{
"$comment": "Single source of truth for the website comparison tables. Every fact carries the product-level verified_at + official_source; regenerate index.html with `node build-comparison.mjs` (or --check in CI). Values reflect the vendor's public material on the verification date; na = their material did not establish it.",
"research_basis": "docs/COMPETITOR_COMPARISON.md adversarial review, 16 July 2026; Bear, Typora and Lettera detailed reviews, 17 July 2026",
"legend": "“Yes/No” reflect each vendor's current public material as of the verification date shown under its name. “Not advertised” or “Not verified” means the vendor's material did not establish the capability, not that it is impossible. Prices are public US prices and can change.",
"groups": [
{
"id": "finder-viewers",
"title": "Finder-first viewers",
"blurb": "Apps whose job starts with pressing space in Finder. This is Twain's home group.",
"attributes": [
{ "key": "ql", "label": "Finder Quick Look" },
{ "key": "mdx_ql", "label": "Opens .mdx from Finder" },
{ "key": "mdx_semantic", "label": "Renders MDX components as UI" },
{ "key": "editor", "label": "Editing" },
{ "key": "math_mermaid", "label": "Maths and Mermaid" },
{ "key": "local_images", "label": "Local relative images" },
{ "key": "ai_review", "label": "Review / AI workflow" },
{ "key": "os_floor", "label": "Minimum macOS" },
{ "key": "price", "label": "Price" }
],
"products": [
{
"name": "Twain", "us": true,
"facts": {
"ql": { "v": "Yes (MD + MDX)", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_ql": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_semantic": { "v": "Yes: safe allowlist, labelled unknowns", "cls": "yes" },
"editor": { "v": "Pro: block-based visual editor, tables edited in place; source for MDX", "cls": "yes" },
"math_mermaid": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"local_images": { "v": "In the app (not in Quick Look)", "cls": "partial" },
"ai_review": { "v": "Diagnostics, anchored notes, rendered diff, AI report, live refresh", "cls": "yes" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 14+" },
"price": { "html": "Free / $19 Pro, one-time, all your Macs; 7-day Pro trial" }
}
},
{
"name": "Peekdown", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://peekdown.app/",
"facts": {
"ql": { "v": "Yes (MD + MDX)", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_ql": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_semantic": { "v": "Opens MDX; strips or displays JSX", "cls": "partial" },
"editor": { "v": "Yes: source with live preview", "cls": "yes" },
"math_mermaid": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"local_images": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"ai_review": { "v": "Annotations export as AI prompts; auto-reload", "cls": "yes" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 15+" },
"price": { "v": "$3.99 one-time" }
}
},
{
"name": "Glance", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://glance.md/",
"facts": {
"ql": { "v": "Yes (MD)", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_ql": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"mdx_semantic": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"editor": { "v": "Read-only by design", "cls": "no" },
"math_mermaid": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"local_images": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"ai_review": { "v": "Positions for reading AI output; intentionally tiny", "cls": "na" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 14+" },
"price": { "v": "Free (beta)" }
}
},
{
"name": "MacMD Viewer", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://macmdviewer.com/features",
"facts": {
"ql": { "v": "Yes (MD)", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx_ql": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"mdx_semantic": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"editor": { "v": "Read-only", "cls": "no" },
"math_mermaid": { "v": "Mermaid, code and tables", "cls": "yes" },
"local_images": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"ai_review": { "v": "Live reload, URL scheme", "cls": "partial" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 14+" },
"price": { "v": "$19.99 one-time" }
}
},
{
"name": "Marked 3 + Marked QL", "verified_at": "2026-07-20", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://markedapp.com/",
"note": "Marked 3 (3.1.12) shipped May 2026 and takes point releases most months; Marked 2 is maintenance-only and still sold at $14.99. Marked QL is a separate $9.99 Mac App Store app, released 9 July 2026, working with or without Marked 3, and still lists dark mode as coming soon.",
"facts": {
"ql": { "v": "Via Marked QL: separate $9.99 app", "cls": "partial" },
"mdx_ql": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"mdx_semantic": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"editor": { "v": "No; pairs with your editor", "cls": "no" },
"math_mermaid": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"local_images": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"ai_review": { "v": "Proofing, CriticMarkup, processors, mk CLI, AppleScript; no rendered diff", "cls": "yes" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 12.4+ (Marked QL 13+)" },
"price": { "v": "$69.99 permanent (intro) or $2.99/month; QL $9.99" }
}
}
]
},
{
"id": "editors-publishers",
"title": "Document editors and publishers",
"blurb": "Writing and publishing workstations. Twain covers reading, review and block-based editing, and exports HTML, PDF and presentations; their pipelines add formats like DOCX and EPUB.",
"attributes": [
{ "key": "job", "label": "Primary job" },
{ "key": "platforms", "label": "Platforms" },
{ "key": "os_floor", "label": "Minimum macOS" },
{ "key": "export", "label": "Export and publishing" },
{ "key": "automation", "label": "CLI / automation" },
{ "key": "mdx", "label": "MDX" },
{ "key": "ql", "label": "Finder Quick Look" },
{ "key": "price", "label": "Price" }
],
"products": [
{
"name": "Twain", "us": true,
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Read, review and edit Markdown/MDX" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 14+" },
"export": { "v": "Self-contained HTML (images embedded), PDF/print, presentations (Pro)", "cls": "partial" },
"automation": { "v": "CLI on npm (twain-md: check, render, export, inventory); read-only MCP server ships in the app", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx": { "v": "Yes: safe component rendering", "cls": "yes" },
"ql": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"price": { "html": "Free / $19 Pro, one-time, all your Macs; 7-day Pro trial" }
}
},
{
"name": "Lettera", "verified_at": "2026-07-17", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://lettera.md/",
"note": "In public TestFlight beta since 18 June 2026 and currently full behind a waitlist, so it cannot be bought or downloaded today. Shiny Frog (the Bear team) has not announced a price or a pricing model. Mermaid and MathJax had shipped by 1 July 2026.",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Native Markdown editor for files on disk" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS only" },
"os_floor": { "v": "macOS 26 (Tahoe) only, by the vendor's stated choice" },
"export": { "v": "PDF, PNG, JPG, ePub; copy as HTML, RTF, TXT or Markdown", "cls": "yes" },
"automation": { "v": "No CLI or MCP", "cls": "no" },
"mdx": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "Not announced", "cls": "na" }
}
},
{
"name": "Markd.ly", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "medium",
"source": "https://bravely.dev/markdly",
"note": "Its own pages conflict on platforms and price; treat with care.",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Document editor and publishing workstation" },
"platforms": { "v": "Claims macOS, Windows and Linux (its pages conflict)" },
"os_floor": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"export": { "v": "HTML/PDF + Pandoc DOCX, EPUB, LaTeX, RTF, Reveal.js, Beamer", "cls": "yes" },
"automation": { "v": "CLI, Vim mode, snippets, macOS MCP", "cls": "yes" },
"mdx": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"ql": { "v": "Not advertised", "cls": "na" },
"price": { "v": "$19.99 one-time (current main page)" }
}
},
{
"name": "Typora", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://support.typora.io/purchase/",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "In-place Markdown authoring" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS, Windows, Linux" },
"os_floor": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"export": { "v": "PDF/HTML/image; Pandoc-backed DOCX/RTF; custom commands", "cls": "yes" },
"automation": { "v": "Custom themes and export commands", "cls": "partial" },
"mdx": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "$14.99, up to three devices; 15-day trial" }
}
},
{
"name": "iA Writer", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://ia.net/writer/pricing",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Minimal long-form writing" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS, Windows, iPhone, iPad (separate purchases)" },
"os_floor": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"export": { "v": "HTML, PDF, DOCX and publishing flows", "cls": "yes" },
"automation": { "v": "Not central", "cls": "na" },
"mdx": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "Mac $49.99; Windows $29.99; iPhone+iPad $49.99" }
}
},
{
"name": "Ulysses", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://ulysses.app/en/pricing/",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Managed long-form writing and publishing" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS, iPhone, iPad" },
"os_floor": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"export": { "v": "Blogs, ebooks, PDF, DOCX", "cls": "yes" },
"automation": { "v": "Not central", "cls": "na" },
"mdx": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "$5.99/month or $39.99/year" }
}
},
{
"name": "Caret", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://caret.io/",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Minimal productivity-focused Markdown editor" },
"platforms": { "v": "macOS, Windows, Linux" },
"os_floor": { "v": "Not verified", "cls": "na" },
"export": { "v": "Not central", "cls": "na" },
"automation": { "v": "Not central", "cls": "na" },
"mdx": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "$29 licence" }
}
}
]
},
{
"id": "knowledge-systems",
"title": "Knowledge systems",
"blurb": "A different category: databases, sync and collaboration. Twain opens the plain files these systems manage, straight from Finder, with no import step and no vault.",
"attributes": [
{ "key": "job", "label": "Primary job" },
{ "key": "storage", "label": "Content model" },
{ "key": "md_files", "label": "Plain Markdown files" },
{ "key": "sync_collab", "label": "Sync and collaboration" },
{ "key": "ql", "label": "Finder Quick Look" },
{ "key": "price", "label": "Price" }
],
"products": [
{
"name": "Twain", "us": true,
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "File-first viewer/editor; a vault-friendly companion" },
"storage": { "v": "Your plain files, wherever they live" },
"md_files": { "v": "Yes (+ MDX)", "cls": "yes" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "None: files stay yours to sync", "cls": "no" },
"ql": { "v": "Yes", "cls": "yes" },
"price": { "html": "Free / $19 Pro, one-time, all your Macs; 7-day Pro trial" }
}
},
{
"name": "Obsidian", "verified_at": "2026-07-20", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://obsidian.md/pricing.html",
"note": "Public release 1.12.7; 1.13.x is Catalyst-only early access. The commercial licence became optional in February 2025, so business use is free. Opening individual Markdown files outside a vault is listed as planned on Obsidian's public roadmap, not shipped.",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Local-first personal knowledge base" },
"storage": { "v": "Plain Markdown files in vaults" },
"md_files": { "v": "Yes, inside a vault", "cls": "yes" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "Optional paid Sync and Publish", "cls": "partial" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "Free, no account; paid Sync/Publish" }
}
},
{
"name": "Bear", "verified_at": "2026-07-17", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://bear.app/",
"note": "Bear 2.9 at verification. 2.5 added LaTeX maths (MathJax); 2.8 added BearCLI, an MCP server and a Claude Connector; a web app is in free beta at web.bear.app. It cannot open external .md files in place: import copies them into its database.",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Apple-native notes system" },
"storage": { "v": "Managed note database; Markdown export" },
"md_files": { "v": "Export only; cannot open external files in place", "cls": "partial" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "iCloud sync (subscription); web app in free beta", "cls": "yes" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "$2.99/month or $29.99/year" }
}
},
{
"name": "Joplin", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://joplinapp.org/plans/",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Open-source synced notes and tasks" },
"storage": { "v": "Markdown notes in an app-managed store (open format)" },
"md_files": { "v": "Managed store", "cls": "partial" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "Several sync options; Joplin Cloud from €2.99/month", "cls": "yes" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "App free; optional Joplin Cloud" }
}
},
{
"name": "Inkdrop", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://www.inkdrop.app/",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Developer-focused synced Markdown notes" },
"storage": { "v": "Managed notebook with encrypted sync" },
"md_files": { "v": "Managed store", "cls": "partial" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "Encrypted sync included", "cls": "yes" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "About $9.98/month or $99.8/year; 30-day trial" }
}
},
{
"name": "Notion", "verified_at": "2026-07-16", "confidence": "high",
"source": "https://www.notion.com/pricing",
"facts": {
"job": { "v": "Collaborative cloud workspace and database" },
"storage": { "v": "Cloud block database; Markdown import/export" },
"md_files": { "v": "Import/export only", "cls": "partial" },
"sync_collab": { "v": "Realtime collaboration built in", "cls": "yes" },
"ql": { "v": "No", "cls": "no" },
"price": { "v": "Free and paid workspace plans" }
}
}
]
}
]
}