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Zettlr
Markdown editor for researchers
ProductivityFreeOpen SourceReplaces Ulysses ($50/yr)
Quick Take: Zettlr
4.5
Zettlr stands out as an exceptional, free, and open-source Markdown editor, particularly well-suited for academics, researchers, and serious writers on Mac. Its robust features for citation management, project organization, and extensive export capabilities make it a formidable alternative to many proprietary word processors. The commitment to privacy and local file storage is a significant advantage, empowering users with complete control over their data. While it may present a slight learning curve for some and lacks official dedicated mobile apps, its deep integrations and customizable environment offer a powerful and efficient writing workflow. It truly shines for those who engage in long-form writing and require structured knowledge management.
Best For
- •Academic writers and researchers
- •Users employing the Zettelkasten method
- •Anyone seeking a privacy-focused Markdown editor
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask zettlrWhat is Zettlr?
Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor crafted with the needs of writers and academics in mind. It aims to simplify the process of organizing vast amounts of text, enabling users to focus on content creation without the distractions of traditional word processors. The application supports various Markdown functionalities and offers robust features for managing research, notes, and extensive writing projects. Developed by Hendrik Erz starting in 2017, Zettlr's name is inspired by the German word 'Zettel,' meaning 'note,' reflecting its core purpose as a powerful note-taking and knowledge management tool. It's built on Electron, allowing it to run seamlessly across macOS, Windows, and Linux, and prides itself on user privacy by keeping all data locally stored and offering an offline-first experience.
Deep Dive: Zettlr
Zettlr transcends the basic Markdown editor, offering a sophisticated platform for serious writing, research, and knowledge organization. Its architecture and design principles are tailored to foster a distraction-free and efficient workflow, making it a compelling choice for a particular niche of users.
History & Background
Zettlr's journey began in November 2017 when its creator, Hendrik Erz, identified a need for a Markdown editor specifically designed for efficient text organization, contrasting with tools primarily catering to engineers. The project, named after the German word for 'note,' quickly gained traction among academics and students. Version 1.0 arrived in December 2018, followed by a significant overhaul with version 2.0 in October 2021. The latest major iteration, Zettlr 4.0, was released in December 2025, introducing advanced features like a new table editor and integrated PDF/image viewers, demonstrating continuous evolution to meet user demands.
How It Works
Under the hood, Zettlr is an Electron-based application crafted using JavaScript and TypeScript, leveraging CodeMirror as its embedded editor. This cross-platform framework allows it to deliver a consistent experience across macOS, Windows, and Linux. A core architectural principle is user privacy, ensuring all files remain locally on the user's machine, eliminating forced cloud syncing or telemetry. Zettlr's design also incorporates the ability to work with workspaces and folders, providing a flexible structure for managing diverse projects, and relies on external tools like Pandoc for its versatile export functionalities.
Ecosystem & Integrations
The Zettlr ecosystem extends beyond the application itself, encompassing a vibrant community and a range of integrations. It offers robust support for citation managers like Zotero and JabRef, crucial for academic workflows. Furthermore, Zettlr integrates with Pandoc and can utilize LaTeX for highly customizable document exports, enabling users to generate camera-ready drafts. The community actively contributes to translations and development, fostering a collaborative environment. This collective effort enhances Zettlr's capabilities and ensures its relevance within various writing and research pipelines.
Future Development
The future of Zettlr includes ongoing enhancements driven by user feedback and the developer's vision. Key areas of focus have included making tabs more versatile to display various content types beyond text files, such as PDFs and images, and integrating the graph view directly into tabs. The development team also plans to refine the file system manager for improved efficiency and better integrate tools like Quarto for expanded export capabilities, ensuring Zettlr remains a cutting-edge tool for writers and researchers.
Key Features
Markdown Editing with Live Preview
Zettlr provides a versatile Markdown editing experience, combining the simplicity of plain text with helpful real-time rendering of elements like bold text, italics, headers, and images. It allows users to concentrate on writing while offering a clear view of how their content will appear without requiring a separate preview pane.
Integrated Citation Management
A significant asset for academics, Zettlr seamlessly connects with reference managers such as Zotero and JabRef. This integration simplifies the insertion and management of citations within documents, streamlining the research and writing workflow for scholarly work.
Project and Workspace Organization
The application is structured around workspaces and projects, allowing users to categorize and manage their Markdown files efficiently. Workspaces function as top-level containers for folders of notes, and projects enable the export of multiple related files into a single, cohesive document, like a PDF for a book or paper.
Flexible Export Options
Zettlr boasts extensive export capabilities, leveraging tools like Pandoc and LaTeX. Users can transform their Markdown documents into various formats, including HTML, PDF, ODT, DOCX, and more, with customizable export settings and support for personal LaTeX templates.
Zettelkasten Support and Internal Linking
Embracing the Zettelkasten method, Zettlr facilitates the creation of interconnected notes. It supports unique note IDs, wiki-style internal links, and a visual graph view, empowering users to build a personal knowledge management system that mirrors their thought processes.
Who Should Use Zettlr?
1Academic Researcher
A university researcher is drafting a lengthy thesis, requiring consistent citation formatting and the organization of hundreds of individual research notes. Zettlr's integration with reference managers means they can easily insert citations and generate bibliographies, while its project features allow them to combine numerous Markdown files into a single, perfectly formatted PDF for submission, eliminating manual formatting hassles. The Zettelkasten approach helps them connect ideas across diverse notes, aiding in complex analytical work.
2Creative Writer
A novelist is outlining a new book, with each chapter and character profile stored as separate Markdown files. Zettlr's workspace feature keeps all these narrative components organized within a single project. The ability to link related notes, like character backgrounds to specific plot points, helps maintain continuity. When ready for a draft, they can export all project files into a single DOCX, preserving their focus on the creative flow throughout the writing process.
3Journalist/Content Creator
An investigative journalist gathers information from various sources, making extensive notes and cross-referencing facts. Zettlr allows them to maintain a personal knowledge base, with quick search functions to retrieve specific details from a vast collection of Markdown files. Snippets automate the insertion of boilerplate text, and robust export options enable them to easily deliver content in multiple formats for different publications or platforms.
How to Install Zettlr on Mac
Installing Zettlr on your macOS device is a straightforward process, providing you with a powerful Markdown editor in just a few steps. You can choose between a direct download or using a package manager like Homebrew.
1
Download the DMG File
Visit the official Zettlr website and navigate to their download section. Locate the macOS version that matches your Mac's processor architecture (Intel or Apple Silicon) and download the .dmg file.
2
Mount the Disk Image
Once the download is complete, double-click the .dmg file. This action will mount the disk image, presenting you with a window containing the Zettlr application icon.
3
Drag to Applications Folder
Drag the Zettlr application icon from the mounted disk image window directly into your Applications folder. This will copy the application to your system, making it accessible from your Launchpad and Finder.
4
Alternatively: Install with Homebrew
If you use Homebrew, macOS's popular package manager, open your Terminal and execute the command `brew install --cask zettlr`. Homebrew will handle the download and installation process for you, pulling the latest official release.
Pro Tips
- • Ensure your macOS is running version 11.6.0 or newer for optimal compatibility.
- • After installation, consider running the initial setup wizard to quickly configure core preferences.
- • If you experience issues, consult the official Zettlr documentation or community forums for troubleshooting.
- • Regularly check for updates via the app's settings (if not using a package manager) to access new features and bug fixes.
Configuration Tips
Customize Your Appearance with Themes and CSS
Zettlr allows extensive visual customization. Beyond the five built-in themes and dark modes, you can fine-tune the interface using custom CSS. This enables you to adjust fonts, colors, and layout to create a truly personalized writing environment that suits your aesthetic preferences.
Optimize Export Workflows with Pandoc and LaTeX
For academic users, mastering Zettlr's export settings is key. Ensure Pandoc and LaTeX (specifically XeLaTeX for advanced PDF options) are correctly installed and configured. Explore creating custom export profiles and Lua filters to precisely control the output format, citations, and styling of your final documents.
Enhance Note Linking and Retrieval with Zettelkasten Settings
To fully leverage Zettlr's Zettelkasten capabilities, delve into the Zettelkasten settings. You can modify the note ID pattern, refine how links are resolved, and experiment with full-text search options to build a highly interconnected and searchable knowledge base. Consider how file IDs and titles interact for efficient linking.
Alternatives to Zettlr
While Zettlr offers a unique blend of features for academic and creative writing, several other Markdown editors and note-taking applications cater to similar needs, each with its own strengths.
O
Obsidian
Obsidian is a popular alternative known for its strong focus on a personal knowledge base and an extensive plugin ecosystem. While Zettlr offers more out-of-the-box academic writing features like citation management, Obsidian excels in flexible note interlinking, graph visualization, and a vast array of community-contributed extensions. It often feels snappier for daily note-taking, though Zettlr's export options are more robust for formal publication.
J
Joplin
Joplin provides an open-source solution for note-taking and to-do lists, with robust synchronization options across multiple devices. Unlike Zettlr's local-first approach, Joplin is built with syncing in mind, offering encryption for privacy. While both support Markdown, Zettlr has a stronger emphasis on academic features and complex document export, whereas Joplin is more generalized for overall note organization and cross-device access.
U
Ulysses
Ulysses is a premium writing environment specifically for Apple devices, known for its elegant, distraction-free interface and excellent document management. Compared to Zettlr's open-source and cross-platform nature, Ulysses offers a more curated experience for Mac, iPad, and iPhone users with seamless iCloud syncing. While it has good Markdown support, Zettlr's deep academic integrations and comprehensive export through Pandoc provide a distinct advantage for scholarly work.
Pricing
Free and Open Source
Zettlr operates on a completely free and open-source model. This means there are no upfront costs, subscription fees, or hidden charges to use the software. It is developed and maintained by a dedicated community, supported primarily through voluntary donations. Users benefit from full access to all features without any restrictions, making it an incredibly cost-effective solution for anyone needing a robust Markdown editor for writing, research, and personal knowledge management.
Pros
- ✓Completely free and open-source, promoting accessibility and user control.
- ✓Strong support for academic writing with citation management and flexible export options.
- ✓Privacy-focused, storing all data locally with no forced cloud synchronization or telemetry.
- ✓Cross-platform availability (macOS, Windows, Linux) for consistent workflow across devices.
- ✓Comprehensive Zettelkasten methodology support, including internal links and graph views.
- ✓Highly customizable interface with themes, dark modes, and CSS adjustments.
Cons
- ✗May present a learning curve for new users due to its extensive feature set.
- ✗Primarily designed for desktop, with limited official mobile support.
- ✗Some users have reported occasional performance issues with extremely large projects or notes.
- ✗Relies on external tools like Pandoc and LaTeX for full export functionality, which might require additional setup.
Community & Ecosystem
Zettlr boasts a lively and supportive community that plays a crucial role in its development and user assistance. As an open-source project, contributions from users and developers alike are highly valued. The community gathers on various platforms, including a dedicated GitHub repository where feature discussions and bug reports are actively managed, and a Reddit forum for sharing workflows and asking questions. For more immediate communication, there's a Discord server, and new developments are often announced on Twitter. This ecosystem fosters a collaborative environment where users can get help, share insights, and directly contribute to Zettlr's evolution, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of its diverse user base. The official documentation is also a community-driven effort, with translations often provided by volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zettlr
Yes, Zettlr is entirely free and open-source software. There are no costs associated with downloading, installing, or using any of its features. Its development is sustained through voluntary donations from its user base.
Our Verdict
4.5/5
Zettlr stands out as an exceptional, free, and open-source Markdown editor, particularly well-suited for academics, researchers, and serious writers on Mac. Its robust features for citation management, project organization, and extensive export capabilities make it a formidable alternative to many proprietary word processors. The commitment to privacy and local file storage is a significant advantage, empowering users with complete control over their data. While it may present a slight learning curve for some and lacks official dedicated mobile apps, its deep integrations and customizable environment offer a powerful and efficient writing workflow. It truly shines for those who engage in long-form writing and require structured knowledge management.
Best for:Academic writers and researchersUsers employing the Zettelkasten methodAnyone seeking a privacy-focused Markdown editor
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Productivity ApplicationsNote-Taking & Knowledge ManagementTask & Project Management
8+ years in operations management · PMP certified
Related Technologies & Concepts
MarkdownPandocZettelkasten
Markdown (Core technology used by Zettlr), Pandoc (Integrated tool for document conversion and export), Zettelkasten (Supported methodology for note organization)
Related Topics
Markdown Editors for macOS
This cluster focuses on applications designed for writing and editing using Markdown syntax on Apple's macOS operating system, covering various features, functionalities, and user experiences.
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Zettlr started development in November 2017.[cite-zettlr-2]
- Zettlr is built on Electron.[cite-zettlr-2]
- Zettlr is open-source and free to use.[cite-zettlr-4]
- Zettlr allows exporting files to HTML, PDF, ODT, and DOCX.[cite-zettlr-2]
- Zettlr integrates with reference managers like Zotero.[cite-zettlr-4]
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- 40
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