Free Markdown Editor: 8 Best Picks for 2025

The right free Markdown editor can transform your writing workflow — whether you're drafting documentation, writing README files, or publishing blog posts. But with dozens of options across desktop, web, and mobile, finding the right fit takes real evaluation.

We tested and compared eight standout editors that cost nothing, each suited to different workflows and platforms. If you write Markdown regularly — for work, open-source projects, or personal notes — one of these will earn a permanent spot in your toolkit.

What to Look For

Before the list, here's what matters when evaluating these tools:

• Live preview — Real-time rendering so you see formatted output as you type
• Platform support — Does it run on your OS? Bonus for cross-platform availability
• Export options — HTML, PDF, and Word export for when Markdown leaves your editor
• Syntax support — GFM, LaTeX, diagrams, and code fencing
• Performance — Lightweight enough to handle large files without lag

1. Visual Studio Code (Best for Developers)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux Get it: code.visualstudio.com

VS Code isn't a dedicated Markdown editor — it's a code editor that happens to excel at Markdown. The underlying source code is available under the MIT license, and its open-source sibling VSCodium offers the same robust Markdown support out of the box, including syntax checking and preview panes.

The real power lives in the Marketplace. Extensions like Markdown All in One and Markdownlint add GFM support, PDF export, footnotes, and more.

Why it stands out: Keeping documentation in the same editor as code eliminates context-switching. Commit docs alongside code, lint your Markdown, and preview it — all in one window.

Best for: Developers who want Markdown editing integrated into their coding environment.

2. Obsidian (Best for Knowledge Management)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Get it: obsidian.md

Obsidian is a personal knowledge base built on plain Markdown files. It's free for personal use, though commercial use (for companies with two or more employees) requires a paid license. Optional cloud services and early access builds also carry a price tag.

The graph view visualizes your vault as a network of nodes (files) and edges (internal links), making relationships between notes tangible and navigable. Its plugin ecosystem is extensive, with community extensions covering a wide range of workflows.

Why it stands out: Obsidian's combination of plain-text files, bidirectional linking, and a deep plugin ecosystem makes it a strong choice for knowledge management.

Best for: Technical writers, researchers, and anyone building a personal knowledge base.

3. MarkText (Best Free Typora Alternative)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux Get it: github.com/marktext/marktext

MarkText is fully free, open source, and committed to staying that way. It delivers a clean WYSIWYG experience similar to Typora (now $14.99), making it a strong free alternative on all three major desktop platforms.

Features include real-time WYSIWYG preview, CommonMark and GFM support, math expressions (KaTeX), front matter, and multiple editing modes — Source Code, Typewriter, and Focus.

Why it stands out: The inline rendering approach means no split panes — just clean, formatted text as you type.

Best for: Writers and bloggers who want a distraction-free WYSIWYG Markdown experience at zero cost.

4. Zettlr (Best for Academic Writing)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux Get it: zettlr.com

Zettlr is free, open-source, and purpose-built for researchers and long-form writers.

Citation management is a first-class feature. Load your library from Zotero, JabRef, or Juris-M, then cite inline using any of over 9,000 citation styles.

Privacy-first: no forced cloud sync, no telemetry. Your files stay on your machine.

Why it stands out: Citation management and Zettelkasten methodology are built directly into the editor — features that normally require separate tools or plugins.

Best for: Academics, researchers, and journalists who need citation support and structured note-taking.

5. Joplin (Best for Note-Taking with Sync)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Get it: joplinapp.org

Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking app built to handle large collections of Markdown notes organized into notebooks. Notes are searchable, taggable, and editable within Joplin or in your external editor of choice.

The "offline first" architecture means all data lives on your device. When you want sync, Joplin offers end-to-end encrypted synchronization across Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Joplin Cloud.

Why it stands out: End-to-end encryption plus cross-device sync using your choice of cloud provider — a combination that doesn't sacrifice convenience for privacy.

Best for: Anyone who needs encrypted, synced Markdown notes across multiple devices.

6. StackEdit (Best Browser-Based Editor)

Platforms: Any modern web browser Get it: stackedit.io

StackEdit loads in your browser — no download, no install. Despite that zero-footprint approach, it rivals many desktop applications in features.

Sync covers Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub. Publishing integrations push directly to Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk. It supports Markdown Extra, GFM, and CommonMark.

Why it stands out: Open a browser tab and start writing. Sync and publish integrations let you go from draft to published post without switching tools.

Best for: Quick Markdown editing on any machine, especially when you can't install software.

7. Ghostwriter (Best for Distraction-Free Writing)

Platforms: Windows, Linux (macOS via source) Get it: ghostwriter.kde.org

Ghostwriter takes its "distraction-free" billing seriously. Live preview, focus mode, document outline navigation, and writing statistics are all here. But the standout is Hemingway mode, which disables the backspace and delete keys entirely.

It forces you to get words on the page first and edit later — a technique many professional writers swear by. Genuinely clever, and a little terrifying the first time you try it.

Why it stands out: Purpose-built for focused writing with features like Hemingway mode that set it apart from typical editors.

Best for: Writers who want a minimalist, no-distractions Markdown environment on Windows or Linux.

8. MacDown (Best Lightweight macOS Option)

Platforms: macOS Get it: macdown.uranusjr.com

MacDown is a straightforward, open-source editor with a classic split-pane layout — source on the left, rendered preview on the right. No hidden costs, no premium tier.

GFM support makes it strong for documentation and README files. Beyond that, it handles syntax highlighting, live preview, and export capably — and that's about it. That restraint is the point.

Why it stands out: Native macOS performance in a no-nonsense package. Launches fast, handles large files, and doesn't try to be more than a solid Markdown editor.

Best for: Mac users who want a lightweight, dedicated Markdown editor without knowledge-management overhead.

Quick Comparison Table

Editor	Platforms	Open Source	Best For
VS Code	Win/Mac/Linux	Source available (MIT)	Developers
Obsidian	All (incl. mobile)	No	Knowledge management
MarkText	Win/Mac/Linux	Yes	Typora alternative
Zettlr	Win/Mac/Linux	Yes	Academic writing
Joplin	All (incl. mobile)	Yes	Synced note-taking
StackEdit	Browser	Yes	Web-based editing
Ghostwriter	Win/Linux	Yes	Distraction-free writing
MacDown	macOS	Yes	Lightweight Mac editing

How to Choose the Right Editor

Your ideal pick depends on your primary workflow:

• Writing code documentation alongside code? VS Code keeps everything in one place.
• Building a linked knowledge base? Obsidian's graph view and plugins are hard to beat.
• Need a simple, clean writing experience? MarkText or Ghostwriter.
• Writing academic papers with citations? Zettlr was built for you.
• Need encrypted notes on every device? Joplin is a strong choice.
• No install possible? StackEdit runs in any browser.

If you work with Markdown for Slack messages and collaboration, many of these editors can help you draft and preview formatted content before sharing with your team.

FAQ

Is there a truly free Markdown editor with no limitations?

Yes — several. MarkText, Zettlr, Ghostwriter, and MacDown are fully free and open source with no paid tiers or usage limits. VS Code is also free with no restrictions on Markdown capabilities.

What's the best free alternative to Typora?

MarkText. It uses a similar inline-rendering approach where Markdown syntax is replaced with formatted text as you type.

Can I use a free Markdown editor for professional technical writing?

VS Code with Markdown extensions is widely used for documentation-as-code workflows. Zettlr handles academic and long-form professional writing with built-in citation management. Joplin's organizational features work well for managing large documentation projects.

Do I need a dedicated Markdown editor, or is a text editor enough?

Any plain-text editor can write Markdown, but dedicated editors add live preview, syntax highlighting, export options, and shortcuts that meaningfully speed up your workflow — especially for documents longer than a few paragraphs.

Which free Markdown editor works best on mobile?

Obsidian and Joplin both offer full-featured mobile apps for iOS and Android, covering all major platforms including desktop and mobile.