What is MarkText used for?

MarkText is a simple open-source Markdown editor for Linux, macOS and Windows with real-time preview, several editing modes and HTML and PDF export. It is a good fit for writing documentation in Markdown, distraction-free note taking, and drafting articles and exporting to PDF.

Is MarkText open source?

Yes. MarkText is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at marktext/marktext and is written mainly in TypeScript.

Yes. MarkText is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host MarkText?

Yes. MarkText can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is MarkText an alternative to?

MarkText is an open-source alternative to Typora, iA Writer, Ulysses and Inkdrop. Other open-source alternatives to Typora include VNote, Zettlr and SoloMD.

Is MarkText actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to MarkText was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v0.20.0, published on 2 October 2026. The project has 62k stars on GitHub.

MarkText: open-source alternative to Typora, iA Writer

About MarkText

MarkText is an open-source Markdown editor that prioritizes speed and ease of use, and it runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. It offers a realtime WYSIWYG-style preview in a clean interface meant to reduce distractions while writing. It is built with TypeScript, Electron and Vue and released under the MIT license.

It follows the CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown specs with selective Pandoc support, and adds extensions such as math expressions via KaTeX, front matter and emojis. Paragraph and inline-style shortcuts speed up writing, images can be pasted straight from the clipboard, and documents can be exported as HTML or PDF. Themes such as Cadmium Light and Material Dark are included.

Writers can switch between Source Code, Typewriter and Focus editing modes depending on how they like to work. The project is funded by community sponsorship and accepts contributions and translations. It suits writers, developers and note-takers who want a local Markdown editor without a separate preview pane.

Key features

Realtime WYSIWYG-style Markdown preview
CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown support
Math expressions with KaTeX
Export to HTML and PDF
Source code, typewriter and focus modes
Paste images from the clipboard
Light and dark themes

Good fit for

→Writing documentation in Markdown
→Distraction-free note taking
→Drafting articles and exporting to PDF

Built with: TypeScript; Electron; Vue
Tags: markdown; markdown-editor; note-taking; electron; vue; wysiwyg; desktop; cross-platform

MarkText: questions and answers

What is MarkText used for?: MarkText is a simple open-source Markdown editor for Linux, macOS and Windows with real-time preview, several editing modes and HTML and PDF export. It is a good fit for writing documentation in Markdown, distraction-free note taking, and drafting articles and exporting to PDF.
Is MarkText open source?: Yes. MarkText is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at marktext/marktext and is written mainly in TypeScript.
Is MarkText free?: Yes. MarkText is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host MarkText?: Yes. MarkText can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is MarkText an alternative to?: MarkText is an open-source alternative to Typora, iA Writer, Ulysses and Inkdrop. Other open-source alternatives to Typora include VNote, Zettlr and SoloMD.
Is MarkText actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to MarkText was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v0.20.0, published on 2 October 2026. The project has 62k stars on GitHub.