Our verdict: Zettlr is the strongest free Markdown editor for academic writing. It pulls citations from Zotero or JabRef, formats them in thousands of styles and exports papers through Pandoc templates. It has no built-in sync and takes time to set up, so casual note-takers may find it more than they need.
About Zettlr
Zettlr is open source under the GPL v3 and works on ordinary Markdown files in folders on your disk. There is no forced cloud sync and no telemetry; the app only goes online to check for updates, which can be turned off.
For research writing it connects to Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M and supports over 9,000 citation styles. Export profiles powered by Pandoc turn a file into Word, PDF, LaTeX or slides with a template in one click. Note IDs, wiki-style links, a graph view and snippets support a Zettelkasten workflow.
What it does well
- Citations. Cite from a Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M library in over 9,000 citation styles.
- Pandoc export profiles. Export to Word, PDF, LaTeX or slides with your own templates in one click.
- Zettelkasten tools. Note IDs, wiki-style internal links, related files and a graph view.
- Snippets. Reusable text blueprints with variables and tab stops.
- No telemetry. Files stay on your computer; the update check can be switched off.
Who it is for
Good fit
Students, researchers and authors who write papers, theses or books in Markdown with references.
Look elsewhere
People who want a simple note app with phone sync out of the box.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open source and private
- Excellent citation and export support
- Works on plain Markdown files
Cons
- No built-in sync; use a cloud folder for other devices
- Citation and export setup takes time
- No mobile app
How to install Zettlr
The direct link downloads the 64-bit Windows installer from the official GitHub release. On first launch, open or create a workspace folder for your files. To cite, export your Zotero library as CSL JSON or BibTeX (Better BibTeX keeps it updated) and select it in the citation settings.
Questions about Zettlr
Is Zettlr free?
Yes. Zettlr is open source under the GPL v3 and is funded by donations.
Does Zettlr work with Zotero?
Yes. Load an exported Zotero library and insert citations, which are formatted in the style you choose on export.
Can Zettlr export to Word?
Yes. Export profiles powered by Pandoc create DOCX, PDF, LaTeX, HTML and presentation files.
