Paperling vs MarkText

Both free and open source. The main difference is how you prefer to edit.

What mattersPaperlingMarkText
LicenseApache-2.0, free and open sourceMIT, free and open source
Editing approachReader, Code, and Split viewsReal-time inline preview and source-code mode
MathKaTeX math and mhchem chemistryKaTeX math
Writing toolsFocus, typewriter, slash commands, and table toolsFocus, typewriter, and table editing
ExportHTML, PDF, and Word with rendering caveatsHTML and PDF

Which should you choose?

Pick Paperling for Reader, Code, and Split views. Pick MarkText if you prefer inline preview.

Standard Markdown travels well; app-specific extensions may differ. Try a copy of your notes first.

Reviewed September 26, 2026

Sources & review notes

Reviewed September 26, 2026 by the Paperling project. Features can change. No performance benchmarks are implied.

Explore the other comparisons or try a first document in Paperling.