MDtoLink vs HackMD
HackMD is a collaborative markdown editor. MDtoLink is a CLI tool that publishes local markdown files. Both produce shareable URLs from markdown, but the workflow is completely different.
Feature comparison
| Feature | MDtoLink | HackMD |
|---|---|---|
| Primary workflow | Local editor + CLI publish | Browser-based editor |
| Local-first | Yes. Your files stay on your machine | No. Content lives on HackMD servers |
| CLI publishing | mdtolink publish file.md | CLI available for push/pull, but editing is in-browser |
| Real-time collaboration | No | Yes (Google Docs-style co-editing) |
| AI agent integration | MCP server for Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline | No MCP support |
| Custom domains | Yes (Publisher plan) | Yes (Team/Enterprise plans) |
| Use your own editor | Yes. Vim, VS Code, Obsidian, anything | HackMD's browser editor or their VS Code extension |
| Slide decks | No | Yes (built-in slide mode) |
| REST API | Yes. Publish, update, delete, list | Yes. CRUD operations on notes |
| Price | Free tier, Pro from $6/mo | Free tier, paid from $5/mo |
When HackMD makes more sense
HackMD is great for teams that want to write markdown together in real time. It works like Google Docs but for markdown. Open a note, share the link, and everyone can edit simultaneously. The built-in slide mode is also useful if you present from markdown.
If your workflow is "open a browser tab and start writing," HackMD gives you a solid editor with live preview, syntax highlighting, and collaboration. No local setup needed.
When MDtoLink makes more sense
MDtoLink is for developers who already have a markdown file and want it online. Maybe you wrote a design doc in Vim. Maybe your AI agent generated a report. Maybe you have a README that needs to be shareable outside of GitHub. The file already exists on your machine. You just need a URL.
The local-first approach matters too. Your markdown stays in your file system, under your version control, in your editor of choice. MDtoLink does not ask you to move your writing into another platform. It publishes what you already have.
And if you work with AI coding agents, MDtoLink's MCP server is a big differentiator. Claude Code can publish a document for you mid-conversation. It can update a published doc when you change the source file. That kind of automation is not possible with a browser-based editor like HackMD.
The case for local-first publishing
With HackMD, your content lives on their servers. If the service goes down or changes their terms, your notes are at risk. With MDtoLink, the source of truth is the .md file on your machine. The published URL is just a view of that file. You always have the original.
This also means you can use Git for version control, grep for search, and any text processing tool you want. Your markdown is just a file. MDtoLink treats it that way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between MDtoLink and HackMD?
HackMD is an online collaborative markdown editor where you write and share documents in the browser. MDtoLink is a CLI tool that publishes existing local .md files to URLs. HackMD is write-and-share; MDtoLink is publish-what-you-already-wrote.
Can I use MDtoLink with AI coding agents?
Yes. MDtoLink includes an MCP server that works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Cline. Your AI agent can publish, update, and manage documents directly. HackMD does not have this kind of integration.
Does HackMD support CLI publishing?
HackMD has a CLI tool for pushing and pulling notes, but the primary workflow is browser-based editing. MDtoLink is CLI-first by design, built for developers who work in the terminal.
Which is cheaper, MDtoLink or HackMD?
Both have free tiers. MDtoLink Pro is $6/mo (or $3/mo billed annually). HackMD's paid plans start at $5/mo for individuals. Pricing is comparable, but the features you get are different since the tools serve different purposes.
Publish local markdown to a URL
Keep writing in your editor. Let MDtoLink handle the sharing. One command, one URL.