$diff hackmd mdflow

> the HackMD alternative for markdown you actually own

HackMD is built for teams writing together in real time — and it's good at that. But your notes live on its servers, GitHub sync and PDF export sit behind paid tiers, and there's no agent access. MDflow is a solo-first workspace: plain .md you own, free exports, and a full API and MCP server. If live multi-user editing is your priority, HackMD still wins — and we say so below.

./start-free jump to the table ↓

hackmd → mdflow.diff

# solo-first, agent-ready
-storage = "their servers"
+storage = "plain .md you own"
-pdf = "paid tier"
+pdf = "free"
-github = "paid tier"
+api = "full read/write (pro)"
-agents = "none"
+agents = "remote mcp (pro)"

$cat frustrations.log

the friction solo writers hit in HackMD

What solo writers run into when using a team-first tool — and how MDflow handles each one.

//ownership

Documents live on HackMD's servers in its own store.

Every document is plain .md you can download anytime.

//paywalled basics

PDF export and GitHub sync require a paid tier.

Export .md and PDF on the free plan.

//agents

No first-party API or MCP for AI agents.

A full read/write HTTP API and a remote MCP server (Pro).

//privacy

No client-side encryption for sensitive docs.

Encrypt any document in the browser with AES-256.

//simplicity

Team features and permissions add overhead for solo writing.

A focused solo workspace — folders, search, and simple sharing.

//sharing

Sharing centers on collaborative edit links.

A clean read-only reader link with comments, plus optional private email sharing.

$diff --stat hackmd mdflow

HackMD vs MDflow, line by line

The honest version — including the rows where HackMD still wins.

swipe to compare →

Feature comparison between HackMD and MDflow
// feature	HackMD	MDflow
›Renders Markdown (live preview)	Yes	Yes
›Real-time collaborative editing	Yes	No
›Plain .md you own	Their store	Plain .md
›Free PDF export	Paid	Yes
›GitHub sync	Paid	No
›Slide / presentation mode	Yes	No
›Clean public reader link	Yes	Yes
›Reader comments on shared docs	Collab notes	Yes
›Private email sharing	Yes	Pro
›Client-side encryption	No	Yes
›Full-text search	Yes	Yes
›HTTP API	Limited	Full (Pro)
›AI agent access (MCP)	No	Remote (Pro)
›Vim keybindings	Yes	No
›Price	Free + paid tiers	Free · €4.99 / month for Pro

$./why-mdflow

why people switch

$mdflow open

Genuinely easy to use

No vault to configure, no ribbon to learn, no plugins to wire up. Open the browser, make a folder, start writing markdown. That's the whole onboarding.

$curl /api/v1

Full API + remote MCP server

A documented HTTP API with full read and write access, plus a remote Model Context Protocol server — so scripts and agents can manage your workspace without running a local server.

$mdflow context

Built for AI agents

Folder descriptions and document metadata give Claude, Cursor, and Codex scoped context. Your notes become a knowledge base agents can actually use.

$mdflow share

Sharing & comments that just work

Publish one document at an unguessable link — readers get a clean rendered page, can comment on a passage, and can clone their own copy. No account needed to read.

$cat pricing.txt

free exports, no paywall on basics

HackMD gates PDF export and GitHub sync behind paid tiers. MDflow keeps those basics free, with Pro at €4.99/month for unlimited files, the full API, and the remote MCP server.

Freefree forever

[x]5 markdown files
[x]5 image uploads
[x]Public sharing links
[x]Commenting

Pro€4.99/ month

[x]Unlimited markdown files
[x]10,000 image uploads
[x]Full HTTP API access
[x]Remote MCP server

// no card to start · fair-use applies

./start-free full pricing

$git log --author=hackmd --oneline

Where HackMD is still ahead

We'd rather be straight with you. HackMD is a mature product, and there are real reasons to stay — especially if you depend on these:

Real-time collaboration. HackMD is built for multiple people editing the same note live, with presence and cursors. MDflow has no real-time multi-user editing — it's solo-first.
Slide presentations. HackMD turns a note into a slide deck. MDflow has no presentation mode.
Books & team spaces. HackMD assembles notes into books and team workspaces. MDflow uses folders and shareable collections instead.
Mature team permissions. HackMD's per-note roles and team spaces are richer for organizations.

$cat faq.md

HackMD alternative — FAQ

Is MDflow a good HackMD alternative for solo use?

Yes. It's solo-first: plain .md you own, folders, full-text search, free exports, sharing with comments, plus a full API and a remote MCP server.

Does MDflow support real-time collaboration?

No. MDflow has no live multi-user editing. If that's central to your workflow, HackMD is the better fit — MDflow focuses on owning and automating your markdown instead.

Is PDF export free?

Yes. Export any document to a print-ready PDF and download the original .md on the free plan, with no paid gate.

Do I own my notes?

Yes. Every document is plain .md you can download anytime, and you can encrypt sensitive ones client-side.

Can AI agents read my notes?

Yes. Agents connect to MDflow's remote MCP server or its full-access HTTP API (both Pro) to read and manage your workspace.

What does HackMD do that MDflow doesn't?

Real-time collaboration, slide decks, books and team spaces, and richer team permissions.

$mdflow init

Try the HackMD alternative built for today.

Sign in with Google, create a folder, and start writing markdown that people and AI agents can read. The free plan needs no card.

./start-free →see pricing