Dropbox Paper vs HackMD

Dropbox Paper9.0Visit HackMD8.6Visit

Higher score Dropbox Paper #5 in Content Collaboration Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Dropbox

vs

HackMD #7 in Content Collaboration Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit HackMD

• Dropbox Paper fits best

  Teams seeking simple, low-cost shared documents

• HackMD fits best

  Markdown-first teams collaborating on technical documents

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Side by side

Feature	Dropbox Paper 9.0/10 Visit ↗	HackMD 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.6
Ranking	#5 in Content Collaboration Software	#7 in Content Collaboration Software
Best for	Teams seeking simple, low-cost shared documents	Markdown-first teams collaborating on technical documents
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$0.99/mo (best)	$5/seat/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Chrome extension
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Compliance	2FA	SOC 2, SSO/SAML
Integrations	6 integrations	8 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Dropbox Paper 0/5 · HackMD 1/5
Real-time editing	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Approval workflows	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Role permissions	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Version history	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
External guest access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Storage limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports simultaneous editing, comments, @mentions, and assigned to-dos Combines tables, files, links, images, GIFs, and embedded media in documents Paper mobile app supports offline editing with sync after reconnection	Multiple cursors, inline comments, and mentions support live collaboration. GitHub integration includes synchronization and pushes. Prime adds full-text search, PDF export, and unlimited versions.
Cons	Paper is included in Dropbox plans, not sold as a separate product Desktop documents are web-based, with no desktop app Its collaboration feature set is narrower than broader document and workspace suites	Free limits workspaces to 3 teammates, 3 invitees, and 20 GitHub pushes monthly. Offline editing is partial rather than a full offline mode. Prime's listed $5 per-seat monthly price requires annual billing.
Our verdict	Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document tool within Dropbox for individuals and teams that need shared writing and lightweight project coordination. Documents support simultaneous editing, comments, @mentions, and assigned to-dos,… Read the review →	HackMD is a web-based collaborative Markdown workspace for teams, developers, researchers, educators, and open-source communities. It combines shared notes and documentation with real-time editing, comments, revision recovery, templates,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Dropbox Paper — where it wins

  • Supports simultaneous editing, comments, @mentions, and assigned to-dos
  • Combines tables, files, links, images, GIFs, and embedded media in documents
  • Paper mobile app supports offline editing with sync after reconnection

  Where it doesn't

  • Paper is included in Dropbox plans, not sold as a separate product
  • Desktop documents are web-based, with no desktop app
  • Its collaboration feature set is narrower than broader document and workspace suites

• HackMD — where it wins

  • Multiple cursors, inline comments, and mentions support live collaboration.
  • GitHub integration includes synchronization and pushes.
  • Prime adds full-text search, PDF export, and unlimited versions.

  Where it doesn't

  • Free limits workspaces to 3 teammates, 3 invitees, and 20 GitHub pushes monthly.
  • Offline editing is partial rather than a full offline mode.
  • Prime's listed $5 per-seat monthly price requires annual billing.

• Dropbox Paper9.0/10 · Free plan

  A focused shared-document tool with live editing, comments, tasks, and mobile offline access.

  Visit DropboxFull verdict →
• HackMD8.6/10 · Free plan

  A Markdown workspace for shared technical writing, with GitHub sync and publishing.

  Visit HackMDFull verdict →