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Head-to-head · Markdown Editors

HedgeDoc vs Zettlr

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score HedgeDoc #3 in Markdown Editors 8.9/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit HedgeDoc
Zettlr #7 in Markdown Editors 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Zettlr

HedgeDoc leads on 0 checks, Zettlr on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHedgeDoc · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Zettlr

HedgeDoc scores higher on our rubric for markdown editors: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

HedgeDoc is the better fit for self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams. Zettlr is the better fit for researchers and connected-note writers.

  • HedgeDoc fits best

    Self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams

  • Zettlr fits best

    Researchers and connected-note writers

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature HedgeDoc 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Zettlr 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #3 in Markdown Editors #7 in Markdown Editors
Best for Self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams Researchers and connected-note writers
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Open source Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Cloud Desktop
Platforms Web Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 4 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features HedgeDoc 0/3 · Zettlr 0/3
Real-time collaboration Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Local file support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Windows, macOS, Linux
Export formats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Publishing workflow Not checked yet Not checked yet
Markdown flavor Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Real-time Markdown collaboration with permissions and note revisions
  • Presentation mode, diagrams, graphs, and embedded content in one workspace
  • Docker deployment plus LDAP, SAML, OAuth2, and GitHub authentication
  • Local workspaces keep Markdown files on your computer
  • Zettelkasten tools, graph view, links, tags, and full-text search
  • Citations, reference managers, LanguageTool, and Pandoc export
Cons
  • Self-hosting puts deployment and infrastructure responsibility on the team
  • Access is centered on the web rather than native applications
  • Teams seeking a conventional paid SaaS model may prefer another editor
  • Sharing relies on exported formats such as TextBundle and TextPack
  • The feature set may feel broader than needed for simple Markdown editing
  • Real-time collaborative editing is not part of its stated sharing workflow
Our verdict

HedgeDoc is an open-source, web-based Markdown editor designed for teams and other groups that need to create and edit notes together in real time. Its self-hosted model lets organizations deploy the application on their own server using…

Read the review →

Zettlr is a free, open-source desktop application for Markdown-based note-taking, knowledge management, academic research, journalism, and long-form writing. It is designed for researchers and writers who want local files, connected notes,…

Read the review →
  1. HedgeDocMarkdown Editors 8.9Open source
  2. ZettlrMarkdown Editors 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • HedgeDoc — where it wins

    • Real-time Markdown collaboration with permissions and note revisions
    • Presentation mode, diagrams, graphs, and embedded content in one workspace
    • Docker deployment plus LDAP, SAML, OAuth2, and GitHub authentication

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosting puts deployment and infrastructure responsibility on the team
    • Access is centered on the web rather than native applications
    • Teams seeking a conventional paid SaaS model may prefer another editor

  • Zettlr — where it wins

    • Local workspaces keep Markdown files on your computer
    • Zettelkasten tools, graph view, links, tags, and full-text search
    • Citations, reference managers, LanguageTool, and Pandoc export

    Where it doesn't

    • Sharing relies on exported formats such as TextBundle and TextPack
    • The feature set may feel broader than needed for simple Markdown editing
    • Real-time collaborative editing is not part of its stated sharing workflow

More comparisons

All markdown editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update