PileMD
PileMD is a free and open-source note taking app that uses Markdown for formatting text. It has a simple interface for writing notes, to-do lists, journal entries, and more. PileMD allows organizing notes with tags and wikilinks.
markdown
notes
todo
journaling
wikilinks
opensource
PileMD: Free & Open-Source Markdown Note Taking App
A simple note-taking app using Markdown formatting, perfect for writing to-do lists, journal entries, and organizing notes with tags and wikilinks.
What is PileMD?
PileMD is a free, open-source note taking and task management application that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It uses the popular Markdown syntax for formatting text, allowing users to easily apply formatting like headings, bold, italics, links, code blocks, and more without complex menus and buttons.
The app features a clean, distraction-free interface focused solely on writing. Notes are organized into user-created piles, which function similarly to folders or tags. PileMD also supports backlinks and wikilinks to connect related content. Checkboxes can be used for basic task management and to-do lists.
Key features include:
- Native apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Distraction-free Markdown note taking interface
- Organize notes into custom piles
- Backlinks and wikilinks
- To-do list checkboxes
- Focus mode to eliminate on-screen clutter
- Local data storage, notes remain accessible offline
- Secure: notes are encrypted at rest
- Completely free and open source software
Overall, PileMD offers a simple but capable feature set for people looking for a basic Markdown-based note taking and writing app for their computer, with task management functionality and wiki-style connections to enhance contextual organization.
PileMD Features
Features
- Markdown formatting
- Basic note taking and writing
- Tagging and wikilinks for organization
- Syncing between devices
- Custom CSS styling
- Plugins and extensions
Pricing
- Open Source
- Free
Pros
Free and open source
Simple and clean interface
Good Markdown support
Active development and community
Cons
Limited features compared to proprietary apps
No mobile apps
Formatting options not as robust as full word processors
Official Links
The Best PileMD Alternatives
Top Office & Productivity and Note Taking and other similar apps like PileMD
Here are some alternatives to PileMD:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Typora
Typora is a popular markdown editor and reader available as a desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It stands out for providing a seamless writing and reading experience when working with markdown files.When editing documents in Typora, there is no preview window - users can see rendered...
Rentry.co
Rentry.co is an innovative software rental platform that is changing the way businesses and individuals access the tools they need. Instead of requiring large upfront investments to purchase software licenses and subscriptions, Rentry.co allows users to rent top software tools on-demand for flexible monthly payments.With Rentry.co, you only pay for...
Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is a text editing application designed to make writing bolder and clearer. It functions similarly to a grammar checking tool, but has a stronger focus on identifying overly complex and difficult to read sentences.The core feature of Hemingway Editor is the readability scoring system. As you write or...
Mark Text
Mark Text is an open-source markdown editor available for Linux, MacOS, and Windows. It aims to provide a simple, elegant, and powerful markdown experience.Key features of Mark Text include:Live preview - See updates rendered in real time as you type.Tabs - Open multiple markdown documents in tabs for easy navigation.Extensible...
MacDown
MacDown is an open-source, lightweight Markdown editor for macOS. It has a simple, uncluttered user interface that focuses on the writing experience. Some of the key features of MacDown include:Real-time Markdown syntax highlighting and live preview as you typeSupport for GitHub Flavored Markdown, including task lists and emojiCustomizable themes and...
Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter is an open-source, cross-platform word processor designed to provide a simple and distraction-free writing environment. With a minimalist user interface devoid of clutter, Ghostwriter concentrates purely on text content rather than formatting choices.Some of the key features of Ghostwriter include:Minimalist design to avoid distractions while writingAuto-save and backup functionality...
HedgeDoc
HedgeDoc is an open-source web application for collaboratively editing markdown files in real-time. It allows multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously while seeing each other's edits appear live.HedgeDoc can function as a powerful note-taking tool or website content management system. It renders markdown formatting to HTML and...
StackEdit
StackEdit is a free, open-source, online Markdown editor with a variety of features for writing, formatting, and publishing documents. Some key capabilities of StackEdit include:Real-time Markdown preview - See changes rendered as you typeSyntax highlighting for code blocksSupport for Markdown extensions like tables, footnotes, task listsCollaborative editing in real-time for...
Papier
Papier is an open-source note-taking application with a focus on privacy. It provides a simple interface for taking notes, organizing them into notebooks, and syncing encrypted data across devices.Some key features of Papier:All data is encrypted locally using AES-256 encryption before syncing.Sync is done via Dropbox, Nextcloud, or Framadrop so...
Haroopad
Haroopad is an open-source Markdown editor with live preview. Some key features include:Clean, intuitive user interface with live preview as you typeSupports GitHub Flavored Markdown including syntax highlighting, task lists, emoji, etc.Exports to HTML, PDF, Word, and moreMath typesetting with LaTeX and MathML supportCode block highlighting for many programming languagesDrag-and-drop...
MarkdownPad
MarkdownPad is a feature-rich Markdown editor for Windows to write Markdown documents faster. Some key features include:Live preview pane with syntax highlighting that updates in real-time as you typeCustomizable editor theme options including dark modeExport Markdown documents to HTML or PDF format with one clickQuickly access Markdown elements like headers,...
