remark vs Slidev
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 tool that turns Markdown text into a browser-based slideshow.
Open source · MIT
Write presentation slides in Markdown, rendered with Vue and Vite.
The short answer
Choose remark if you need…
- People comfortable with HTML and CSS who want slides written in Markdown
- Developers or teachers who want a presentation they can version-control as plain text
- Presenters who want a speaker-notes view with a cloned display
Choose Slidev if you need…
- Developers who want to present code, technical talks, or architecture diagrams
- People comfortable editing Markdown and who prefer version-controlled slides
- Teams that want slides stored alongside project files in a Git repository
- Anyone who wants to present from a second window or phone using presenter mode
Side-by-side
| remark | Slidev | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 13k | 49.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 2 years ago | 14 days ago |
What each one is
remark
remark is a JavaScript library that renders a slideshow in a web browser from Markdown text placed inside an HTML file. You write slides separated by dividers, open the page, and it displays them. It is aimed at people who already know some HTML and CSS, since styling is done with ordinary CSS.
Slidev
Slidev is an open-source tool for making presentation slides using Markdown files. You write your slides as text, and it renders them in a web browser with code highlighting, math, diagrams, and Vue components. It can export slides to PDF, PNG, or PPTX.
Best for
remark
- People comfortable with HTML and CSS who want slides written in Markdown
- Developers or teachers who want a presentation they can version-control as plain text
- Presenters who want a speaker-notes view with a cloned display
Slidev
- Developers who want to present code, technical talks, or architecture diagrams
- People comfortable editing Markdown and who prefer version-controlled slides
- Teams that want slides stored alongside project files in a Git repository
- Anyone who wants to present from a second window or phone using presenter mode
Strengths
remark
- Simple model: one HTML file with Markdown slides inside
- Presenter mode with speaker notes and a cloned view
- Works on touch devices with swipe navigation
Slidev
- Slides are plain Markdown files, so they work well with Git and any text editor
- Built on Vite, so changes reload quickly while editing
- Themes can be shared as npm packages and it supports a large set of icons
Not ideal for
remark
- Non-technical users who want a visual slide editor, since the README describes editing HTML and Markdown by hand
- People who need an offline presentation without building remark first, since the README notes the local boilerplate requires a build step
- Users who need built-in PDF export, since the README says PDF output relies mainly on Chrome's Print to PDF and styling is not exact
Slidev
- People who need a visual drag-and-drop slide editor, since Slidev is text-based (the README mentions an integrated editor, but its depth is not described here)
- Users who cannot install Node.js, since the local setup requires Node.js 22.12.0 or newer
- Those who only need simple slides and do not want to learn Markdown syntax and Vue features
Trade-offs
remark
- Targeted at people who know HTML and CSS, so it is not a point-and-click tool
- PDF export styling is not guaranteed to match the browser view
- The README's boilerplate loads resources from remote URLs, so an internet connection is typically needed unless you build locally
Slidev
- Requires a Node.js development environment, which may be a barrier for non-developers
- Visual design customization relies on CSS utilities and Vue knowledge for advanced changes
- The README does not detail the export quality or limitations of each export format
Getting started
remark
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/gnab/remarkFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between remark and Slidev?
remark: A simple tool that turns Markdown text into a browser-based slideshow. Slidev: Write presentation slides in Markdown, rendered with Vue and Vite. remark suits people comfortable with html and css who want slides written in markdown, while Slidev suits developers who want to present code, technical talks, or architecture diagrams.
Are remark and Slidev free?
remark: Free and open source. Slidev: Free and open source.
Is remark or Slidev more popular?
Slidev has more GitHub stars (49.3k) than remark (13k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to remark and Slidev?
Other options people compare them with include reveal.js, Marp, impress.js, Showdown, Turndown.
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.