Rendered, and still a file.
Write on the finished page while the document stays a plain .md file wherever you keep it. No vault, no database, no import.
Compare
How Markify stands out.
Plenty of good Markdown editors exist. Here is where Markify matches them, where it goes further, and when another app is the better choice.
Markdown from anywhere.
Open a file from any HTTPS link, or browse a GitHub or GitLab repository, private ones included, without cloning it.
AI that stays home.
Proofread, rewrite, generate and summarize links with Apple’s on-device model, built into the editor rather than bolted on.
Made for your agents.
A command-line tool and plugins for Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode put long answers on a real page.
Side by side
Feature by feature.
Built-in features only; plugins and third-party add-ons are left out. Compiled from each app’s public documentation in October 2026.
| Feature |  Markify |
Typora | Obsidian | iA Writer | Bear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing | |||||
| Edit on the rendered pageFormatting shows as you type, without a second preview pane | Yes | Yes | YesLive Preview | NoSeparate preview | Yes |
| Raw Markdown viewSee and edit the source in the same window | Yes⌘/ keeps the caret | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyOption to show markup |
| LaTeX math in the editor | YesNative, no web view | Yes | Yes | PartlyIn preview | Yes |
| Mermaid diagrams | YesOffline | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Document outline | YesWith table of contents | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Link checkerList every link and flag the ones that don’t resolve | YesLocal and web | No | PartlyUnresolved notes | No | No |
| Files | |||||
Notes are plain .md filesStored where you choose, readable by any app |
Yes | Yes | YesIn a vault folder | Yes | NoApp database, exports Markdown |
| Open Markdown from a URL | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Browse a GitHub or GitLab repositoryWithout cloning, private ones with a token | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Export | HTML, PDF | PDF, Word and more | PDF, Word, HTML | PDF, Word, HTML | |
| Intelligence and automation | |||||
| On-device AI in the editorProofread, rewrite and generate without a cloud service | YesApple Intelligence | No | No | NoTracks AI authorship | No |
| Command-line tool | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Coding-agent pluginsClaude Code, Codex, OpenCode | Yes | No | PartlyThrough its CLI | No | No |
| The app | |||||
| Native Mac appBuilt with Apple’s own frameworks rather than web technology | YesSwiftUI, TextKit 2 | NoWeb-based editor | NoElectron | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac, Windows, Linux | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Mac, Windows, iOS | Mac, iOS |
| Price | FreeIncluding at work | $14.99 once | Free; paid Sync and Publish | Paid | Free; Pro subscription for sync |
Every app here changes often. If something is out of date, tell us on GitHub and we’ll fix it. Product names belong to their owners; Markify isn’t affiliated with them.
Fair is fair
When another app is the better pick.
Markify is a focused Mac editor. If one of these matters most to you, look elsewhere, or use Markify alongside it: it opens the same files.
You write on your phone too
Markify is Mac only. Obsidian, iA Writer and Bear have mobile apps; Markify works with whatever syncs your files, but you’ll need another editor on iOS.
You rely on a plugin ecosystem
Obsidian’s community plugins and themes go far beyond any single app. Markify has no plugin system.
Your notes use wiki links
Markify reads standard Markdown links. [[Wiki links]], embeds and graph views are Obsidian territory.
You hand drafts to Word users
Typora, iA Writer and Bear export Word documents. Markify exports HTML and PDF.
See it on your own files.
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