$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-free jump 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.

teams

Working together means everyone points at the same cloud folder.

A shared Team account with roles, per-workspace access, and an audit feed.

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)	Yes	Yes
Works with no account	Sync needs Google	No
Saved multi-document workspace	Yes	Yes
Folders & collections	Folders only	Folders + collections
Full-text search	Yes	Yes
KaTeX / math	Yes	No
Mermaid diagrams	Yes	No
Publish to blog (WordPress/Blogger)	Yes	No
Clean public share link	Publish / export	Reader link
Reader comments on shared docs	No	Yes
Clone a shared doc	No	Yes
Client-side encryption	No	Yes
HTTP API	No	Full (Pro)
AI agent access (MCP)	No	Remote (Pro)
Web clipper extension	No	Yes
Shared team account with roles	Shared cloud folder	Owner / admin / member
Per-workspace access levels	Cloud folder permissions	None / read / read, write & delete
Team API & MCP for agents	No	Team API + Team MCP
Team audit log	No	365-day feed
Price	Free (teams paid)	Free · €4.99 Pro · €9.99 / team member

$./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. Claude.ai and ChatGPT connect with a one-click OAuth sign-in; other clients use a token.

$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 10,000 files, the full API, and the remote MCP server. Working with other people? A Team account is €9.99 per active member each month — a shared account with roles, per-workspace access levels, and its own API and MCP server.

Freefree forever

[x]100 markdown files
[x]5 image uploads
[x]Public sharing links
[x]Commenting

Pro€4.99/ month

[x]10,000 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=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 100 markdown files, public sharing, and commenting — no card required. Pro is €4.99/month for 10,000 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. Claude.ai and ChatGPT sign in with one-click OAuth — no token to paste — while clients like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex use a Personal Access Token.

Can I use MDflow with my team, instead of sharing a cloud folder?

Yes. A Team account is a separate shared account that lives beside your personal workspace: up to 50 members as owner, admin, or member, up to 50 workspaces and 10,000 files, per-workspace access levels (no access, read-only, or read, write & delete), version history for every active member, a Team REST API and Team MCP server, and an audit feed kept for 365 days. It’s €9.99 per active member each month with a 7-day free trial. Comments, image uploads, collections, and favorites aren’t in Team accounts yet.

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