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Head-to-head · Markdown Editors

StackEdit vs HedgeDoc

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score StackEdit #1 in Markdown Editors 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit StackEdit
HedgeDoc #3 in Markdown Editors 8.9/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit HedgeDoc

StackEdit leads on 0 checks, HedgeDoc on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreStackEdit · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly StackEdit
  • Most featuresStackEdit · 3 of 3

StackEdit scores higher on our rubric for markdown editors: 9.2 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

StackEdit is the better fit for free web editing and publishing. HedgeDoc is the better fit for self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams.

  • StackEdit fits best

    Free web editing and publishing

  • HedgeDoc fits best

    Self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams

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 StackEdit 9.2/10 Visit ↗ HedgeDoc 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.9
Ranking #1 in Markdown Editors #3 in Markdown Editors
Best for Free web editing and publishing Self-hosted collaborative Markdown teams
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension Self-hosted, Cloud
Platforms Web, Chrome extension Web
Support Community Community, Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features StackEdit 3/3 · HedgeDoc 0/3
Real-time collaboration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Cloud sync ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Local file support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms web, chrome_extension, self_hosted Not checked yet
Export formats Markdown, HTML, PDF Not checked yet
Publishing workflow Cms Not checked yet
Markdown flavor Custom Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free, open-source editing across web, Chrome extension, and self-hosted deployments
  • Syncs with Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub, with offline writing
  • Publishes to Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk and exports Markdown, HTML, and PDF
  • 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
Cons
  • Its custom Markdown flavor may require adaptation across other Markdown tools
  • Publishing targets focus on Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk
  • The extension experience is centered on Chrome
  • 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
Our verdict

StackEdit is a browser-based Markdown editor for individuals and teams that need to write, format, review, synchronize, and publish documents. Its interface combines Markdown syntax highlighting, WYSIWYG formatting controls, live preview,…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. StackEditMarkdown Editors 9.2Free plan
  2. HedgeDocMarkdown Editors 8.9Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • StackEdit — where it wins

    • Free, open-source editing across web, Chrome extension, and self-hosted deployments
    • Syncs with Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub, with offline writing
    • Publishes to Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk and exports Markdown, HTML, and PDF

    Where it doesn't

    • Its custom Markdown flavor may require adaptation across other Markdown tools
    • Publishing targets focus on Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk
    • The extension experience is centered on Chrome

  • 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

More comparisons

All markdown editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update