Distraction-free
- Word/character count goals
- Writing statistics
- Export to multiple formats
But: Uses "Markdown XL" (enhanced Markdown, not standard)
Organization:
✅ Excellent.
- Library system
- Groups and filters
- Sync across Mac/iOS
- Attachments
Built for organizing large writing projects (books, dissertation, long series).
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Images, footnotes ⚠️ Limited code support ❌ No math ❌ No diagrams
Optimized for prose, not technical writing.
Portability:
⚠️ Proprietary format (Markdown-like but not pure Markdown) ⚠️ Apple only ❌ Subscription required
High lock-in risk.
Best For:
- Professional writers
- Book authors
- People writing large, structured projects
- Apple users committed to ecosystem
Not Great For:
- Technical writing
- People wanting pure Markdown
- Budget-conscious (£45/year ongoing)
My Usage:
Tested for book project.
Beautiful for long-form organizing.
But proprietary format + subscription made me abandon it.
Rating: 7/10 for long-form prose, 3/10 for Markdown purists
6. Zettlr
Price: Free (open source)
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
The Philosophy:
Academic writing tool with Markdown + Zettelkasten + citation management.
Writing Experience:
Functional, not beautiful.
- Split view (editor + preview)
- Citation support (BibTeX integration)
- Footnotes
- Academic features
Feel: Like LaTeX but simpler.
Organization:
✅ Academic-focused:
- Zettelkasten IDs
- Projects
- Tags
- Search
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Citations (killer feature for academics) ✅ Math (LaTeX) ✅ Code highlighting ✅ Tables, diagrams
Most complete feature set for academic writing.
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown ✅ Open source ✅ Cross-platform ✅ Export to LaTeX, PDF, Word
Best For:
- Academics
- Researchers
- Students writing papers
- Anyone needing citation management
Not Great For:
- Creative writing (interface is utilitarian)
- People wanting beautiful design
My Usage:
Recommended to PhD student friend. Perfect for their needs.
Not for me (don't need citation management).
Rating: 9/10 for academics, 6/10 for general use
7. Marktext
Price: Free (open source)
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
The Philosophy:
Simple, elegant, open-source Markdown editor.
Writing Experience:
Similar to Typora (WYSIWYG) but not as polished.
- Real-time preview
- Syntax hiding
- Smooth typing
Free alternative to Typora.
Organization:
⚠️ Basic file browser.
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Code highlighting ✅ Math ✅ Tables ✅ Diagrams
Feature parity with Typora, just less refined.
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown ✅ Open source ✅ Cross-platform
Best For:
- People wanting Typora but free
- Linux users
- Open source advocates
My Usage:
Tested as Typora alternative.
It's good. But Typora's £15 is worth it for the polish.
Rating: 7/10 (great free option)
8. VS Code + Extensions
Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
The Setup:
VS Code + Markdown extensions:
- Markdown All in One
- Markdown Preview Enhanced
- Markdownlint
Writing Experience:
Feels like coding (because it's a code editor).
- Split view (editor + preview)
- Syntax highlighting
- Linting (checks Markdown style)
Not optimized for prose.
Organization:
File explorer (same as code projects).
Technical Capabilities:
✅ Everything (it's a developer tool)
- Code highlighting (best available)
- Math
- Diagrams
- Extensions for anything
Portability:
✅ Pure Markdown ✅ Git integration (version control)
Best For:
- Developers who live in VS Code
- People wanting maximum control
- Technical documentation
Not Great For:
- Writers who aren't developers
- Distraction-free writing
My Usage:
I use VS Code for:
- README files
- Technical docs in code repos
- When I need Git integration
I DON'T use it for:
- Blog posts (too much UI)
- Creative writing (feels like work)
Rating: 8/10 for developers, 4/10 for writers
The Comparison Table
| Editor | Price | Platform | WYSIWYG | Best For | Rating | |--------|-------|----------|---------|----------|--------| | Typora | £15 | Win/Mac/Linux | ✅ | Focused Markdown writing | 10/10 | | Obsidian | Free | All | ⚠️ | Knowledge management | 8/10 | | Zettlr | Free | Win/Mac/Linux | ❌ | Academic writing | 9/10* | | iA Writer | £30/platform | All | ❌ | Creative prose | 8/10* | | VS Code | Free | All | ❌ | Developers | 8/10* | | Bear | £15/yr | Mac/iOS | ⚠️ | Apple users | 7/10 | | Marktext | Free | Win/Mac/Linux | ✅ | Budget WYSIWYG | 7/10 | | Ulysses | £45/yr | Mac/iOS | ⚠️ | Book authors | 7/10* |
*Rating depends heavily on use case
My Recommendations
Best Overall: Typora
Why:
- WYSIWYG Markdown = smoothest writing
- Pure Markdown files
- One-time £15 payment
- Works for 90% of use cases
Who it's for: Anyone writing Markdown regularly
Best for Knowledge Management: Obsidian
Why:
- Networked notes with bidirectional links
- Local-first
- Free
- Extensive plugins
Who it's for: Researchers, students, knowledge workers
Best for Academics: Zettlr
Why:
- Citation management
- LaTeX support
- Zettelkasten
- Free
Who it's for: Students, researchers, academics
Best for Creative Writing: iA Writer
Why:
- Zero distraction
- Focus mode
- Beautiful
Who it's for: Novelists, essayists, long-form prose
Best Free Option: VS Code (developers) or Marktext (writers)
VS Code: If you're already a developer
Marktext: If you want WYSIWYG without cost
TL;DR: Best Markdown editors 2024
Best overall: Typora (£15 one-time)
- WYSIWYG Markdown
- Pure Markdown files
- Smoothest writing experience
- Code/math/tables support
Best for knowledge management: Obsidian (free)
- Bidirectional links
- Graph view
- Local-first
- Extensible with plugins
Best for academics: Zettlr (free)
- Citation management
- LaTeX/math support
- Zettelkasten method
Best for creative writing: iA Writer (£30)
- Distraction-free
- Focus mode
- Beautiful minimal design
Key decision factors:
-
Use case:
- PKM → Obsidian
- Academic → Zettlr
- Creative prose → iA Writer
- General Markdown → Typora
-
Budget:
- Free → Obsidian, Zettlr, VS Code, Marktext
- One-time → Typora (£15), Bear (on Mac)
- Subscription → iA Writer (£30), Ulysses (£45/yr)
-
Platform:
- Cross-platform → Typora, Obsidian, VS Code
- Mac/iOS only → Bear, Ulysses, iA Writer
What matters for Markdown:
✅ Pure Markdown files (future-proof, portable) ✅ Fast, distraction-free writing ✅ Export options ✅ Works offline
Chaos integrates with your Markdown workflow—turn notes into tasks, tasks into notes, seamlessly. Start your free 14-day trial.