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Zen Editor Alternatives

Zen Editor is described as 'Zen by Unit is a free, minimal, fast, private writing app. Just open and use' and is a Text Editor in the news & books category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Zen Editor, not only websites but also apps for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux and Android. The best alternative is Joplin. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Zettlr or Mark Text. Other great sites and apps similar to Zen Editor are Typora, ghostwriter, StackEdit and iA Writer.

Zen Editor alternatives are mainly Text Editors but may also be Note-taking Tools or Todo List Managers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Zen Editor.
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Zen by Unit is a free, minimal, fast, private writing app. Just open and use.

Learn more about Zen Editor
  1. Joplin icon

    Joplin

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    • Termux
    • Self-Hosted
    584 alternatives to Joplin 

    Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, can be copied, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownJoplin supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
    3.  End-to-End EncryptionJoplin has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
    4.  Privacy focusedJoplin is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
    5.  Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Joplin.
    6.  Works OfflineJoplin can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    7.  Ad-freeJoplin doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
    8.  Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Joplin.
    9.  LightweightJoplin consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    Desktop and mobile apps
    Example
  2. Typora icon

    Typora

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    133 alternatives to Typora 

    Typora gives you a seamless experience as both a reader and a writer. It removes the preview window, mode switcher, syntax symbols of markdown source code, and all other unnecessary distractions. Instead, it provides a real live preview feature to help you concentrate on the...

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    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownTypora supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
    3.  Distraction-freeTypora has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
    4.  WYSIWYG SupportTypora integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
    5.  Support for LaTeXTypora supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
    6.  Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Typora.
    7.  LightweightTypora consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    8.  Code FormattingTypora supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
    9.  Spell CheckingTypora can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  4. Zettlr icon

    Zettlr

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    116 alternatives to Zettlr 

    Zettlr is a supercharged markdown editor that combines many writing editor features and collect them in one application. It aims at speeding up your workflow and help you write without any interruptions.

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    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownZettlr supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  File TaggingZettlr can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
    3.  Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
    4.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
    5.  Dark ModeZettlr supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    6.  LightweightZettlr consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    7.  Pomodoro TimerPractice the Pomodoro Technique in Zettlr to stay focused and productive.
    The Berlin Theme (dark mode)
    The Berlin Theme (light mode)
  5. Mark Text icon

    Mark Text

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    91 alternatives to Mark Text 

    Mark Text support CommonMark Spec and GitHub Flavored Markdown Spec. And it is a realtime preview eidtor, what you type is what you see finally.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownMark Text supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  WYSIWYG SupportMark Text integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
    3.  Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
    4.  Dark ModeMark Text supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    5.  Distraction-freeMark Text has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
    6.  Syntax HighlightingMark Text supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    GitHub Flavored Markdown
    Auto-Completion
  6. ghostwriter icon

    ghostwriter

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    • Windows
    • Linux
    122 alternatives to ghostwriter 

    No excuses. No distractions. Just write. ghostwriter is a feature-rich text editor using Markdown syntax which makes it suitable for note-taking, document redaction, simple HTML website creation and much more.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownghostwriter supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  Dark Modeghostwriter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    3.  Lightweightghostwriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    4.  Portableghostwriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
    5.  Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
    6.  Spell Checkingghostwriter can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
    7.  Syntax Highlightingghostwriter supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  8. StackEdit icon

    StackEdit

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    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome
    77 alternatives to StackEdit 

    StackEdit is a free, open-source Markdown editor based on PageDown, the Markdown library used by Stack Overflow and the other Stack Exchange sites.

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    Features
    1.  WYSIWYG SupportStackEdit integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
    2.  Works OfflineStackEdit can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    StackEdit 5 - Split interface (Dark)
    Screenshot
  9. iA Writer icon

    iA Writer

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    107 alternatives to iA Writer 

    The key to good writing is not that magical glass of Bordeaux, the right kind of tobacco or that groovy background music. The key is focus. What you need to write well is a spartan setting that allows you to fully concentrate on your text and nothing but your text.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Distraction-freeiA Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
    2.  Support for MarkDowniA Writer supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    3.  Support for LaTeXiA Writer supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
    4.  Syntax HighlightingiA Writer supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    5.  Works OfflineiA Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    6.  Dark ModeiA Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  10. HedgeDoc icon

    HedgeDoc

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    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    • Docker
    28 alternatives to HedgeDoc 

    HedgeDoc (fcommunity-driven fork of CodiMD) is an open-source collaborative markdown editor. With HedgeDoc you can easily collaborate on notes, graphs and even presentations in real-time. All you need to do is to share your note-link to your co-workers, and they’re ready to go.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in HedgeDoc simultaneously.
    2.  Support for MarkDownHedgeDoc supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    3.  No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in HedgeDoc without registration.
      Screenshot
    • Inkdrop icon

      Inkdrop

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      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • Android
      • iPhone
      466 alternatives to Inkdrop 

      The note-taking app with robust Markdown editor, supporting macOS, Windows, and Linux. This app is designed to be the most convenient way to make notes in Markdown for your daily hacking.

       Suggest and vote on features
      Features
      1.  Support for MarkDownInkdrop supports MarkDown for document formatting.
      2.  Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
      3.  End-to-End EncryptionInkdrop has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
      4.  Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Inkdrop.
      Beautiful UI
      Dark theme
    • Haroopad icon

      Haroopad

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      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      105 alternatives to Haroopad 

      Haroopad is a markdown enabled document processor for creating web-friendly documents. You can author various formats of documents such as blog article, slide, presentation, report, and e-mail as if experts did.

       Suggest and vote on features
      Features
      1.  Support for MarkDownHaroopad supports MarkDown for document formatting.
      Discontinued

      The last update was in December 2018.

      Screenshot
      Screenshot
    Showing 10 of 87 alternatives
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