Pretext Icon
Download Pretext

Pretext

Pretext is a simple but feature-filled Markdown and plain text editor.
Category Price Seller Device
Productivity Free Sam Oakley iPhone, iPad, iPod

• Markdown syntax highlighting
• HTML preview and export
• Comprehensive keyboard shortcuts
• Quick-tap format options
• Files app/Document provider support
• Seamless iOS integration
• Customisable font size
• Full undo/redo/revert-all-changes support
• Dark theme and icon (in-app purchase required)

----

"This app is now my default solution for quickly creating .md files to share with other people." - Federico Viticci, MacStories

----

‪Pretext is designed to work seamlessly with iCloud Drive and other file providers. This means you can open files directly from your Files app, and any changes are saved right back, available to use on other devices and in other applications. No clunky import and export steps just to make an edit – instead, you keep full control of your files.

Pretext works great on all your iOS devices. Thanks to comprehensive keyboard shortcuts, Pretext works especially well with iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard.

If you encounter any problems, please get in touch at [email protected], tweet @pretext_app, or post at /r/pretextapp.

Reviews

Perfect Markdown Editor for iOS11
marlowe310

Full Files access, minimal interface and markdown preview = exactly what I was looking for all these years. There’s even a dark theme. The only feature that I’m missing is the ability to set a custom font (ala Textor). Hopefully that will be added soon, hint hint :)


Dark mode IAPs: an accessibility perspective
Anahata108

For photosensitive users, dark modes aren't just an aesthetics choice. For these users, especially those looking at their devices all day, dark modes aren't just about being pretty. Dark modes are fundamentally required to make the app useable at all. Dark modes are an *accessibility* feature. They make the app useable in the same way that AssistiveTouch or VoiceOver do. Would you charge more for accessibility features? No. That would be terrible. Dark mode is an accessibility feature in exactly the same way other features are. Night Shift, True Tone, and the lesser known Reduce White Point aren't enough for some users: dark modes are the only way for them to use apps they can look at for hours at a time. Furthermore, some users have "floaters" in their vision caused by fluids shifting in their eyes. They cannot comfortably use black on white UIs as a result. Dark modes are the main way users with these floaters can interact with their devices. All that said: I realise that app developers need to make money. That's fine, really! I work as a developer myself. I understand. But charging for an accessibility feature is the wrong way to do it. I'd be happier making a *donation*, and getting nothing, than I am having to pay to configure the app to be useable in a way that doesn't cause me eyestrain and discomfort. Dark mode is an accessibility feature. I shouldn't have to pay to make the app accessible.


Quit prompting
Balls8942

This is the third time the app has promoted me to leave a review in the first 5 minutes!


Great app, but IAP for dark mode is nonsensical
Zrome

Charge for themes, charge for something else, not dark mode... especially since it’s an accessibility issue plus I can just enable it for free by using smart invert so all you are doing is making me do 2 more clicks to achieve the same functionality. Great app otherwise.


Just wish there was support for Google Drive
#lv

I love the apps simplicity and interface I just with there was support for Google Drive.


Great plain text editor to edit directly
tmac1936

I use this for markdown and text files in cloud services and SFTP.


Missing essential features, bugs
Computercolim

I hate to review badly, this app is free after all and it is neat. But for a real markdown editor, it’s missing tons of stuff: - open file from Dropbox, app crashes - Cannot recognize lists as typed (have to tap on line, wait for popup to show, then hit “list”) - One “real” recognized lists, not quick way to indent or un-indent And some other issues where you type markdown and expect the app to “play ball” and do the right thing (it doesn’t). But it is neat. It highlights. It has a cool markdown link insert tool. Spellcheck works as expected. Some bugs: Hitting list button on existing list ads more dashes (does not needs, already has dash bullet). Not as important, but I’ve hit some rendering bugs. App opens document but keyboard area is blank white and does nothing. Or text area is cut in half but keyboard is present. Undo bar doesn’t appear, etc.


Good app, one awful bug/issue
ZachD5

I like the app and it does a great job of making quick edits and whatnot on my phone. The issue I have is that every time I change or even open a file on my phone that is formatted in plaintext, the line breaks on my computer file all go away. Not sure if this is a bug or I’m doing something on my end, but it makes the app unusable for me unless I’m starting a file on my phone.


Doesn’t work
iPhone Game Lover

Can’t create new md doc nor open old ones in non-iCloud drive- Useless!


Featured on lists