Overview
Zettlr is an open-source Markdown editor designed for researchers and writers, featuring built-in Zettelkasten workflows, Pandoc-powered export, and Zotero/BibTeX citation management. It stores notes as plain Markdown files on your filesystem with no proprietary database. Ships as a desktop Electron app for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Where it falls short of Notion
- No mobile app; desktop-only experience limits on-the-go access
- No real-time collaboration or multi-user sync; single-user only
- Cloud sync relies entirely on third-party tools (Dropbox, Syncthing, etc.)
We list the gaps honestly so you can decide if the trade-off is worth owning your data.
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