Comparison

SoloMD vs QingMo

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

Head to head
About

SoloMD

A distraction-free Markdown editor for iPad, focusing on writing with live preview, rich syntax, and export options. Your notes are stored locally as plain text files.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free writing environment
  • Live Markdown preview
  • KaTeX math and Mermaid diagram support
  • Multiple export formats (HTML, PDF, DOCX)
  • File tree and outline view
  • Focus and typewriter modes
  • Split-view and multitasking support
Features
Read full description

SoloMD is a lightweight, distraction-free Markdown editor for iPad. One file. One window. Just write. Built from the ground up as a focused writing tool - no account, no cloud, no telemetry, no subscription. Your notes stay in plain .md and .txt files on your iPad, readable by any editor on any platform, today and in ten years. CORE EDITING - Live preview - Markdown symbols fade out after the cursor leaves the line. - Rich syntax styling - real big headings, real bold, real monospace for code. - Light and Dark themes that follow iPad system appearance. - Multi-encoding - auto-detects UTF-8, UTF-16, GBK, Big5. - Tabs with dirty indicators. - File tree sidebar, outline view, and global search. MARKDOWN POWER - KaTeX math - inline and block math render instantly. - Mermaid diagrams - flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts. - Task lists with clickable checkboxes. - Footnotes, YAML front-matter, text highlighting. - Syntax highlighting for 13 plus languages. - Synced split-pane scroll. - Tap an image or Mermaid diagram to open a pinch-zoomable overlay. BUILT FOR IPAD - 44 pt touch targets across toolbar, outline, and file tree. - Larger default font sizes tuned for iPad screen distance. - Split-view and multitasking friendly. - Works with hardware keyboards. - Portrait and landscape, every orientation. WRITER TOOLS - Focus mode - non-current paragraphs dim for deep work. - Typewriter mode. - Session restore - auto-saves so you never lose a line. - Chinese power tools - simplified/traditional conversion, pinyin, CJK word counts. - Spell check. - Custom CSS. EXPORT - HTML (newsletter quality) - PDF with KaTeX and Mermaid baked in - Word (.docx) with tables preserved - Copy as HTML, plain text, or Markdown PRIVACY FIRST SoloMD collects no personal data. No account. No analytics. No ads. No tracking. All your notes live locally in files you own. SoloMD is open source (MIT). Source: github.com/zhitongblog/solomd

About

QingMo

Features
Read full description

QingMo is a cross-platform Markdown editor built for a smooth writing flow. Edit on the left, see the rendered result on the right in real time — no more switching back and forth between syntax and output. — Live Preview — Rendering kicks in the moment you stop typing, with millisecond response. Switch freely between source, split, and preview modes. In split mode the editor and preview scroll in sync, so you never lose your place in long documents. — Navigate Long Documents — - Minimap: a structural overview on the right edge, color-coded by headings, body, and code. Click or drag to jump — accurate even with soft wrapping. - Sticky Header: keeps the full heading path of your current position pinned at the top while scrolling; click any level to jump back. - Two-way Linked Highlight: select text on one side and the matching text on the other is highlighted automatically. (All optional, toggleable in Settings, off by default.) — Full Markdown Support — - CommonMark: headings, emphasis, lists, quotes, links, images, rules - GitHub Flavored Markdown: tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks - KaTeX math: inline $...$ and block $$...$$, rendered offline - Superscript and subscript for chemical formulas and math notes - Syntax highlighting for dozens of languages: Python, Swift, Rust, Go, Java, JavaScript, SQL, and more — Fast Input — One-tap toolbar for bold, headings, lists, tables, formulas and more. On mobile, a quick-symbol bar sits above the keyboard so hard-to-type characters are always within reach. Full keyboard shortcuts for external keyboard users. — Consistent Across Devices + iCloud Sync — iPhone, iPad, and Mac share the same rendering core for consistent results everywhere. Turn on iCloud and your documents sync automatically across devices signed in to your Apple ID. — Handy File Management — A built-in file explorer: create, rename, delete, duplicate, and drag items into folders. Export to PDF or a single self-contained HTML file for easy sharing and archiving. — Privacy First — QingMo collects no personal data and contains no ads or trackers. Your documents stay in the local folder you choose or in your own iCloud container. — QingMo Pro (optional) — The core writing experience is free forever. A one-time QingMo Pro purchase (no subscription) unlocks advanced extras: - Mermaid diagrams (flowcharts, sequences, Gantt) - One-tap publishing and Chinese typography tools (auto spacing, simplified/traditional conversion) - Advanced PDF export (themes, headers/footers, page numbers, watermark, cover) and long-image export - Version history, detailed word count, focus mode, and image archiving Purchase is handled entirely by the App Store, and "Restore Purchases" is available. Whether you are writing technical notes, organizing to-dos, drafting papers, or capturing ideas, QingMo keeps you focused on the content.

Screenshots

SoloMD4 screens
QingMo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SoloMD at none against QingMo's 1. On price, update cadence, 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. QingMo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SoloMD asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
SoloMD versus QingMo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoloMDQingMo
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer向东 李兆卓 张

In-app purchases

None

SoloMD

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

QingMo

One-time1
  • QingMo Pro (Lifetime)$4.99

Questions

Is SoloMD free?
SoloMD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is QingMo free?
QingMo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SoloMD or QingMo have ads?
Neither SoloMD nor QingMo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoloMD or QingMo?
SoloMD ships an update every 3 weeks, and QingMo every 3 weeks. Most recently, SoloMD was updated on September 17, 2026 and QingMo on September 7, 2026.

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