Maybe you worry about your note-taking app shutting down. Or perhaps you've recently learned markdown and want to show off your writing speed? Markdown notes can help be more portable, easy to replicate, and perfect for those who want to be more raw with their note-taking.
While learning syntax and basics might take some time, it can open up more note-taking apps you can switch between and customize to your liking. The beauty of markdown is that it's just plain text with simple formatting symbols, so you're never locked into a proprietary format that could disappear.
You might also have been recommended to try Markdown for your note-taking and research the options out there. If that's you, let's start with some of the basics of Markdown to help you get caught up. Think of it as learning a simple language that makes your notes future-proof and universally compatible across hundreds of apps.
Markdown has been around since 2004, created by John Gruber and Aaron Swartz. What started as a simple way to write for the web has become the standard for millions of note-takers, developers, and writers worldwide. The syntax is intentionally minimal, so you can focus on writing instead of fiddling with formatting buttons.
Markdown note-taking refers to the use of a lightweight markup language. It allows you to format text using plain text syntax, which is simpler and more intuitive than more complex HTML or rich-text formatting. It creates a clean, distraction-free environment for writing and organizing thoughts.
Instead of clicking buttons to make text bold, you simply wrap words in asterisks like **this**. Want a heading? Just add a hash symbol before the text. Links, lists, and images all follow the same simple pattern-based approach. The core idea is that you can read and write markdown files without any special software, they're just .txt or .md files.
The magic happens when you use a dedicated markdown editor. These apps take your plain text syntax and render it beautifully in real-time, showing you formatted headings, bullet points, and styled text as you type. Some apps hide the syntax completely once you type it (like Bear Notes), while others keep it visible but styled (like Obsidian). Either way, your actual file remains plain text, totally portable and future-proof.
This portability is honestly one of markdown's biggest strengths. If your note app shuts down tomorrow, your notes don't become useless proprietary files. They're just text files you can open anywhere, from Notepad to VS Code to any markdown app on this list.
Many millions use and learn markdown as we speak. Here's why it has become the go-to format for serious note-takers:
**Lightweight and fast:** Markdown apps are typically quick and responsive. Since you're working with plain text files, there's no lag from loading heavy formatting or embedded features. Apps open instantly, searches run in milliseconds, and you never wait for some bloated database to sync.
**Simplicity that sticks:** The basic markdown syntax takes about 10 minutes to learn. Headings use #, bold uses **, italic uses *, and lists use hyphens. That's 90% of what most people need. Once you learn it, you'll find yourself typing faster than clicking formatting buttons.
**Future-proof and portable:** This is the big one. Your notes are just text files, not trapped in some company's proprietary database. If Evernote or Notion shut down tomorrow (it's happened before with other apps), you'd be scrambling. With markdown, you just open your files in literally any text editor or switch to another markdown app. Zero lock-in.
**Focused writing experience:** A clean interface enhances note management and keeps the experience streamlined. Most markdown apps embrace minimalism because the format itself is minimal. This helps you actually write instead of endlessly tweaking fonts and colors.
**Version control friendly:** If you're nerdy enough to use Git (or just back up files to Dropbox), markdown plays beautifully with version control. You can track changes over time, see exactly what you edited, and never lose a previous version of your notes.
**Works everywhere:** Every operating system can read .md files. You can edit them on your phone, tablet, laptop, even a Raspberry Pi if you're into that. The barrier to entry is zero.
1. Bear Notes
Best for iOS & macOS: Bear Notes
Bear Notes is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It's a popular markdown note-taking application on iOS devices, loved by many for its features, including checkboxes, tables, images, and sketching. People appreciate Bear's minimalistic nature and lightweight experience, making it feel less like a typical markdown editing experience and more like just writing.
What sets Bear apart is how it handles markdown invisibly. You can switch between modes and still use the core language inside the editor, but unlike raw markdown editors, Bear hides the syntax as you type. Type **bold** and you see bold text, not asterisks. This makes it perfect for people who want the power of markdown without staring at symbols all day.
The app offers excellent features like backlinks (using double brackets [[like this]]) and automatic table of contents generation, which is great for long-form notes or research documents. Multi-language support within the editor is solid too, so if you're writing notes in English and Japanese, it handles both seamlessly. Export options include PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, and more. The OCR feature in Bear Pro lets you search text inside images, adding extra power to your markdown workflow.
**Markdown features in Bear:** - Basic formatting with headings, bold, italic, and lists - Code blocks for code snippets with syntax highlighting - Internal links and footnotes for connecting notes - Tables and task lists (checkboxes) - Image embedding and sketches
**What Bear lacks:** - Math support (no LaTeX rendering) - Diagram tools (you'll need to embed images) - Advanced markdown extensions
The editing experience is honestly one of the best in the markdown world. Bear makes it easy to just write like normal and use markdown without thinking about it. The live preview makes the syntax invisible once you begin typing, which removes the friction of seeing ** everywhere.
**Pricing:** Bear is free with limits (you get the core features but no sync). Bear Pro is $29.99 per year, which unlocks sync across devices, themes, and export options.
**Platforms:** iOS and macOS only.
**Offline use:** Yes, you can use Bear Notes completely offline. Notes sync when you reconnect.
Bear Notes is a good all-rounder for markdown, especially if you're in the Apple ecosystem. The good thing about Bear is that the markdown is invisible, allowing you to use it or switch back to regular typing without the app fighting you. The interface is beautiful, the tagging system is flexible, and the search is fast.
It's best for those who have Apple devices (iOS and Mac) as it is not available on Android or Windows. If you're platform-agnostic, look elsewhere on this list.
Bear Notes is a minimal, markdown note-taking application perfect for iOS and Mac.
2. NotePlan
Best for Planning: NotePlan
NotePlan is a popular option for combining tasks, notes, and calendars, going further than apps like Agenda. The app recently added version 3 with major updates to templates, review modes, and widgets. It allows you to add markdown tasks, which are hugely popular with the bullet journaling community, as it combines their concepts with notes and calendars in one location.
The core philosophy of NotePlan is time-based organization. People like it for daily note-taking and managing yearly, weekly, and monthly notes in a structured way. Each day gets its own note automatically, and you can link tasks and events directly into those daily notes. It's like having a paper planner but with all the power of digital markdown.
Features include personal knowledge management (PKM) tools and filtering, which improve task management and time blocking workflows. The markdown feature is handy for on-the-go use, ensuring notes are safe, secure, and quickly accessible across devices. The filtering system lets you create smart views of your tasks and notes based on tags, dates, or keywords.
**What makes NotePlan unique:** - Filtering and tagging for notes and tasks - Excellent for time blocking tasks directly in your calendar - Integrates with calendar events (Google Calendar, iCloud, etc.) - Daily, weekly, monthly note templates - Backlinks and note connections for PKM workflows - Markdown-based task system with due dates and priorities
It's really easy to use markdown in NotePlan. The markdown tasks don't feel intense or technical, they just render as clean checkboxes and formatted text. Once you export into .md format, you can see all of the underlying markdown syntax, which makes migration to other apps simple if needed.
The interface strikes a good balance between showing you markdown syntax when useful and hiding it when it gets in the way. You can customize how much raw markdown you see, which is great for people transitioning from traditional note apps.
**Pricing:** NotePlan is $99.99 per year or $12.99 per month. There's no free tier, but they offer a 14-day trial.
**Platforms:** iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
**Offline use:** Yes, you can use NotePlan with no internet connection. Everything syncs via iCloud when you reconnect.
NotePlan is a solid option for iOS and macOS users who want to merge their markdown note-taking with serious planning workflows. It works well for markdown note-takers who want notes, calendar, and tasks in one place without juggling multiple apps.
The tasks work with markdown checkboxes and syntax (like `- [ ] Task name`), while the calendar pulls in your actual events from other calendar apps. This combination makes it powerful for people who plan their day in detail and want their notes tied directly to dates.
3. Notesnook
Best for Security: Notesnook
Notesnook is a secure, focused note-taking application that focuses on notes that are privacy-first in nature. ]This allows notes to be secured under E2E that makes for safer notes, this can be enhanced by the Notesnook premium pricing which extends that even further much like software like Standard Notes.
Notesnook has good markdown abilities, which extend to the reminders feature, which can be activated in premium.
It allows for markdown shortcuts like "slash date," "slash time," and "slash now," which connect to that feature. Notesnook makes for a secure markdown option in this list. The editing experience is easy, but it can feel a bit old-fashioned. The markdown is seamlessly integrated into a secure focused note app. You can create up to 20 notebooks for free.
Pro starts a £4.16 per month with an education plan too. Linux, Windows & Mac iOS and Android Web Yes, Notesnook works offline and well. If you're looking for secure, markdown note-taking app, Notesnook is a good choice. It is one of the more secure options with a range of E2E and security focused set-ups.
4. Supernotes
Best for Students: Supernotes
Supernotes uses markdown language to make notes. What makes Supernotes appealing is its clean, intuitive interface. As you type using Markdown, the app instantly transforms your plain text into an organized structure. This is particularly handy for those who prefer a minimalist approach but still want the power of Markdown at their fingertips.
The app's focus on collaboration is a big plus, making it easy to share and work on notes with others.
It's a solid choice for those who need a straightforward, no-frills markdown editor that supports teamwork and sharing. Ideal for students, small teams taking notes, or anyone looking for an efficient way to manage notes and ideas, Supernotes offers a blend of simplicity and collaboration that's quite appealing in the markdown notes app space.
The experience is one of the more relaxed set-ups. The cards make it easy to create notes, write markdown and connect notes. Supernotes is free for 100 cards. Pricing starts from $11 per month, monthly. Mac, Windows iOS and Android You can use Supernotes offline, with no issues. Supernotes is perfect for students.
Markdown is easy to manage in Supernotes, and doesn't have to be used as there is a live preview editor.
A beautifully-designed note-taking tool that was originally developed for students.
5. Obsidian
Best for PKM: Obsidian
Obsidian is built perfectly to take notes in markdown. Markdown in Obsidian is like a secret weapon for your notes. It's all about using simple symbols to format text, think of it as shorthand to make your notes look good without the fuss. Need to highlight something important? Just wrap it in ** or __ and it becomes bold. It's that straightforward.
People love apps like Obsidian because you completely control your own notes. The files live on your computer as plain .md files, not locked in some cloud database. While you jot down your notes using markdown syntax, the app shows you a live preview in a side pane or as you type. It's like having a real-time translator turning your plain text into neatly formatted notes. This feature is a game-changer for visual learners who want to see the end result as they type.
Obsidian's linking feature is honestly fantastic for connecting ideas across notes, turning your scattered thoughts into a personal knowledge base. Use double brackets [[like this]] to link between notes, and Obsidian automatically creates backlinks so you can see what notes reference each other. Over time, you build a web of interconnected ideas that you can visualize in the graph view (which looks stupidly cool).
Inside each note, you can toggle between edit mode (raw markdown) and reading mode (rendered preview), and there are tons of settings to customize how you view it, including how HTML is imported to markdown. The community has built thousands of plugins that extend Obsidian's capabilities, from kanban boards to flashcards to advanced daily note templates.
**Markdown features in Obsidian:** - Full markdown support with extended syntax - Tables and task lists - Code blocks with syntax highlighting - Block quotes and callouts - Math equations (LaTeX support) - Mermaid diagrams for flowcharts and graphs - Embed images, PDFs, audio, and video - Custom CSS snippets for styling
**Advanced features:** - Bidirectional linking and backlinks - Graph view to visualize note connections - Canvas for visual note organization - Community plugins (4000+ available) - Templates and daily notes - Search with regex support
The ease of editing is solid in Obsidian. You're thrown into a markdown editor by default, and you can preview it in reading mode or use live preview mode to see formatting as you type. The learning curve exists, especially if you dive into plugins and advanced markdown, but the basics are simple enough.
**Pricing:** Obsidian is completely free for personal use with no limits on notes, vaults, or features. The app charges $4 per month for Obsidian Sync (end-to-end encrypted sync across devices) and $8 per month for Obsidian Publish (to create public digital gardens from your notes). Both are optional, you can sync via iCloud, Dropbox, or any file sync service.
**Platforms:** iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS. Truly cross-platform.
**Offline use:** Yes, 100%. Obsidian works entirely offline since your notes are local files.
Obsidian is the best option for personal knowledge management and anyone who wants complete control over their notes. The markdown implementation is robust, the community is massive, and the plugin ecosystem means you can customize it endlessly. If you're willing to invest time learning it, Obsidian becomes an incredibly powerful second brain.
It's perfect for students, researchers, writers, and anyone building long-term knowledge systems. The fact that your notes are just markdown files on your computer means you'll never lose access to them, even if Obsidian disappeared tomorrow.
6. Notable
Best for Lightweight Use: Notable
Notable markets itself as a markdown-based note-taking tool and is completely free to use. It comes with a dedicated markdown editor that includes a helpful cheat sheet, perfect for beginners who want to get comfortable with markdown syntax. Those not used to markdown should know you won't be able to switch to a WYSIWYG editor, Notable keeps markdown front and center, which makes it perfect for hardcore markdown users who want to see the raw syntax.
Notable includes developer-friendly features like multi-cursors (edit multiple lines at once), line numbers, a minimap for navigation in long documents, and scrolling beyond the last line. These features are common in code editors like VS Code, and they make managing long markdown notes way easier.
The tagging system is powerful and flexible. You can use nested tags, search across tags, and filter notes quickly. Since Notable stores everything as markdown files in folders you choose, you can organize your notes however you want and even version control them with Git if that's your thing.
**Why Notable is solid:** - Completely free and open source - Local-first (your notes live on your device) - Tags and nested tags for organization - Multi-cursor editing for power users - Favorites and pinned notes - Autosave and version history
Notable works as a local-first note-taking app stored on your device, which is way better for security and privacy. Many PKM note-taking apps follow this approach (like Obsidian), and it means your notes never touch a company's servers. You control where the files live, whether that's your local drive, Dropbox, or a Git repository.
The interface is clean but definitely skews toward developers and technical users. If you're coming from something like Notion or Evernote, Notable will feel bare-bones. But if you appreciate speed, simplicity, and control over your files, it's a great choice.
**Pricing:** Free and open source.
**Platforms:** Windows, macOS, and Linux.
**Offline use:** Yes, Notable is entirely local and offline-first.
Notable is best for people who want a lightweight, fast markdown editor without any cloud sync or subscription nonsense. It's not trying to be an all-in-one productivity suite, it just does markdown notes really well.
7. Simplenote
Good for Basic Use
Simplenote is an easy-to-use markdown note-taking app developed by the folks at Automattic. These are the same people making WordPress, and it offers a free and easy-to-use markdown experience for managing notes. The main factor out of all the markdown note-taking apps is that it is free to use and come with some basic but easy-to-handle features.
It's easy to use and is one of the more basic note takers on the market.
8. Inkdrop
Popular with Developers
Inkdrop is an easy-to-use markdown editor popular with those in tech and development for managing markdown notes. It runs with Javascript and code editing. Encrypted and cross-platform, making it one of the only markdown note-taking apps available on all devices - including Mac, Windows & Linux with mobile apps too.
This is popular for developers and best suits those who like a customized, more nerdy look to a note-taking app.
