Comparison

PureMarkdown vs SoloMD

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

Head to head
About

PureMarkdown

Features
Read full description

Features: 1.Cross-device Sync Sync across iPhone / iPad / Mac with no device limits and real-time updates 2.Privacy & Security Notes are stored only in your iCloud. No external servers or background data collection 3.Efficient Writing Support for note templates and custom templates for quick creation; keyboard shortcuts available on Mac 4.Multiple Export Formats Export notes as images, PDFs, or mind maps for easy sharing, archiving, and structuring 5.Data Migration Batch import and export of Markdown notes for easy backup and migration 6.Organization Manage notes with notebooks and tags to keep your content well-structured If you are looking for a simple, privacy-focused note-taking app that works seamlessly across devices, PureMarkdown is a great choice. This app does not collect user data. All content is stored only in the user’s iCloud account.

About

SoloMD

A fast, distraction-free Markdown editor for creating and managing plain text files. It offers live editing, real typography, and advanced Markdown features like math and diagrams. Designed for privacy, it stores notes in your own files without accounts or tracking.

Highlights
  • Live Markdown editing
  • Focus and typewriter modes
  • KaTeX math and Mermaid diagrams
  • Export to PDF, Word, HTML
  • Split view and keyboard shortcuts
  • Chinese language support
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

SoloMD is a calm, fast Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad. Open the app and you are writing — no account, no sign-up, no subscription. Your notes are plain .md and .txt files. Keep them in SoloMD's folder in the Files app, or open a folder you already use, and edit the files right where they are. Any editor on any device can read them, today and in ten years. WRITING FIRST - Live editing: Markdown marks step aside once the cursor leaves the line, so you see the document, not the syntax. - Real typography: big headings, true bold, monospaced code, comfortable line length. - Focus mode dims everything but the paragraph you are in; typewriter mode keeps your line at eye level. - A formatting bubble appears over selected text; a keyboard bar puts headings, lists, links and code one tap away. - Find and replace with match case, whole word and regular expressions. - Light and dark themes that follow the system. ON IPHONE - A notes home screen, search and a new-note button within thumb's reach. - Full-screen editor with a simple navigation bar. ON IPAD - Sidebar with your folders and notes, tabs, and an outline of the current document. - Split view and Slide Over friendly; works with hardware keyboards and ⌘ shortcuts. MARKDOWN THAT GOES FURTHER - KaTeX math, inline and display. - Mermaid flowcharts, sequence diagrams and Gantt charts. - Tables, task lists with tappable checkboxes, footnotes, front matter, highlights. - Syntax highlighting for 13+ languages. - Tap an image or diagram to view it full screen with pinch-zoom. - Fold headings to see the shape of a long document. FOR CHINESE WRITERS - Simplified ↔ Traditional conversion, pinyin, and CJK-aware word counts. - Chinese proofreading for half-width punctuation and common slips. - Opens UTF-8, UTF-16, GBK and Big5 files correctly. EXPORT AND SHARE - PDF with math and diagrams rendered. - Word (.docx) with tables kept. - HTML, or copy as HTML, plain text or Markdown. PRIVATE BY DESIGN SoloMD collects no data. No account, no analytics, no ads, no tracking. Your notes stay in files you own. SoloMD is open source under the MIT license: github.com/zhitongblog/solomd 100% FREE FOREVER & SUPPORTER BADGE Every feature in SoloMD is 100% free forever — no paywalls, no subscriptions, and no locked features. Optional one-time In-App Purchases (Buy a Coffee / Buy a Lunch / Generous Support) are purely voluntary tips to support independent open-source development, and permanently unlock the exclusive "Supporter" badge in Settings and About.

Screenshots

PureMarkdown4 screens
SoloMD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PureMarkdown at none against SoloMD's 3. SoloMD's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). 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. SoloMD sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. PureMarkdown asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PureMarkdown ships an update every 2 weeks, SoloMD every 2 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
PureMarkdown versus SoloMD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPureMarkdownSoloMD
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerzeyang huang向东 李

In-app purchases

None

PureMarkdown

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

SoloMD

One-time3
  • Buy a Coffee$0.99
  • Buy a Lunch$2.99
  • Generous Support$9.99

Questions

Is PureMarkdown free?
PureMarkdown is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SoloMD free?
SoloMD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PureMarkdown or SoloMD have ads?
Neither PureMarkdown nor SoloMD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PureMarkdown or SoloMD?
PureMarkdown ships an update every 2 weeks, and SoloMD every 2 days. Most recently, PureMarkdown was updated on November 5, 2026 and SoloMD on November 5, 2026.

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