1. iA Writer
If you’re looking for a crisp, uncluttered Markdown editor, then look no further than iA Writer (Android | iOS). After just a few minutes with this app, it’s easy to see why over half a million people worldwide have downloaded this substantial tool. iA Writer is a focused writing app that offers distraction-free Markdown writing and editing. While simplistic in design, the app offers content blocks, real-time previews, a style checker, and more. Furthermore, people working to improve their writing can apply different colors to text, depending on the sentence structure (e.g. nouns, verbs, and adjectives). Although you can get a 14-day free trial for iOS or 30-day free trial for Android, many of the features only become available after you pay. For example, syncing with cloud-based storage, online collaboration, and word-count tracking are only available behind the paywall. However, you can absolutely use the free trial to decide if you like the app’s overall layout and other offerings. iA Writer is available for all mobile and desktop operating systems, and runs $29.99 for a lifetime subscription.
2. JotterPad
JotterPad (Android | iOS) is a versatile, flexible writing app that offers support for Markdown and Fountain syntax. With nearly every tool imaginable at your fingertips and What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) viewing, JotterPad is an ideal choice for nearly any type of writer. JotterPad is a feature-packed WYSIWYG editor that offers nearly all the bells and whistles users could possibly want. In addition to Markdown support, JotterPad offers features like word counting, phrase searching, typewriter scrolling and more. More importantly, though, the word count section also offers an approximate read time and assigns a readability score, which can be helpful to those who plan to eventually publish their work. Within the editor, you can change the typography, select different views, or even format things without knowing the Markdown language to do it. Furthermore, you have options to insert images, tables, or links, and can download your work or print it. JotterPad offers a free version, but some of the features are locked. To take full advantage of what JotterPad has to offer, you will have to pay $29.99 per year, regardless of which platform you use.
3. Joplin
Joplin (Android | iOS) is an open-source note-taking application with Markdown formatting. It also offers synchronization between any device and the most popular cloud services. Joplin is fairly simple in design, which is fine for the majority of users. Unlike JotterPad, there isn’t a WYSIWYG view. However, you can add attachments (like images), share the file, and preview your work by closing out the editor. Within the settings, you can also enable or disable specific types of syntax to meet your needs. Unfortunately, Joplin doesn’t offer the option to flip between Markdown and rich text on the mobile app. The interface is fairly simple, which is fine if you know how to format everything in Markdown – but not so great if you’re a Markdown newbie. Furthermore, the app doesn’t include storage for free, so you will have to sync with a third-party cloud storage system of your choice (Dropbox and OneDrive are great options for Joplin) or pay for Joplin Cloud. Unlike most of the other Markdown editors on this list, Joplin is completely free to use with no strings attached.
4. Inkdrop
Inkdrop (Android | iOS) is an outstanding Markdown note organizer that can help even non-writers organize their thoughts. Inkdrop allows you to easily create text in Markdown from your mobile device or desktop. Follow this by organizing your notes into notebooks or sorting them by tag or status. Furthermore, Inkdrop is one of the few Markdown editors with an extensive plugin list to help you add more formatting features and other perks. While Inkdrop’s features and plugins are nice, one of the largest benefits is its cross-platform synchronization. In other words, you can start new writing on the train ride home from work, then pick it back up from your PC later on, as everything syncs in real time. The app also allows you to view the revision history on any note, which is nice if you are working alongside someone on a specific project. Inkdrop offers a full 30-day free trial to test out the app. After that, Inkdrop costs $5/month. However, there are discounts available for educators and developers. Students or teachers can receive 60 percent off the first 12 months, while developers can receive a free-for-life subscription if they create a plugin for the app.
5. Obsidian
Obsidian (Android | iOS) is advertised as “a bi-directional note-taking app,” but with over 150 community plugins, it’s also a great Markdown editor. Obsidian is definitely a great Markdown editor with many offerings for nearly any type of user. It provides both CommonMark and GitHub Markdown, syntax highlighting, custom CSS themes, and more. Additionally, Obsidian offers more than 150 plugins, which you can browse and search through straight from the app. Another unique feature that Obsidian offers is its graph view, which essentially connects all your notes based on topic and other factors. While this may not have a practical use for everyone, the team at Obsidian says it offers a view into your brain and how your thought process works. While many of the other apps on this list cost the same across the board, Obsidian offers three different pricing tiers:
Personal – Free for lifeCatalyst – $25 one-time feeCommercial – $50/year per user
6. Wiz Note
Although Wiz Note (Android | iOS) is one of the cheapest Markdown editors on this list, that doesn’t mean it’s any less powerful. In fact, Wiz Note is a great option for budget-conscious individuals who need to work collaboratively with others. Wiz Note is a great Markdown editor that supports extensions, including LaTeX, table of contents, flow charts, and sequence charts. Additionally, Wiz Note offers options for handwriting notes, outlines, and other templates. You can also use voice-to-text and handwriting within the Markdown editor, which could be useful to some. However, one of the biggest perks to Wiz Note is its collaborative functioning. If you’re working on a project with someone else, you can set it up as a team note, which enables you to all edit, leave comments, and even open a discussion to work out what you’re doing. Wiz Note offers a 100-day free trial, then costs $8.99 per year to access all of the features.
7. Simplenote
If you’re looking for a simple note-taking app that supports Markdown editing and all operating systems, then take a peek at Simplenote (Android | iOS). Simplenote is another free Markdown editor that works across multiple platforms. If Markdown is enabled, you do have the option to preview your note so that you can double check that all of the formatting transfers. Like Inkdrop, Simplenote supports cross-platform synchronization and note history viewing, which makes it a great app for those who bounce between devices or work with others on projects. Additionally, Simplenote offers a “publish” function, which allows you to share a link to a note with anyone so that they can read it. Simplenote is free, with no hidden costs to use certain features.
1. Why is Markdown so useful?
For many users, Markdown helps you maintain writing flow. Instead of stopping to choose formatting buttons or hunt for specific functions in the MS Word ribbon, you can simply use the coding to do what you need and keep going.
2. What if I can’t remember the Markdown syntax for specific formatting?
Most of the Markdown editors on this list include buttons or tools to help you determine how to notate something in Markdown. You can also use this handy Markdown Guide to help you out.
3. Can I convert HTML to Markdown?
Yes, there are tools to help you convert HTML to Markdown. Additionally, some apps on this list, like iA Writer, will help you do this. Image credit: Pexels
