Comparison

MDash vs Notelane

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 offers a live split-view editor for Markdown with real-time preview and syntax highlighting. It also supports Mermaid diagram rendering directly within documents, allowing for efficient text formatting and creation of visual aids.

Highlights
  • Live split-view Markdown editing
  • Real-time preview with syntax highlighting
  • Mermaid diagram rendering
  • Export to MD, TXT, or PDF
  • Auto-save functionality
  • Dark mode support
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 — ONE PURCHASE, EVERY DEVICE A single one-time purchase unlocks iCloud sync across your devices, export to PDF, HTML, Word, ePub and more, and watermark-free Mermaid diagrams. No subscription. 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.

About

Notelane

This app allows you to write and edit notes using markdown with live formatting. It stores your notes as standard .md files in any folder you choose, including cloud storage, and offers features like wikilinks, tags, revision history, and note statistics.

Highlights
  • Live markdown rendering
  • Supports local and cloud storage
  • Wikilinks for note connection
  • Tag-based organization
  • Revision history
  • PDF export
  • Note statistics
Features
Read full description

Write in markdown and see your formatting come to life as you type — headings, bold, italic, links, code blocks, checklists, and more — all rendered inline. Your files. Your folders. Your way. Notelane works directly with the files on your device. On first launch, pick any folder — local storage, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or any connected cloud provider visible in the Files app. Your notes stay as standard .md files, fully portable and never locked in. Write with clarity A distraction-free editor with live formatting that renders your markdown as you type. No toggle between "edit" and "preview" — just write. Store notes anywhere Pick any folder on your device or in the cloud. Notelane works with iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or any storage provider visible in the Files app. Connect your thinking Link notes together with [[wikilinks]] and organize with #tags to build your own personal knowledge base — no complex setup required. Stay in control Revision history lets you restore previous versions of any note. PDF export and sharing are built in. A trash bin keeps deleted notes recoverable. Organize your way Nested folders, pinning, and tag-based filtering keep everything tidy. A clean sidebar puts your entire library one tap away. Note statistics Word count, character count, paragraphs, and estimated reading time — always available at a glance. Your writing deserves a home that respects simplicity. Notelane is that home.

Screenshots

MDash4 screens
Notelane4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Notelane at 5.0 against MDash's 3.7. Notelane also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). MDash's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notelane holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of MDash's written reviews are positive against 100% of Notelane's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MDash ships an update every 2 days, Notelane every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MDash versus Notelane: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMDashNotelane
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtur GorbaczewskiAsterios Digital GmbH

Customer experience

MDash

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Notelane

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MDash

No in-app purchases

None

Notelane

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MDash free?
MDash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notelane free?
Notelane is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MDash or Notelane?
Notelane is rated higher. MDash averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Notelane averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do MDash or Notelane have ads?
Neither MDash nor Notelane shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MDash or Notelane?
MDash ships an update every 2 days, and Notelane every 2 weeks. Most recently, MDash was updated on September 18, 2026 and Notelane on July 8, 2026.

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