---
title: "Marked vs Obsidian Preview"
html: Marked_vs_Obsidian_Preview.html
---

# 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.

## 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](Custom_Styles.md)

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](https://markedapp.com/markdown-preview/).

## 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.

1. Write in Obsidian (or Typora, VS Code, etc.) as usual.
2. Drag your vault folder onto Marked, or use the [Marked 3 Obsidian plugin](Obsidian.md).
3. Marked watches the vault and previews the most recently edited note.
4. Use Marked for proofreading, document stats, custom themes, and export when the draft is ready. See [Exporting](Exporting.md).

## Related

* [Obsidian integration guide](Obsidian.md)
* [Live Markdown Preview on Mac](Live_Markdown_Preview_on_Mac.md)
* [Obsidian callout syntax](Special_Syntax.md)