Editor.md vs Milkdown
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
An embeddable Markdown editor component for web pages, built on CodeMirror, jQuery and Marked.
Open source · MIT
A plugin-based markdown editor framework where you type rich text and see formatted output.
The short answer
Choose Editor.md if you need…
- Web developers who want a Markdown input box inside their own site or admin panel
- Projects that already use jQuery and want a drop-in editor
- Sites that need Markdown with KaTeX formulas, flowcharts, or sequence diagrams
- Teams that need a Markdown editor with image upload and a live preview
Choose Milkdown if you need…
- Developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app
- Teams that want an editor extended through plugins
- TypeScript developers comfortable with ProseMirror-style editors
Side-by-side
| Editor.md | Milkdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.3k | 12k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Advanced |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 3 years ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Editor.md
Editor.md is a JavaScript component you add to a web page so visitors get a Markdown editor with a live preview. It is built on CodeMirror for the editing area, jQuery, and Marked for rendering. It also includes a function to convert Markdown text into HTML for display on a page.
Milkdown
Milkdown is a TypeScript framework for building WYSIWYG markdown editors, meaning the text looks formatted as you write it instead of showing raw markdown symbols. It is built on ProseMirror and remark and is organized around plugins. The README says it is inspired by the Typora editor. It is aimed at developers who want to add a markdown-style editor to their own web application.
Best for
Editor.md
- Web developers who want a Markdown input box inside their own site or admin panel
- Projects that already use jQuery and want a drop-in editor
- Sites that need Markdown with KaTeX formulas, flowcharts, or sequence diagrams
- Teams that need a Markdown editor with image upload and a live preview
Milkdown
- Developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app
- Teams that want an editor extended through plugins
- TypeScript developers comfortable with ProseMirror-style editors
Strengths
Editor.md
- Gives a full Markdown editor with live preview, code folding, and search and replace
- Supports GFM and CommonMark, plus extras like table of contents, emoji, and task lists
- Has many configuration options and a plugin system with AMD/CMD module loading
Milkdown
- Plugin-driven design lets you add or swap features
- Built on established libraries ProseMirror and remark
- MIT licensed with an active repository and about 12,000 stars
Not ideal for
Editor.md
- Projects that do not use jQuery or JavaScript, since the README describes a jQuery-based component
- Anyone needing HTML-to-Markdown conversion, which the README says is not supported
- Teams wanting an actively maintained editor, since the latest push shown is from April 2024 and the README does not describe current maintenance
Milkdown
- Non-programmers wanting a ready-made note-taking app, since this is a framework rather than an end-user app
- Projects needing a simple drop-in widget with minimal setup, since the plugin model adds a learning curve
Trade-offs
Editor.md
- Depends on jQuery and older browser-era libraries, so it may not fit modern JavaScript stacks
- The README shows no recent release activity, and the last push date is April 2024
- The README is truncated, so some setup and feature details could not be verified
Milkdown
- README is brief on setup details; most guidance is on the external documentation site
- Requires familiarity with TypeScript and editor concepts to use effectively
Getting started
Editor.md
Install with npm
npm install editor.mdInstall with Bower
bower install editor.mdMilkdown
Install core package (from npm package names in README badges)
npm install @milkdown/coreFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Editor.md and Milkdown?
Editor.md: An embeddable Markdown editor component for web pages, built on CodeMirror, jQuery and Marked. Milkdown: A plugin-based markdown editor framework where you type rich text and see formatted output. Editor.md suits web developers who want a markdown input box inside their own site or admin panel, while Milkdown suits developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app.
Are Editor.md and Milkdown free?
Editor.md: Free and open source. Milkdown: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Editor.md or Milkdown?
Editor.md is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Milkdown is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Editor.md or Milkdown more popular?
Editor.md has more GitHub stars (14.3k) than Milkdown (12k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Editor.md and Milkdown?
Other options people compare them with include Vditor, react-markdown, Showdown, Turndown, GraphiQL.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.