Comparison

MarkDown Reader vs PlainMark Editor

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

Head to head
About

MarkDown Reader

Features
Read full description

MarkDown Reader is a free, lightweight viewer for Markdown files. Double-click any .md file and read it beautifully rendered — no editor chrome, no distractions, just your document. It also turns a checklist into somewhere to work. Tick a task and the change is written straight back to the file, one character, instantly. Add a note to any item and it is saved as an ordinary indented bullet, so every other Markdown tool still reads it. On the Mac, drag a file onto an item to attach it, and click the chip to open it again later. Nothing is locked in a database. Everything this app writes is plain Markdown you can read in any editor. - Clean rendering of headings, tables, code blocks, and images, in colour, light or dark - Several documents in one window as tabs; drag Markdown files in from the Finder, and drag tabs between windows (macOS) - Your windows and tabs come back when you reopen the app (macOS) - Collapsible answers, superscripts, highlights and other HTML formatting tags - LaTeX math, typeset offline: $…$ inline and $$…$$ display - Interactive task lists: click a checkbox and the .md file updates instantly - Notes on any checklist item, saved as plain Markdown - Attach files to checklist items by dragging them in (macOS) - Clickable file references: a path in a code span opens in your editor (macOS) - Show Source: the file's raw text with line numbers, one keystroke away; on the Mac, edit it in place with a live preview beside the text - Table of contents sidebar for long documents, highlighting the section you are reading; hide it, or the tabs, per window (macOS) - Full-text search with match navigation - Live reload — edit the file elsewhere and the view keeps up - Safe saving: a tick or note never overwrites changes made in another app - Use the full window width for wide documents (macOS) - Zoom, print, and export to PDF; exported PDFs are always light - Light or Dark on your terms: follow the system, or pin the reader to either - Copy the document's path or reveal it in the Finder (macOS) - Opens .md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkd, and .mkdn files - Sandboxed and private: no accounts, no analytics, no data collection - Free, with an optional tip jar that unlocks nothing

About

PlainMark Editor

Features
Read full description

Write clearly. Stay in control of your files. PlainMark is a fast, focused Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad. Write in readable Markdown, switch instantly to a polished formatted view, and export your work without wrestling with a complicated workspace. WHY PLAINMARK • Source and Formatted views for writing your way • Native formatting controls for headings, bold, italic, links, lists, quotes, code, and more • Line numbers and live document statistics • Open and save standard Markdown files • Export to PDF, PNG, HTML, RTF, plain text, or Markdown • High-resolution full-document PNG export • Paginated PDF export for sharing or printing PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No cloud lock-in. No ads. PlainMark works with files stored on your device and only shares a document when you choose to export or send it. BUILT FOR FOCUS PlainMark keeps the interface quiet and the document front and center. It is ideal for notes, drafts, documentation, README files, articles, and any writing that should stay portable. Open a file or start fresh. Write in plain Markdown. Export anywhere.

Screenshots

MarkDown Reader4 screens
PlainMark Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MarkDown Reader at Free against PlainMark Editor's $0.99. MarkDown Reader also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

MarkDown Reader is free to download; PlainMark Editor costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
MarkDown Reader versus PlainMark Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarkDown ReaderPlainMark Editor
PriceFree — better$0.99
Update frequencyEvery 9 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdward JudenCommerce Beacon

In-app purchases

None

MarkDown Reader

No in-app purchases

None

PlainMark Editor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MarkDown Reader free?
MarkDown Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PlainMark Editor free?
PlainMark Editor costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MarkDown Reader or PlainMark Editor have ads?
Neither MarkDown Reader nor PlainMark Editor shows ads.

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