Backtickle
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Backtickle vs Marked 2 and Marked 3
Marked is a paid, Mac-only previewer for files written elsewhere; Backtickle previews and edits, for free, on three platforms.
Short answer: Marked is a Mac-only Markdown previewer: it watches a file you write in another editor and shows it beautifully, with strong proofing and export. Backtickle does the previewing too, for free and on macOS, Windows and Linux, and it is also a full editor, so you can switch between reading and writing in one window.
At a glance
| Backtickle | Marked 2 / Marked 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Marked 2: $14.99; Marked 3: $4.99/month, $49.99/year or $89.99 unlock |
| Source code | Open source, MIT License | Closed source |
| Platforms | macOS 14+, Windows 10 and 11, Linux | macOS only |
| Role | Previewer and editor (Editor, Split and Preview views) | Previewer only, for files written elsewhere |
| Watches outside changes | Yes | Yes |
| Markdown flavors | CommonMark, GFM, Obsidian, Pandoc / MultiMarkdown, Quarto / R Markdown, MDX, detected per file | MultiMarkdown, Discount, or a custom processor |
| Math | KaTeX | MathJax or KaTeX |
| Diagrams | Mermaid and Graphviz | Mermaid |
| Export | HTML, PDF, print, Word (through Pandoc), Render with Quarto | PDF, Word, HTML; Marked 3 adds EPUB, RTF, ODT and more |
Marked details from markedapp.com and its pricing, checked October 2026.
Where Backtickle is the better choice
- Free, with no subscription.
- Read and write in one app. Preview a file, then flip to the Split or Editor view to fix it.
- Windows and Linux. The same app on every desktop you use.
- Flavor detection. Obsidian notes, Quarto documents and MDX render with their own rules, without setting up a custom processor.
Where Marked is the better choice
- Proofing and analysis. Marked's document statistics and proofing tools go far beyond Backtickle's word and reading-time counts.
- Export depth. Paginated PDF, EPUB, RTF, ODT and more, with detailed styling.
- Any processor. Marked can run your own Markdown processor.
Using Backtickle as a previewer
Keep writing in your usual editor. Open the same file in Backtickle and choose the Preview view: when you save in the other editor, Backtickle picks up the change.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to Marked 2?
Yes. Backtickle is a free, open-source Markdown reader and editor. Its Preview view shows a file the way Marked does, with math, Mermaid and Graphviz diagrams and citations, it notices when another app changes the file, and it exports to HTML, PDF and Word.
What happened to Marked 2?
Marked 3 replaced it in May 2026 as a free download with in-app purchases ($4.99 a month, $49.99 a year or $89.99 to unlock permanently). Marked 2 is still sold for $14.99, with no direct upgrade path.
Can Backtickle preview files I edit in another editor?
Yes. Backtickle detects changes made outside the app and refreshes, so you can keep writing in VS Code, Vim or any editor and use Backtickle's Preview view beside it.
More comparisons
- Backtickle vs Typora: Typora costs $14.99 and is closed source; Backtickle is free, open source and reads six Markdown flavors.
- Backtickle vs Obsidian: Obsidian is built for a linked vault of notes; Backtickle opens any Markdown file, in any flavor, and is open source.
- Backtickle vs MarkText: Both are free and MIT-licensed; Backtickle adds Pandoc, Quarto and Obsidian flavors, citations, a split view and Word export.
- Backtickle vs iA Writer: iA Writer is a paid, focused writing app; Backtickle is a free, open-source Markdown editor and reader that also runs on Linux.
- Backtickle vs Zettlr: Zettlr is a research workbench with Zotero and a bundled Pandoc; Backtickle is a lighter reader and editor for every Markdown flavor.
- Backtickle vs MacDown: MacDown has not been updated since 2020 and needs Rosetta; Backtickle is a maintained, free split-view editor that runs natively on Apple silicon.
- Backtickle vs ghostwriter: ghostwriter is a distraction-free KDE editor that leans on Pandoc; Backtickle has math and diagrams built in and ships for macOS too.