Comparison

HillNote vs Markdown.md

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HillNote

Features
Read full description

Hillnote is where you think. A local-first, markdown-native workspace that captures your work in AI-native formats - notes, plans, drafts, ideas, decisions. Built on plain markdown, stored on your device, paired with your desktop, and ready for the AI tools you already use. Built for builders, makers, writers, and small teams who think on the move and want their workspace to come with them. Write as you think, the way you think. A clean markdown editor designed for capture, not arrangement. A floating toolbar above the keyboard handles formatting; standard markdown shortcuts work out of the box. Quicknotes for everything in between. Tap + to capture an idea the moment it lands. Save and it's in your workspace; keep typing if you want to expand it. No friction between a thought and a file. Your thinking stays on your device. Every file lives locally as plain markdown. No rented database, no required account, no lock-in. Your work is yours from day one, and yours if you cancel. Free sync across iPhone, iPad, and desktop. The first 100MB syncs free -more than enough for years of notes. Capture on your phone, expand on your desktop, review anywhere. Talk to your knowledge base. Built-in chat reads your own files, edits them, creates new ones, and pulls context from your workspace. Upload images and have them read aloud. Auto mode picks the right model; switch manually when you want to. Supercharge your writing with Apple Intelligence. Native integration with Apple Intelligence writing tools - proofread, rewrite, reformat -via the AI button or text selection. Workspaces with all the context AI models need. Hillnote automatically generates context files (AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, document registries) so any AI tool you connect can navigate your workspace immediately - no setup, no plugins. Pairs with the agents you already work with. Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, Cowork, Claude Code - connect via local or cloud MCP, or point them at the workspace folder directly. Plain markdown means no exports, no conversions. They read and edit the same files you do. Carry your tools, not just your notes. Build small HTML tools - pomodoro timers, day counters, focus checklists, anything else - that travel inside your workspace. Pin them as widgets. Your tools live next to the work they support. A different model. We separate what's a service from what's yours. You subscribe to the workspace and pay for cloud features (expanded sync, frontier AI, publishing, routines, BYO key) only when you need them. Free accounts include limited premium model usage. Your data stays on your device as plain markdown, always canonical, always portable. Start free. Sync free. Stay local. Add cloud when you outgrow it. Download Hillnote and bring your thinking with you.

About

Markdown.md

This app offers a fast, offline Markdown reader and editor with advanced rendering capabilities, including syntax highlighting and diagram support. Organize your documents with folders and tags, and export them in various formats. It prioritizes privacy with no account or tracking required.

Highlights
  • Offline Markdown reading and editing
  • Advanced rendering with syntax highlighting
  • Support for diagrams, math, and images
  • Customizable themes and fonts
  • Document organization with folders and tags
  • Export to PDF, HTML, and Markdown
  • Privacy-focused with no tracking
Read full description

Markdown.md is a beautiful, blazing-fast Markdown reader, editor, and library — built to work 100% offline, with no account and no tracking. Whether you live in READMEs, technical docs, meeting notes, or your own writing, every document renders cleanly and opens instantly. BEAUTIFUL RENDERING Headings, bold, italics, tables, task lists, blockquotes, and nested lists all render with care. Fenced code blocks get real syntax highlighting for dozens of languages. Mermaid diagrams — flowcharts, sequence, Gantt, class, and state — and Excalidraw sketches render inline. SVG graphics, LaTeX math, footnotes, images, and embedded video links are supported too, along with YAML frontmatter. MAKE READING YOURS Choose a reading font and a separate code font from the system faces plus 100+ bundled typefaces, with a searchable picker and favorites. Fine-tune text size, line spacing, and content width (Narrow, Normal, Wide). Pick from 14+ built-in themes — GitHub, Solarized, One Dark, Dracula, Nord, Catppuccin, Tokyo Night, Gruvbox, Rosé Pine, Ayu, Everforest, Night Owl, Kanagawa, Monokai — each in light and dark, or craft your own with a color picker. Set backgrounds like Paper or Sepia, and override the theme per document. Move through long files with a searchable outline and a scrubber, find text with a live match counter, flip to raw source, and pick up right where you left off. A REAL EDITOR, BUILT IN Write and edit with a syntax-highlighted editor and a full formatting toolbar: headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, inline code, bullet/numbered/task lists, blockquotes, indent and outdent, plus one-tap insert for links, images, tables, and code blocks. Undo and redo, autosave, live preview, and word, character, line, and reading-time stats. ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY Keep everything tidy with folders, tags, and full-text search. Sort by name, created, or last opened, filter by folder or tag, and switch between list and grid. Rename, duplicate, move, and delete with ease. IMPORT FROM ANYWHERE Open files from the Files app, the Share Sheet, and AirDrop, paste a link to any Markdown file, or browse public GitHub repositories by owner/repo or URL — then read them offline. EXPORT & SHARE Turn any document into a polished PDF, HTML, Markdown, or plain-text file, each with a preview before you share. Back up and restore your entire library too. EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE The attachments panel automatically gathers every link, image, code block, diagram, video, and footnote into one searchable view — copy links, view code, or save images to Photos or Files. HIGHLIGHTS & BOOKMARKS Highlight passages in five colors, add notes, and jump straight back to them anytime. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Rendering happens on-device with all assets bundled — no CDN, no account, no tracking. Turn on iCloud to sync documents, folders, tags, bookmarks, and appearance across devices, or keep everything local. Lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID. BUILT FOR iPHONE, iPAD & MAC Enjoy a sidebar and split view on iPad, and run it on your Mac. Free to use with up to 10 documents and 20 bookmarks. Unlock unlimited documents, bookmarks, and usage with Pro. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HillNote4 screens
Markdown.md4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HillNote at none against Markdown.md's 2. HillNote also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Markdown.md sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HillNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
HillNote versus Markdown.md: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHillNoteMarkdown.md
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB50 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRajath BailLife Utility Apps, LLC

In-app purchases

None

HillNote

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Markdown.md

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$19.99

Questions

Is HillNote free?
HillNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Markdown.md free?
Markdown.md is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HillNote or Markdown.md have ads?
Neither HillNote nor Markdown.md shows ads.

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