MarkText vs VS Code
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A simple, distraction-free markdown editor for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Open source · MIT
Microsoft's open-source code editor, the base of Visual Studio Code, for writing and debugging code.
Our verdict
MarkText is a simple, distraction-free editor for writing Markdown notes, articles and docs, with live formatted preview as you type. VS Code is a full code editor for developers, extensible with add-ons and built for editing, building and debugging software. Both are free and MIT-licensed, but they serve different people: pick by whether you write prose or write code.
Pick MarkText if you write notes, articles or documents in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor on Linux, macOS or Windows.
Pick VS Code if you are a developer who needs a lightweight, extensible editor for writing and debugging code across many languages.
| Key difference | MarkText | VS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Writing and exporting Markdown documents with a live preview. | Editing, navigating and debugging source code across many languages. |
| Setup | Beginner-friendly; download the app and install. | Intermediate; the repo is built from source, which is more involved. |
| Resource needs | A simple desktop editor; requires macOS 13+ or Windows 10/11. | Building from source is resource-heavy, recommending 4 cores and 6 GB RAM. |
| Extensibility | Focus aids, math (KaTeX) and front matter; no extension system described. | Large extension model with many components in separate repositories. |
| Best at | Distraction-free writing with typewriter and focus modes. | Developer workflows, debugging and contributing to an active open-source project. |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose MarkText if you need…
- People who write notes or articles in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor
- Writers who want focus aids such as typewriter mode or focus mode
- Users who need math expressions (KaTeX) or front matter in their documents
- Anyone who wants a free, MIT-licensed editor on Linux, macOS or Windows
Choose VS Code if you need…
- Developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons
- People who want to read or modify the editor's source code
- Contributors who want to fix bugs or propose features in an active project
- Developers working across many languages who want built-in grammars and snippets
Side-by-side
| MarkText | VS Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 63.5k | 194k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
MarkText
MarkText is a desktop app for writing Markdown, the plain-text format used for notes, docs and blog posts. It shows formatted output as you type (a realtime preview) so you do not need to switch between raw code and a rendered view. It can also export documents to HTML and PDF.
VS Code
Visual Studio Code is a code editor that combines simple editing with the tools developers need for the edit, build, and debug cycle. It offers code editing, navigation, lightweight debugging, and an extension system. This repository is the open-source "Code - OSS" source; the official VS Code product is a distribution of it with Microsoft-specific additions under a separate license.
Best for
MarkText
- People who write notes or articles in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor
- Writers who want focus aids such as typewriter mode or focus mode
- Users who need math expressions (KaTeX) or front matter in their documents
- Anyone who wants a free, MIT-licensed editor on Linux, macOS or Windows
VS Code
- Developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons
- People who want to read or modify the editor's source code
- Contributors who want to fix bugs or propose features in an active project
- Developers working across many languages who want built-in grammars and snippets
Strengths
MarkText
- Realtime preview and a simple interface reduce distraction while writing
- Supports CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown specs, plus selected Pandoc syntax
- Free and open source under the MIT license, with installers for three operating systems
VS Code
- MIT licensed and developed in public by Microsoft with a published roadmap and monthly iteration plans
- Extensible through a large extension model, with many components living in separate repositories
- Includes a Dev Container and Codespaces setup for consistent development environments
Not ideal for
MarkText
- People who want a web-based or cloud-synced editor, since the README describes a desktop app only
- Users who need a full note-management system with linking and databases, as the README does not mention these features
- Users on older operating systems, since macOS 13 or later and Windows 10 or 11 are required
VS Code
- People who only need a basic text editor, since a full build of this project is resource-heavy (README recommends 4 cores and 6 GB RAM, 8 GB preferred)
- Users who want the official Microsoft product build; this repo is the open-source base, and the README says the official product has different licensing and customizations
- Non-developers looking for a general-purpose office or note-taking tool
Trade-offs
MarkText
- The README is truncated and gives limited detail on Linux installation, which is delegated to an external page
- Pandoc Markdown support is described only as selective, so some syntax may not work
- Relies on an external website for themes, installation and documentation details
VS Code
- Building from source requires significant hardware and Docker or a similar setup for the containerized route
- The README describes the official product as a Microsoft-licensed distribution, so the open-source build may differ from the downloadable product
- Some features and extensions live in other repositories, so the full experience is spread across projects
Getting started
MarkText
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install --cask mark-textInstall on Windows with Chocolatey
choco install marktextVS Code
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vscodeFrequently asked questions
Should I use MarkText or VS Code?
MarkText is a simple, distraction-free editor for writing Markdown notes, articles and docs, with live formatted preview as you type. VS Code is a full code editor for developers, extensible with add-ons and built for editing, building and debugging software. Both are free and MIT-licensed, but they serve different people: pick by whether you write prose or write code. Pick MarkText if you write notes, articles or documents in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor on Linux, macOS or Windows. Pick VS Code if you are a developer who needs a lightweight, extensible editor for writing and debugging code across many languages.
What is the difference between MarkText and VS Code?
MarkText: A simple, distraction-free markdown editor for Linux, macOS and Windows. VS Code: Microsoft's open-source code editor, the base of Visual Studio Code, for writing and debugging code. MarkText suits people who write notes or articles in markdown and want a clean, minimal editor, while VS Code suits developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons.
Are MarkText and VS Code free?
MarkText: Free and open source. VS Code: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, MarkText or VS Code?
MarkText is easier to get started with (rated beginner); VS Code is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is MarkText or VS Code more popular?
VS Code has more GitHub stars (194k) than MarkText (63.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to MarkText and VS Code?
Other options people compare them with include Pear Desktop, Kap, Medis, VSCodium.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.