Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing, with Zotero citations, Zettelkasten notes and Pandoc export to Word, PDF and LaTeX.
Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing. It cites from Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M, supports Zettelkasten-style notes and exports through Pandoc. It costs nothing, has no paid tier and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
The bottom line
The free pick for Markdown writers who cite a lot and want local files.
7.7
Our score
7.7 / 10
Conversion Gems editorial verdict
Free (GPL-3.0)
Features8/10
8 - citations in 9,000+ styles, Pandoc export, Zettelkasten links and graph view and snippets, per zettlr.com; no mobile app or sync.
Value9/10
9 - the full app is free under GPL-3.0 with no paid tier, per the download page.
Ease of use7/10
7 - installers and package managers for all desktop systems, but citations need Zotero or JabRef set up and Markdown knowledge.
Ecosystem6/10
6 - Zotero, JabRef, Juris-M and Pandoc; no plugin store, API or mobile apps listed.
Support7/10
7 - full docs plus a community forum, Discord and subreddit; no paid or live support.
What it really is
A free, open-source desktop Markdown editor for academic writing, with reference-manager citations and Pandoc export.
Our take
Zettlr does one job well: getting a cited, formatted document out of plain Markdown files. Citations from Zotero and Pandoc export work without plugins, and nothing leaves your computer. The trade-off is reach: there is no phone app, no built-in sync and no collaboration, and you need some comfort with Markdown and a reference manager.
Why we rate it
Free, local-first and built around citations and export rather than bolted on.
The catch
Desktop-only, no built-in sync, and citations need a reference manager.
Best for
Theses and research papers in Markdown
Writers who cite from Zotero
Local, account-free note-taking
Not good for
Writing on a phone
Real-time co-editing with a team
People who prefer a Word-style editor
Friction report
Time to value
Minutes to install and open a folder; longer to connect a Zotero library and set export profiles.
Scale breakpoint
When you need to write across devices or with collaborators, since there is no sync or sharing built in.
Walled garden
None: plain Markdown files in your own folders, GPL-3.0 source code.
Zettlr cost
Option
Price
What you get
Zettlr desktop app
$0
Full app under GPL-3.0, no account, no paid tier
Support the project
Optional donation
Patreon or PayPal; no extra features
From Zettlr's download page, checked 4 October 2026.
Where Zettlr runs
System
Requirement
Install options
macOS
12.0 or newer, Intel and Apple Silicon
Direct download, Homebrew
Windows
Windows 10 or newer, 64-bit
Direct download, WinGet, Chocolatey
Linux
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora/Red Hat, AppImage; 64-bit and ARM
APT, Flatpak, Pacman
iOS / Android
Not available
No mobile app listed
From Zettlr's download page (v4.8.0), checked 4 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Zettlr is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence, with no paid tier. The project is funded by voluntary donations through Patreon and PayPal (checked 4 October 2026).
Writing in Markdown with citations: papers, theses, books and research notes. It links to Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M for references, supports Zettelkasten-style notes and exports through Pandoc to formats such as Word and PDF.
Yes. Zettlr reads your Zotero library (or JabRef or Juris-M) and formats citations in over 9,000 styles. You need the reference manager set up and your library exported before you can cite.
No mobile app is listed on the download page or in the docs (checked 4 October 2026). Zettlr runs on Windows 10+, macOS 12+ and Linux. Because it works on plain Markdown files, you can sync the folder with a tool of your choice.
Both are free to use. Zettlr is built around academic writing, with Zotero citations and Pandoc export included and no paid extras. Obsidian is free for personal and commercial use and sells Sync ($4 per user per month billed annually) and Publish as add-ons. Pick Zettlr if your end product is a cited paper.
Version 4.8.0, published on GitHub on 18 September 2026. The previous release, 4.7.0, came out in July 2026.
Zettlr alternatives
Other tools for notes and writing:
Obsidian: Free note-taking and knowledge base app with optional paid Sync and Publish add-ons.
AppFlowy: Open-source, Notion-style workspace for docs and databases that you can self-host.
Nuclino: Lightweight team wiki for shared notes with list, board and graph views.
Zoho Writer: Browser-based word processor for people who would rather not write in Markdown.
