Markdown Editing Tools

Markdown is plain text, so any text editor can open and save .md files. The tools below add features that make the writing experience significantly better: live preview, frontmatter highlighting, spell check, and Markdown-specific shortcuts.

Desktop Editors

Visual Studio Code

code.visualstudio.com — Free, cross-platform

VS Code is the most versatile option. The built-in Markdown preview (Ctrl+Shift+V / Cmd+Shift+V) renders your article alongside the source. Install these extensions for a better writing experience:

Useful VS Code shortcuts for Markdown:

Typora

typora.io — Paid (one-time licence), macOS / Windows / Linux

Typora takes a different approach: it hides the Markdown syntax and renders everything in place as you type. Headings look like headings. Bold text appears bold. The raw syntax only shows when your cursor is on that element. This makes it the closest to a word processor while still writing plain Markdown.

It handles frontmatter correctly — the YAML block at the top is displayed as a metadata panel rather than raw text. For writers who find switching between raw Markdown and preview disorienting, Typora removes that friction entirely.

Obsidian

obsidian.md — Free for personal use, cross-platform

Obsidian is primarily a knowledge base tool, but it is an excellent Markdown editor. Its split-pane view (source on the left, rendered preview on the right) updates in real time. The built-in graph view is not relevant for article writing, but the editor itself — fast, clean, good typography — is worth using on its own.

Useful for writers who are drafting multiple related articles and want to link between them while writing.

iA Writer

ia.net/writer — Paid, macOS / iOS / Windows / Android

iA Writer is designed exclusively for distraction-free writing. Its focus mode greys out everything except the current sentence. The live preview exports cleanly to PDF, Word, or HTML. It supports frontmatter (rendered as a metadata panel) and has a custom “Content Blocks” feature for embedding files — not needed for LinkPress, but the core writing environment is excellent.

Browser-Based Editors

StackEdit

stackedit.io — Free, browser-based

StackEdit provides a two-panel interface (Markdown source on the left, rendered preview on the right) that works entirely in the browser with no installation. It saves drafts to your browser’s local storage or to Google Drive. Good for quick edits or for contributors who prefer not to install desktop software.

Dillinger

dillinger.io — Free, browser-based

Minimalist split-view editor with instant preview. Exports to Markdown, HTML, or PDF. Connects to Dropbox, Google Drive, GitHub, and OneDrive for saving. The interface is simpler than StackEdit — useful for straightforward editing without extra features.

Grammar and Style

Grammarly

grammarly.com — Freemium, browser extension / desktop app

Grammarly checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. The free tier covers most grammar issues. The Premium tier adds suggestions for clarity and conciseness — particularly useful for trimming the passive voice and overly complex sentences that make business writing hard to read.

The browser extension works inside StackEdit and Dillinger. For VS Code, paste your text into the Grammarly desktop app for a check before submitting.

Hemingway Editor

hemingwayapp.com — Free (browser), paid (desktop)

Hemingway highlights sentences that are too long, uses passive voice, or contain adverbs and complex phrases. It grades your text by reading level. The target for LinkPress articles is Grade 9–11 — accessible to a professional reader without being oversimplified.

Paste your finished draft into Hemingway as a final check before submitting. It won’t fix your argument, but it will catch the sentences that make readers re-read a paragraph.

Choosing a Tool