Glifa vs Typora
Both are Markdown editors that format the page while you type and keep your notes as plain .md files. Typora has been around for years and also runs on Windows and Linux. Glifa is newer, runs only on the Mac for now, and adds AI actions you check before anything changes. Here’s how they line up.
| Glifa | Typora | |
|---|---|---|
| Formatting drawn in place as you type | Yes | Yes |
| Notes are plain .md files in your folders | Yes | Yes |
| Math and Mermaid diagrams built in | Yes | Yes |
| AI editing built in | YesEvery change marked; your choice of provider | No |
| Opens an Obsidian vault as it is | Yes | No |
| Word (.docx) export built in | Yes | PartlyThrough Pandoc |
| Earlier versions of a file, built in | YesWith Compare With | PartlyMac only, through File ▸ Revert To |
| Price on the Mac | $14.99at launch, then $19.99 | $14.99once |
| Free trial | 15 days | 15 days |
| Runs on | MacWindows and Linux to come | Mac, Windows, Linux |
What’s the same
- Headings, tables and links look finished as you type. Click into a line and its Markdown is there again.
- Your notes are ordinary .md files in folders you pick, so Git, iCloud Drive and Dropbox work as they always do.
- Math and Mermaid diagrams work without plugins.
- You get 15 days to try it before you pay.
What Glifa adds
AI actions you check first
Select some text, press ⇧⌘R and pick an action, or type what you want: a table, a chart, a diagram, a shorter version, a translation. The answer shows up in your document with every change marked, and nothing changes until you click Replace. You pick the provider, including models that run on your Mac. Don’t want AI? Turn it off in Settings. Typora has no AI features.
Obsidian vaults as they are
Open a vault’s folder and its wikilinks, embeds, backlinks and tags work. Glifa doesn’t convert the vault or add files to it.
Word export without Pandoc
Typora exports to Word through Pandoc, which you install yourself. Glifa writes .docx on its own. If you do have Pandoc, Glifa can use it for every other format Pandoc writes.
Earlier versions, compared in the note
File ▸ Compare With marks every difference from an earlier version right in the note you’re editing. Keep yours or take the older one, one difference at a time.
When Typora is the better pick
- You work on Windows or Linux. Glifa is Mac only for now. We’re building the other versions, but they aren’t out yet.
- Your Mac is older. Glifa needs macOS 15 or later on Apple silicon.
- You want to pay less. Typora costs $14.99. Glifa costs $14.99 at launch, $19.99 after that.
Moving from Typora
- Open the folder you use with Typora (File ▸ Open…). Glifa works on the files in place, so you can switch back and forth.
- Bring your theme along. Glifa imports a Typora theme’s CSS file as one of its own themes.
- Try it for 15 days. No account, no card.
Checked against typora.io, Export and Version control on November 13, 2026. Typora is a trademark of its owner, and Glifa isn’t affiliated with it. Spotted something out of date? Write to support@glifa.app and we’ll fix it.