Comparison

MDash vs TextDeck

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

Head to head
About

MDash

This app is a plain text Markdown editor for your notes, offering live preview and local rendering of diagrams. It syncs optionally via iCloud and supports various import and export formats. Organize your notes with folders, tags, and smart folders.

Highlights
  • Live Markdown preview
  • Local Mermaid diagram rendering
  • Optional iCloud sync
  • Folder and tag organization
  • Full-text search
  • Import from other apps
  • Export to various formats
Features
Read full description

MDash is a Markdown editor that keeps your notes as plain text on your device. No lock-in, no account, no sync you did not ask for. Write on iPhone, iPad and now Mac — the full workspace on every screen. MARKDOWN, RENDERED LIVE Type plain Markdown and watch the preview update as you type: headings, lists, task checkboxes, tables, code blocks with syntax awareness, links and images. Show the text, the preview, or both side by side. MERMAID DIAGRAMS — FREE FOR EVERYONE Describe a flowchart, sequence diagram, Gantt chart, class diagram or state machine in plain text and MDash draws it instantly. Rendering is built into the app: no network, nothing leaves your device. ON MAC AND APPLE WATCH The complete MDash workspace runs on macOS — a three-column library, keyboard-first editing and the same live preview and Mermaid rendering. On Apple Watch, browse your library and read any note on your wrist. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch. YOUR LIBRARY, ORGANIZED • Pinned notes, Last 7 Days, and Trash with restore • Full-text search across every note, with jump to match • In-document find and replace with match highlighting • Attach photos to notes; files stay ordinary Markdown • Folders keep related notes together; create one right from the sidebar • Tags under the title, a Tags section in the sidebar, and search by tag • Smart folders collect notes automatically from the tags you choose • Scan documents into a note, and search the text inside photos and scans — on device, free • Import from Obsidian, Bear, Apple Notes, TextBundle or any folder of Markdown files — free • Version History keeps earlier versions of every note on device, ready to restore — free EXPORT AND SHARE • Export Markdown and plain text — free • Copy as rich text for mail and documents • PDF, HTML, Word (DOCX), ePub, RTF, JPG and TextBundle export with MDash Pro MDASH PRO — LIFETIME OR MONTHLY MDash Pro unlocks iCloud sync across your devices, export to PDF, HTML, Word, ePub and more, and watermark-free Mermaid diagrams. Choose a one-time lifetime purchase or a monthly subscription — both unlock exactly the same features. The monthly subscription renews automatically until cancelled; manage or cancel it anytime in your App Store account settings. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Notes are stored on device; sync is optional and uses your iCloud. Mermaid rendering is local. There is no tracking and no account. Questions or ideas? Leave a review or reach out through the App Store page — MDash is built by an independent developer and shaped by user feedback. Terms of Use: https://nightcodeapps.com/apps/markdown-editor/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://nightcodeapps.com/apps/markdown-editor/privacy/

About

TextDeck

Streamline your typing with reusable text templates and AI-powered prompt enhancement. Create custom snippets with fill-in blanks that paste directly into any app. All processing happens on-device for maximum privacy and offline functionality.

Highlights
  • Reusable text snippets with fill-in blanks
  • On-device AI for prompt improvement and placeholder suggestions
  • Global hotkey for instant access
  • Frecency sorting for frequently used templates
  • Community prompt library with offline access
  • iCloud sync across Apple devices
  • 100% local processing and privacy
Read full description

The text you retype, one shortcut away. TextDeck keeps your snippets, replies and AI prompts as reusable templates with fill-in blanks — hit the shortcut, fill the blanks, and it pastes straight into the app you came from. HOW IT WORKS Create a snippet like: "Write a {{Tone}} email to {{Recipient}} about {{Topic}}" — then just fill in the blanks each time. One tap copies or pastes the finished text. Done. ON-DEVICE AI - Improve any prompt with one tap — Apple Intelligence rewrites, shortens, or sharpens it - Paste raw text and let AI suggest reusable {{placeholders}} — you choose which to keep - Runs entirely on your device. Nothing is sent to any server. No account, no API key - Requires a device with Apple Intelligence (iOS 26 / macOS 26 or later) INSTANT ACCESS - Global hotkey opens TextDeck instantly from any app - Frecency sorting puts your most-used templates at the top - Search across all templates and categories in seconds GLOBAL PROMPT LIBRARY - Browse and install free community prompt packs - Works offline and updates automatically - Open source — anyone can contribute on GitHub - Organize everything into your own categories and collections ALWAYS FREE - No subscription, no in-app purchases, no ads — ever - Free, and it stays free SYNC & PRIVACY - iCloud sync keeps your templates on all your Apple devices - 100% local — no accounts, no tracking, no analytics - AI runs on-device — no third-party AI services - Your data never leaves your device unless you enable iCloud Works on Mac, iPad and iPhone. Build your text library once, use it everywhere you type. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MDash4 screens
TextDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TextDeck at 5.0 against MDash's 4.2. TextDeck also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). MDash's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. MDash sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. TextDeck asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TextDeck holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MDash has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of MDash's written reviews are positive against 100% of TextDeck's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MDash ships an update every 4 days, TextDeck every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MDash versus TextDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMDashTextDeck
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtur GorbaczewskiJonas Hoettler

Customer experience

MDash

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

TextDeck

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

MDash

Subscriptions2
  • MDash Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • MDash Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • MarkdownEditor Pro Lifetime$24.99
None

TextDeck

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MDash free?
MDash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TextDeck free?
TextDeck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MDash or TextDeck?
TextDeck is rated higher. MDash averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while TextDeck averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MDash or TextDeck have ads?
Neither MDash nor TextDeck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MDash or TextDeck?
MDash ships an update every 4 days, and TextDeck every 9 days. Most recently, MDash was updated on November 13, 2026 and TextDeck on November 8, 2026.

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