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Web App

StackEdit

A free in-browser markdown editor with live preview and cloud sync.

Visit StackEdit4.4
  • Rating

    4.4 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    Web

Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com

What is StackEdit?

StackEdit is a free, open-source markdown editor that runs in the browser. Write with a live side-by-side preview, work offline, and sync or publish documents to Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub and blogging platforms.

Pros: what StackEdit does well

  • Live preview while you type
  • Works offline in the browser
  • Syncs with Google Drive, Dropbox and GitHub

Cons: where it falls short

  • Development has slowed in recent years
  • Not built for long book-length projects

Who StackEdit is for

Writers and developers who want a quick markdown editor without installing anything.

Who can skip it

People who already write in a note app with markdown support.

What people use StackEdit for

  • Writing a README, blog post or notes in markdown with a live preview beside it
  • Writing maths with LaTeX, or sketching flow charts and sequence diagrams in plain text
  • Keeping markdown files in sync with Google Drive, Dropbox or GitHub
  • Publishing a post straight to Blogger, WordPress or Zendesk

How to get started

  1. 1Open stackedit.io and start the editor; there is nothing to install.
  2. 2Type markdown on the left and watch the formatted preview on the right.
  3. 3Link Google Drive, Dropbox or GitHub from the menu to sync your files.
  4. 4Use the publish option to send a finished document to your blog, or export it.

StackEdit pricing

StackEdit is free to use in the browser and open source under the Apache licence, with no paid plan listed on its site. See current prices on StackEdit's site

Checked 2026-10-25. Prices change, so double-check before you pay.

StackEdit FAQ: quick answers

Does StackEdit work offline?
Yes. It saves documents in your browser and keeps working without a connection. Because files live in that browser, sync them to a cloud service if you want them on another device.
Can several people work on the same StackEdit file?
Yes, through shared workspaces that sync via Google Drive, Dropbox or GitHub. StackEdit merges changes when two people edit the same file, but it is not live co-editing like Google Docs.
Is StackEdit open source?
Yes. The code is on GitHub at benweet/stackedit under the Apache licence.

StackEdit alternatives

Not sold on StackEdit? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

MarkText

Shares markdown and editor with StackEdit. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS

HedgeDoc

Focus: collaborative editing and self-hosted. Shares markdown and open source with StackEdit. Rated 4.5 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Web AppFreeWeb

Dillinger

Focus: live preview and export. Shares markdown and editor with StackEdit. Same 4.4 rating.

Web AppFreeWeb

Rentry

Focus: pastebin, sharing and notes. Shares markdown with StackEdit. Same 4.4 rating.

Web AppFreeWeb

Story Skills

Focus: storytelling, ai agents and claude code. Shares writing and markdown with StackEdit. An AI tool, not a web app. Rated 4.2 (StackEdit: 4.4).

AI ToolFreeCross-Platform

ObsidianEditor's pick, verified

Focus: local-first, zettelkasten and plugins. Shares markdown with StackEdit. A desktop app, not a web app. Freemium (StackEdit: Free). Adds macOS, Windows and Linux. Rated 4.8 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Desktop AppFree planmacOS, Windows

Free alternatives to StackEdit

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

Memos

Focus: quick notes, self-hosted and journaling. Shares markdown and open source with StackEdit. Rated 4.7 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform

MarkEdit

Focus: markdown editor, writing app and mac app. Shares open source with StackEdit. A Mac app, not a web app. Adds macOS and Offline. Rated 4.6 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Mac AppFreemacOS, Offline

Markmap

Focus: mind map and visual notes. Shares markdown and open source with StackEdit. Rated 4.5 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform

Zettlr

Focus: markdown editor, academic writing and citations. Shares open source with StackEdit. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (StackEdit: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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