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Zettlr

zettlr.com Text Editors WebsiteFree

Zettlr supports writing workflows from initial notes through journal submissions and book manuscripts in one application.

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Zettlr homepage screenshot

About Zettlr

Zettlr is a desktop writing application described on its site as a one-stop publication workbench. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is designed to support a writing project from early notes through a journal submission or a finished book manuscript. Files stay on your computer; the site says there is no forced cloud synchronization and no telemetry, and even the update check can be turned off.

The editor lets you decide how much formatting you see, so it can behave closer to plain text or closer to rich text. LaTeX math and Mermaid charts are rendered in the document, and an extensive set of settings plus custom CSS can be used to change the interface. Zotero, JabRef and Juris-M can be connected for citations, with over 9,000 citation styles available.

For publishing, a profile system built on Pandoc exports a document using a chosen template, which the site presents as a way to submit to journals and conferences; presentation profiles for Beamer, reveal.js and PowerPoint are also described. It suits researchers, academics, journalists and students who write long, source-heavy documents and want their files kept locally.

Key features

  • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Privacy first: no telemetry, no forced cloud sync; files stay local
  • Cites sources via Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M
  • Pandoc-powered export profiles apply templates for journal submissions
  • Renders LaTeX math and Mermaid charts; adjustable WYSIWYG editing
  • Custom CSS, extensive settings, and LanguageTool integration
Best for: Researchers, academics and journalists who write long, citation-heavy documents and prefer to keep their files on their own computer.
Good for
  • Free and open source software, supported by donations
  • Privacy-oriented: no telemetry and no forced cloud synchronization
  • Connects to reference managers and uses Pandoc templates for export
Watch out for
  • It is a desktop application; no browser or mobile version is mentioned
  • Journal export workflows require setting up profiles and templates first

Zettlr at a glance

Website
zettlr.com
Type
Website
Pricing
Free
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
Open source
Not stated
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026
linuxmacos

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Zettlr FAQ

Is Zettlr free?
Yes. The site states that Zettlr is free and open source software, supported by donations.
Which operating systems does Zettlr support?
Zettlr is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Zettlr sync my notes to the cloud?
No. The site says there is no forced cloud synchronization and no telemetry, and that all files stay on your computer. The only connection it makes is an update check, which can be disabled.
Can Zettlr work with Zotero?
Yes. Zettlr supports Zotero, JabRef and Juris-M, letting you cite sources using one of more than 9,000 citation styles.
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Listing maintained by Chris McClure and the WebIndexly editors · Updated Oct 6, 2026 · How we rank