Paid desktop vs free browser

Vela Docs vs Typora

Typora and Vela Docs both edit Markdown well, in different places. Typora is a paid desktop app with a beloved single-pane writing experience. Vela Docs is a free browser editor with real-time collaboration and share-by-link. Different jobs.
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When to choose Typora

Typora is the better choice when: you write Markdown alone, on a desktop, and you've valued the seamless typewriter-style preview enough to pay $14.99.

You need inline Mermaid / PlantUML / LaTeX diagram rendering. Typora ships with these; Vela Docs doesn't.

You prefer keeping your files entirely on your machine, with iCloud / Dropbox sync if needed.

When to choose Vela Docs

Vela Docs is the better choice when:you need to share a .md file with a colleague today. Typora's export-and-email path doesn't compete with send-this-link.

Collaborators include non-developers who'd rather click a link than install a paid app.

You're on a Chromebook, a school-managed laptop, or any machine where you can't install desktop software. Browser beats no-install.

You want it to be free.

Feature comparison

 Vela DocsTypora
Freeyesno
No installyesno
Renders GitHub-flavored Markdownyesyes
Real-time co-editingyesno
Inline comments on textyesno
Share-by-linkyesexport onlyexport only
Drop a .md file to openyesopen via Finderopen via Finder
Typewriter-style live previewinline editinline edityes
Mermaid / PlantUML renderingnoyes
LaTeX / KaTeX mathnoyes
Works on iPad / Chromebookyesno
Export to PDF / HTML / WordHTML / .mdHTML / .mdyes

Comparison reflects standard / free tiers as of 2026. Typora's feature set evolves; this page is updated when material differences change.

Common questions

Is Typora free?
No. Typora switched from free beta to a paid license in late 2021 ($14.99 one-time for personal use, $79.99 for team). The free trial gives you a few weeks; after that you need a license. Vela Docs is free for individuals and teams.
What's Typora's main strength?
Typora's writing experience is excellent. It hides the Markdown syntax and renders the formatted view as you type. No source / preview split, just clean text. For solo writing on macOS or Windows, it's a top pick.
Can Typora share documents with non-developers?
Not directly. Typora is a desktop app, files live on your disk. You can export to HTML or PDF and email those. Vela Docs's share-link flow is the alternative: collaborators open a URL, no install.
Does Typora support real-time collaboration?
No. Typora is single-player. You can sync the underlying .md file via iCloud or Dropbox, but there's no live-cursor or inline-comment workflow. Vela Docs is real-time by design.
Can I round-trip .md files between Typora and Vela Docs?
Yes. Both produce clean GitHub-flavored Markdown. Edit in Typora, drop on Vela Docs, share, then download back to .md and continue editing in Typora. Frontmatter and tables round-trip cleanly.
Which has better diagrams (Mermaid, PlantUML)?
Typora renders Mermaid, PlantUML, and TikZ inline out of the box. Vela Docs doesn't render those today, they appear as their source code blocks. If diagrams are central to your work, Typora is the better fit.

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