OpenMark vs iA Writer

Technical markdown vs distraction-free writing

iA Writer is the gold standard for focused prose writing — minimal UI, custom typography, and a strong editorial philosophy. OpenMark is optimised for technical markdown: Mermaid diagrams, LaTeX math, and code blocks. They serve different writers. Here's the full comparison.

Feature comparison

Feature
OpenMark
iA Writer
Focus/Purpose
Technical markdown — diagrams, equations, code with highlighting
Distraction-free prose writing — minimal UI, editorial focus
Design
Liquid Glass — native macOS Tahoe design language
Award-winning minimalist design — beautifully refined
Platform
macOS only
macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android — sync across all devices
Pricing
$9.99 — one-time purchase on Mac
$49.99 Mac + $19.99 iOS — separate one-time purchases
Mermaid diagrams
Built-in — flowcharts, sequence, Gantt, and more
Not supported
Math / LaTeX
Built-in KaTeX — inline and display math
Not supported
Syntax highlighting
Full colour highlighting for 20+ code languages
Minimal — intentional design choice for prose focus
Library / organisation
Opens individual files — organised via Finder
Folder-based library with templates and workspaces
Export
PDF and HTML export built-in
PDF, HTML, DOCX, WordPress, Medium, and more
Typography
System SF Pro — native macOS fonts
Custom iA Mono, iA Duo, iA Quattro — award-winning fonts

Which one should you choose?

Choose OpenMark if…

  • You write technical markdown — documentation, READMEs, research notes with diagrams and equations
  • You need Mermaid diagrams or LaTeX math rendered natively
  • You want to spend $9.99 instead of $49.99
  • You want Liquid Glass design on macOS Tahoe

Choose iA Writer if…

  • You write long-form prose — essays, articles, books — and want a focused environment
  • You need iOS, Windows, or Android support alongside Mac
  • You love iA's custom typography (iA Mono, Duo, Quattro)
  • You want a mature folder-based library with templates

Try OpenMark — $9.99, one-time

Mermaid diagrams. LaTeX math. Native macOS. A fifth of the price of iA Writer.

Download on the Mac App Store

Also compare OpenMark with:

vs Obsidian →vs VS Code →vs Typora →vs Bear →vs MacDown →vs Ulysses →vs MarkEdit →vs Mark Text →