$mdflowcompare
$diff stackedit mdflow

> the StackEdit alternative built for sharing and agents

StackEdit is a capable browser editor with cloud sync and Mermaid diagrams — but sharing means exporting or publishing, AI agents aren't part of the picture, and syncing leans on a Google account. MDflow keeps your markdown in a workspace you own, shares a clean page with comments, and opens a full API and MCP server.

./start-freejump to the table ↓
stackedit → mdflow.diff
# from editor to workspace
-signin = "Google required to sync"
+signin = "Google, GitHub, Apple, MS"
-share = "publish or export"
+share = "reader link + comments"
-private = "no encryption"
+private = "client-side AES-256"
-agents = "none"
+agents = "remote mcp + full api"
$cat frustrations.log

what pushes people off StackEdit

Sourced from years of forum threads and user feedback — and how MDflow handles each one.

//account
Syncing your files leans on a Google account and Google Drive.
Sign in with Google, GitHub, Apple, or Microsoft — your data lives in MDflow.
//sharing
Sharing means publishing to a service or exporting a file.
One link renders a clean page; readers can comment and clone their own copy.
//organization
Documents live in a flat synced folder with limited structure.
Folders plus collections let you curate and share a set of documents.
//privacy
No built-in encryption for sensitive notes.
Encrypt any document client-side with AES-256 — the server never sees it.
//agents
No API or agent access; it's a manual editor.
A full HTTP API and a remote MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and Codex.
//offline
Offline relies on the browser service worker only.
Local drafts survive reloads and auto-retry saving when you reconnect.
$diff --stat stackedit mdflow

StackEdit vs MDflow, line by line

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

swipe to compare →

Feature comparison between StackEdit and MDflow
// feature
StackEdit
MDflow
›Renders Markdown (live preview)YesYes
›Works with no accountSync needs GoogleNo
›Saved multi-document workspaceYesYes
›Folders & collectionsFolders onlyFolders + collections
›Full-text searchYesYes
›KaTeX / mathYesNo
›Mermaid diagramsYesNo
›Publish to blog (WordPress/Blogger)YesNo
›Clean public share linkPublish / exportReader link
›Reader comments on shared docsNoYes
›Clone a shared docNoYes
›Client-side encryptionNoYes
›HTTP APINoFull (Pro)
›AI agent access (MCP)NoRemote (Pro)
›Web clipper extensionNoYes
›PriceFree (teams paid)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 to start, €4.99 to go Pro

StackEdit is free for individuals. MDflow is free to start, 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-freefull pricing
$git log --author=stackedit --oneline

Where StackEdit is still ahead

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

  • Mermaid diagrams & KaTeX math. StackEdit renders Mermaid diagrams and KaTeX math inline. MDflow renders GitHub-Flavored Markdown but not Mermaid or math today.
  • Publish to blogging platforms. StackEdit publishes directly to WordPress, Blogger, and similar. MDflow shares its own reader links instead.
  • Service-worker offline app. StackEdit works offline as an installable web app. MDflow keeps offline drafts but is cloud-native.
  • Open source. StackEdit is open source. MDflow is a hosted product.
$cat faq.md

StackEdit alternative — FAQ

Is MDflow a free StackEdit alternative?
Yes. The free plan includes 5 markdown files, public sharing, and commenting — no card required. Pro is €4.99/month for unlimited files, the full HTTP API, and the remote MCP server.
Do I need a Google account like StackEdit?
No. Sign in with Google, GitHub, Apple, or Microsoft, and your documents live in MDflow rather than syncing through Google Drive.
Does MDflow do Mermaid diagrams and math?
Not yet. MDflow renders GitHub-Flavored Markdown — tables, task lists, footnotes, and code. Mermaid and KaTeX math are on StackEdit's side for now.
How is sharing different?
MDflow publishes a clean reader link (not raw markdown), with optional comments and one-click cloning, and no account is needed to read it.
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 StackEdit do that MDflow doesn't?
Mermaid diagrams, KaTeX math, publishing to blogs, and being open source.
$mdflow init

Try the StackEdit 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