Side by side
HackMD vs Markpad
Both stand on markdown editors. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Choose HackMD for collaborative Markdown notes, publishing, and workflows that use its GitHub integrations, API, or CLI. The free plan covers unlimited notes, while teams needing larger image uploads or more monthly API calls may need Prime; Enterprise is an option for organization features such as SSO and self-hosting.
Visit HackMD
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Markpad if you want a free, open-source desktop Markdown editor with synchronized preview and support for formulas and diagrams. Look elsewhere if you need a product with a free trial; Markpad has no trial.
Visit MarkpadThe facts
| HackMD | Markpad | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Prime: $5 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | HackMD | Markpad |
| Website | hackmd.io | markpad.dev |
| On markdown editors | #9 of 31 | #13 of 31 |
HackMD: what it does well
- Unlimited notes on the free plan
- Real-time editing with comments and mentions
- Offline access and PDF export
- REST API and CLI for Markdown notes
- Public notes, shared workspaces, and slide mode
What to know first
- Free image uploads are limited to 1 MB each
- Free plan includes 400 API calls per month
- Prime is billed annually at $5/user/mo
Markpad: what it does well
- Free and open source under a BSD-3-Clause license
- Supports GitHub-style Markdown, KaTeX, and Mermaid diagrams
- Synchronized side-by-side editor and preview
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Exports HTML and prints to PDF
What to know first
- No free trial is offered
- Installation routes vary by operating system
Alternatives to HackMD Alternatives to Markpad The whole list