am-editor

am-editor is an open-source rich text editor for developers building web editing experiences with front-end libraries and plugins. It suits teams that need structured content and real-time collaboration alongside media and Markdown support. Its breadth is compelling, but the collaboration server and storage choices call for technical ownership.

Overview

Rather than a finished writing app, am-editor is an engine developers can install and extend. Its plugin architecture covers common editing needs out of the box, while custom mark, inline, block, and card plugins make it adaptable to a product’s content model. That flexibility is useful when a generic editor falls short, but it also means the project is best suited to developers prepared to integrate and maintain an editor themselves.

The editor supports structured content, tables, files, mathematical formulas, images, audio, video, and embedded multimedia. Markdown syntax is supported, and the code block plugin uses Markdown by default. This range suits applications that mix prose with richer content, though a team should choose am-editor for that flexibility rather than the expectation of a turnkey publishing product.

Key features

Plugins and frameworks

The project provides dozens of plugins and examples or components for React, Vue 2, and Vue 3. It also supports JavaScript and TypeScript, and the engine is installable as @aomao/engine with npm or yarn. Developers can build on familiar front-end libraries, while custom plugin types offer room to tailor how content is represented and edited.

Collaboration and storage

Real-time collaborative editing uses Yjs and WebSocket, with a Node.js server component. That server supports MongoDB and LevelDB storage. These are concrete options for teams building collaboration into their own deployment, but the server component and storage remain part of the implementation decision rather than a hosted collaboration service.

Content and localization

Internationalization support broadens its fit for products serving multiple languages. Mobile-browser compatibility covers most recent mobile browsers, though the project does not claim support for every browser or device.

Pricing

am-editor is free under the MIT License: the plan costs free. The license permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale, provided the required attribution and license notice are retained. There are no paid tiers, seat counts, quotas, or trial terms to weigh.

The practical trade-off is responsibility, not a subscription fee. The MIT license provides the software as is and disclaims warranties and liability, so teams should account for their own integration and support needs.

Platforms

am-editor is available for self-hosted and web use. Its framework support includes React, Vue, JavaScript, and TypeScript. The engine can be installed through npm or yarn, and the collaboration server supports MongoDB or LevelDB storage.

Who it's for

am-editor is a strong fit for developers creating web applications that need a customizable rich text engine, varied content types, or real-time collaboration. It is especially relevant when a team can build around plugins and operate the collaboration server. Readers seeking a managed editor, warranty-backed software, or a polished end-user writing application should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Dozens of plugins and support for custom plugin types let developers shape the editor around their product.
• Pros: Collaboration with Yjs and WebSocket, plus MongoDB and LevelDB storage options, supports self-hosted implementations.
• Pros: Media, tables, files, formulas, Markdown, and internationalization cover a broad range of editing needs.
• Cons: Collaboration requires a Node.js server component, so it brings deployment and storage decisions.
• Cons: The MIT license disclaims warranties and liability, leaving support and risk management to the adopting team.

Alternatives

For a wider set of rich-text-editor options, browse the Rich Text Editor Software directory.

• AiEditor is an alternative with a free plan and Android, iOS, self-hosted, and web platforms.
• CKEditor 5 may suit readers comparing a free-trial option with a paid Essential plan at $160 a month, billed $160 per month monthly or $144 per month annual, with 5,000 editor loads/month and then $45 per 1,000.
• Editor.js is another free option, with Android, iOS, and web platforms.
• BlockNote offers a free Community plan and self-hosted and web platforms.
• ContentTools is a free, MIT-licensed JavaScript library for HTML editing, available on API and web platforms.
• Jodit offers a free MIT-licensed core editor with built-in plugins; its Enterprise plan uses custom pricing.
• MDXEditor is a free web-based React component for authoring Markdown, with features enabled through plugins.
• Milkdown is a free, open-source MIT-licensed editor framework for web.

Verdict

Choose am-editor if you are building a web product and want an extensible rich-text engine with broad content support and real-time collaboration. Its free MIT license and plugin range are the central advantages; the need to own integration, collaboration infrastructure, and support is the main reason to choose another editor.