MDtoLink vs Write.as
Write.as is a minimalist blogging platform built around privacy and clean writing. MDtoLink is a terminal tool that publishes local markdown files to shareable URLs. Both handle markdown, but the workflows and audiences are different.
Feature comparison
| Feature | MDtoLink | Write.as |
|---|---|---|
| Primary audience | Developers | Writers |
| Writing workflow | Write locally in any editor, publish via CLI | Write in browser editor or Write.as CLI |
| CLI tool | mdtolink publish file.md | writeas-cli (post from terminal) |
| Anonymous posting | No (account required) | Yes (no sign-up needed) |
| Tor support | No | Yes (.onion address available) |
| Newsletter / email | No | Yes (paid plans) |
| Blog functionality | No (standalone documents) | Yes (blog with custom subdomain) |
| Local-first | Yes. Source files stay on your machine | No. Content lives on Write.as servers |
| AI agent integration | MCP server for Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline | No |
| REST API | Yes. Publish, update, delete, list | Yes. Create, retrieve, update, delete posts |
| Price | Free tier, Pro from $6/mo | Free (anonymous), Pro $9/mo |
When Write.as makes more sense
Write.as is built for writers who want a clean, distraction-free blog with strong privacy. You can post anonymously without creating an account. It supports Tor for readers and writers who need that level of privacy. The newsletter feature lets you email posts directly to subscribers.
If you want a simple blog that respects your readers' privacy, looks clean, and sends emails to subscribers, Write.as handles all of that. The editor is intentionally minimal: just a text area and a publish button. That is a feature, not a limitation.
When MDtoLink makes more sense
MDtoLink targets developers, not writers. The assumption is that you already have a markdown file. Maybe you wrote it in Neovim. Maybe an AI agent generated it. Maybe it is a design doc that lives in your project repo. You do not need a blog or a newsletter. You need a URL.
The local-first model is different from Write.as too. With Write.as, your content lives on their servers (even though they respect your privacy). With MDtoLink, the source file stays on your machine. The URL is a read-only view of what you published. You keep the original.
MDtoLink's API and MCP server also make it scriptable. Publish from a Makefile. Publish from a GitHub Action. Let Claude Code publish for you. That kind of programmatic access matters if you work in environments where automation is the norm.
Writers vs. developers
Write.as and MDtoLink share a love for markdown and simplicity, but they come from different worlds. Write.as descends from the blogging tradition: posts, feeds, subscribers, and readers. MDtoLink descends from developer tooling: CLIs, APIs, automation, and file systems.
If your first instinct is to open a text editor and type prose, Write.as is your tool. If your first instinct is to open a terminal and run a command, MDtoLink is yours.
Browse all comparisons or check pricing for plan details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between MDtoLink and Write.as?
Write.as is a blogging and newsletter platform for writers who want a clean, private space to publish. MDtoLink is a CLI tool for developers who have a local markdown file and need it at a URL. Write.as is a destination for writing. MDtoLink is a publishing utility.
Does Write.as have a CLI like MDtoLink?
Write.as does have a CLI tool (writeas-cli) for posting from the terminal, including anonymous posts. The difference is that Write.as posts live on Write.as servers and become part of a blog. MDtoLink publishes your local files to URLs while the source stays on your machine.
Which is more private, MDtoLink or Write.as?
Write.as is built around privacy: anonymous posting, Tor support, no tracking. MDtoLink is local-first, meaning your files stay on your machine and the published URL is a read-only view. Both respect user privacy, but in different ways. Write.as protects author identity. MDtoLink keeps your source files local.
Can I send newsletters with MDtoLink like Write.as?
No. MDtoLink publishes documents to URLs. It does not have email subscriber lists, newsletters, or notification features. Write.as includes newsletter functionality on paid plans.
Markdown files deserve URLs
One command. Your file stays local. The URL goes wherever you need it. Free to start.