Marked vs Obsidian Preview
Obsidian includes a built-in Markdown preview. Marked 3 is a dedicated preview and publishing app that works with Obsidian and many other editors. This page helps you decide when each tool is the right fit.
Contents
When Obsidian’s built-in preview is enough
- You only write inside Obsidian
- Basic preview and plugins meet your needs
- You don’t need standalone export or proofreading workflows
- You want everything in one app with minimal setup
Obsidian (and apps like Typora) are a great fit when a simple, single-app solution is all you need.
When Marked is the better choice
- You want live preview from any editor, not just Obsidian
- You need professional export (PDF, DOCX, EPUB) with custom CSS
- You want advanced proofreading, document stats, and keyword highlighting
- You work with Scrivener, Word, or MarsEdit alongside Markdown
- You want publish-quality themes via Custom Styles
Marked’s preview includes many features that built-in previews in Obsidian, Typora, and similar apps do not offer on their own—or that require plugins and workarounds to approximate.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Marked 3 | Obsidian preview |
|---|---|---|
| Live preview from any Mac editor | Yes | Obsidian files only |
| Dedicated preview + export app | Yes | Notes app |
| Custom CSS themes | Yes | Themes/plugins |
| Proofreading tools | Advanced | Basic |
| PDF, DOCX, EPUB export | Yes | Plugins |
| Scrivener / Word integration | Yes | No |
For a broader comparison including Typora and Marked 2, see the marketing comparison page.
Use both: Obsidian + Marked workflow
You do not have to replace Obsidian’s preview—or give up Typora’s single-window editing—to benefit from Marked. Many writers keep their preferred editor and add Marked for preview features and export options the other app does not provide.
- Write in Obsidian (or Typora, VS Code, etc.) as usual.
- Drag your vault folder onto Marked, or use the Marked 3 Obsidian plugin.
- Marked watches the vault and previews the most recently edited note.
- Use Marked for proofreading, document stats, custom themes, and export when the draft is ready. See Exporting.
Related
Next up: Markdown Preview FAQ ▶
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