# Zettlr

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Markdown editor for researchers

Category: Productivity · Free · Open source · Replaces Ulysses ($50/yr) · [Official website](https://zettlr.com)

## Install with Homebrew

`brew install --cask zettlr`

## Quick take

Pick Zettlr 4.7 if you draft long-form work on Mac and care more about file ownership, citations, and Pandoc exports than about a plugin marketplace. The 4.x line is still shipping (4.6.0 in June 2026, 4.7.0 on the download page), with separate Apple Silicon builds and no subscription wall. Skip it if you live inside Obsidian's community plugins or want Typora-level WYSIWYG polish out of the box.

Best for: Students and researchers writing with citations, Writers who want FOSS local Markdown, Users exporting to Word, LaTeX, or PDF via Pandoc

## What is Zettlr?

Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor aimed at long-form writing, academic work, and Zettelkasten-style knowledge bases. It sits between bare Markdown previewers and heavyweight note ecosystems: you write in plain files on disk, get live previews, cite sources, export through Pandoc, and keep ownership of your library without a proprietary database vault.

As of August 2026 Zettlr is actively maintained. The current download line is version 4.7.0, after a steady 4.x cadence that included 4.5.0 (May 2026), 4.6.0 (13 June 2026 with usability and snippet-trigger improvements), and further 4.7.x polish with macOS fixes. Official downloads require macOS 12 or newer and ship separate Intel and Apple Silicon builds. Installation via Homebrew cask remains supported. There is still no paid product tier. The project is donation- and supporter-funded FOSS under GPL-family licensing.

Writers pick Zettlr when they want academic citations, project and file management, and Pandoc export without renting a notes SaaS. It competes with Obsidian (plugin gravity), Typora (polished WYSIWYG, paid), iA Writer (focused prose), Logseq (outliner and graph), and Word processors that fight Markdown. AI features are not the product center; this is a writing workbench first. If you need multiplayer AI agents, look elsewhere. If you need reproducible exports to DOCX, PDF, or LaTeX from Markdown, Zettlr is still one of the best free Mac options.

## Features

- **Markdown-first writing with preview.** Edit Markdown with helpful rendering, attachments, and a file manager built for multi-file projects rather than a single infinite canvas.
- **Citations and academic workflows.** Cite-while-you-write patterns using bibliography managers and CSL-style tooling, plus exports that academics need for papers and theses.
- **Pandoc-powered export.** Export to HTML, DOCX, ODT, PDF, LaTeX, and more by leaning on Pandoc, which matters when you submit work outside the Markdown bubble.
- **Projects, tags, and Zettelkasten links.** Organize notes with folders, projects, tags, and internal links suited to Zettelkasten or research corpora without forcing a proprietary graph database.
- **Snippets, dark mode, and customization.** Snippets (including configurable trigger characters in 4.6+), themes, and preferences aimed at daily writing comfort.
- **Cross-platform FOSS builds.** macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Windows, and Linux packages including Homebrew, direct DMG, and community package repositories.
- **Local-first files.** Your notes are ordinary files you can sync with iCloud, Git, Syncthing, or a plain disk. No mandatory cloud lock-in.

## How to Install Zettlr on Mac

Zettlr 4.7.x supports macOS 12+ with distinct Intel and Apple Silicon downloads.

1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask zettlr` to pull the latest cask release.
2. **Or download from zettlr.com.** Pick Apple Silicon or Intel from https://www.zettlr.com/download and open the DMG.
3. **Install Pandoc (recommended).** Install Pandoc (and a LaTeX distribution if you need PDF via LaTeX) so export presets work fully.
4. **Open a folder as a workspace.** Point Zettlr at your notes directory and configure citation paths if you use a reference manager.

## Pros

- Completely free academic-grade Markdown workbench
- Strong Pandoc export path to Word, PDF, and LaTeX
- Local-first files with Apple Silicon builds
- Active 4.x releases through 2026
- Citations and project tools without SaaS lock-in

## Cons

- Not as plugin-infinite as Obsidian
- WYSIWYG polish trails paid Typora for some tastes
- PDF quality depends on your Pandoc and LaTeX setup
- Collaboration is file-based, not realtime multi-cursor
- Learning curve for citation export pipelines

## Closer look: why academics still install Zettlr

Plain files, citations, and Pandoc beat yet another AI notes wrapper for thesis work.

## FAQ

### Is Zettlr free in 2026?

Yes. The app is FOSS with optional donations. There is no Pro unlock wall.

### What is the current version?

4.7.0 is the current download version advertised on zettlr.com/download as of this refresh, with 4.6.0 documented in June 2026 release notes.

### Does Zettlr support Apple Silicon?

Yes. Official ARM64 macOS builds are provided separately from Intel builds.

### Can Zettlr replace Microsoft Word?

For drafting, often yes, especially with Pandoc DOCX export. Collaborative Track Changes workflows may still end in Word or Google Docs.

### Zettlr vs Obsidian?

Obsidian wins plugins and graph community; Zettlr wins straightforward academic export and a writing-app posture without vault plugin maintenance.

### Do I need Pandoc?

For serious multi-format export, yes. Install Pandoc (and LaTeX for certain PDF routes) alongside Zettlr.

### Where are my files stored?

In ordinary folders you choose. Sync with Git, iCloud Drive, Syncthing, or any file sync you trust.

### Is there built-in AI?

Zettlr is not an AI-first editor. You can pair external tools, but the core product remains a Markdown writing workbench.

## Sources

- [Zettlr Download](https://www.zettlr.com/download)
- [Zettlr home](https://www.zettlr.com/)
- [Zettlr 4.6.0 release post](https://zettlr.com/post/zettlr-460-released)
- [Zettlr changelog](https://www.zettlr.com/changelog)
- [GitHub releases](https://github.com/Zettlr/Zettlr/releases)
- [Star History markdown editors note](https://www.star-history.com/blog/standalone-markdown-editor)

## Related

- [Raycast](https://bundl.run/apps/raycast)
- [Notion](https://bundl.run/apps/notion)
- [Obsidian](https://bundl.run/apps/obsidian)
- [Loom](https://bundl.run/apps/loom)
- [Linear](https://bundl.run/apps/linear-linear)
- [Grammarly](https://bundl.run/apps/grammarly-desktop)
- [Zettlr vs Obsidian](https://bundl.run/compare/zettlr-vs-obsidian)
- [Free alternative to Ulysses](https://bundl.run/https:/)

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