Comparison

MarkText vs Formalize

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

Head to head
About

MarkText

This app is a markdown editor and note-taking tool for iOS devices. It offers real-time syntax highlighting, conversion to various formats like HTML, PNG, and PDF, and seamless syncing across Apple devices via iCloud Drive.

Highlights
  • Real-time markdown syntax highlighting
  • Convert notes to HTML, PNG, PDF
  • Share to Evernote, Dropbox, Email
  • iCloud Drive sync across devices
  • FlowChart & Diagrams support
  • LaTeX and MathML rendering
Features
Read full description

MarkText is a minimalist, lightweight Markdown text editor with local-first storage and iCloud sync. It supports syntax highlighting and comes with multiple built‑in preview themes, ideal for notes, writing, memos, journals and quick notes. Export to PDF, PNG or HTML in one tap for easy sharing. ## Key Features - Markdown syntax highlighting. - Built‑in HTML previews with various styles. - Move cursor by sliding the toolbar above the keyboard; - Simple import & export, edit files in Files app in place. - One-tap conversion to long image, multi-images, PDF or HTML. - Easily share to Dropbox, Email, or open with other apps. - Full-text search, word count, regex find & replace; - Sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac via iCloud Drive. - Mermaid and Graphviz support for editing and previewing flowcharts & diagrams. - MathJax support to edit and preview mathematical formulas. ## Import & Export Multiple import and export methods available - Directly manage file list via the Files app. - Import / export files through iTunes. - Upload and download files over WiFi. - Share MD, HTML, PNG, PDF files to other apps. ## Keyboard Toolbar - Tap buttons to quickly insert Tabs, headings, lists, code blocks, images, hyperlinks and more. - Customize toolbar buttons and reorder them. - Swipe toolbar left/right to move cursor fast. - Pinch toolbar with two fingers for quick text selection. - Custom quick input phrases and templates supported. ## Syntax Highlighting & HTML Preview - Built-in preview themes for light and dark modes. - Customizable preview style for code blocks. - Supports multiple Markdown flavors: Standard Markdown, MultiMarkdown, GitHub Flavored Markdown. ### GMF (GitHub Flavored Markdown) Syntax Supports extended syntax: strikethrough, tables, task lists, code blocks. #### Task Lists Lists starting with [ ] or [x] indicate incomplete or completed tasks. Example: - [ ] Incomplete - [x] Completed ## iCloud Drive Sync - Automatically sync and store all note files across your devices via iCloud Drive. - View synced note files inside the iCloud Drive folder on Mac. ## Supported File Extensions md, mmd, markdown, markdn, mdown, mkdn, markd, txt, text, etc. ## Other Features - Swipe left on note item to delete; long press to rename. - Add "#Hashtag" or "@Mention" inside notes to create tag categories, equivalent to folders. - Deleted notes go to Trash and stay there until permanently removed. ## scheme - Open App: marktext://x-url-callback/ - Open note: marktext://x-url-callback/open?name=xx - New note: marktext://x-url-callback/new?content=xx - New note from pasteboard: marktext://x-url-callback/new?pasteboard=1 If you have questions or suggestions, contact: xappbox+mt@gmail.com

About

Formalize

Type mathematical equations and symbols directly on your iPhone or iPad. This keyboard extension offers intuitive one-handed access to over 100 symbols, producing professionally typeset formulas. Easily export your creations as PNG or TeX to use in any app.

Highlights
  • Mathematical keyboard extension
  • Over 100 symbols
  • One-handed operation
  • Professionally typeset formulas
  • PNG export
  • TeX export
Features
Read full description

Do you wish you could properly type math on your iPhone or iPad? With Formalize, you can! Formalize is a keyboard extension for mathematical content. It provides intuitive one-handed access to more than 100 symbols and produces professionally typeset formulas. Easily convert your formulas to PNG or TeX and insert them anywhere, in any app!

Screenshots

MarkText4 screens
Formalize4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MarkText at 54% against Formalize's 25%. MarkText also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). Formalize's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $3.99) and ratings volume (10 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

MarkText costs $3.99 and Formalize $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MarkText holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of MarkText's written reviews are positive against 25% of Formalize's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MarkText ships an update every 4 months, Formalize every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MarkText versus Formalize: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarkTextFormalize
Price$3.99$1.99 — better
Rating3.0 (3 ratings) — better2.6 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings310 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer刘生 林Ben Hambrecht

Customer experience

MarkText

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral20.8%
Negative25.0%

Formalize

All ratings10 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

MarkText

No in-app purchases

None

Formalize

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MarkText free?
MarkText costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Formalize free?
Formalize costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MarkText or Formalize?
MarkText is rated higher. MarkText averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Formalize averages 2.6 from 10 ratings.
Do MarkText or Formalize have ads?
Neither MarkText nor Formalize shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MarkText or Formalize?
MarkText ships an update every 4 months, and Formalize every 9 months. Most recently, MarkText was updated on October 24, 2026 and Formalize on October 24, 2026.

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