Some notes don’t need a full-blown knowledge base - they need a fast page that opens, lets you type, and gets out of the way. Markdown Journal is a tiny, free online journal that runs right in your browser with no login. It’s perfect for “thought dumps,” daily reflections, scratch research, or drafting posts with Markdown formatting and a clean live preview.
Screenshot: left sidebar with dated entries, center Markdown editor, right-hand preview.
What you can do
- Create dated entries instantly — Hit New Entry, give it a title, and start typing.
- Search everything — Use the search bar to filter entries as you type.
- Live Markdown preview — Format with **bold**, lists, code blocks, LaTeX and see it on the right as you write.
- Flexible layout — Toggle the preview, switch split view (horizontal/vertical), and drag the divider to resize.
- Dark mode — One click for night-friendly writing.
- Copy a direct link — Open an entry and use the link button to copy the link and add it to other notes or share/bookmark
- Local-first privacy — Your notes are stored in your browser on your device. There’s no account and nothing is sent to a server by default.
- Auto-save — Do not worry about loosing data, when you accidentally close the tab
Note: This is not an offline app. You’ll need an internet connection to load it. Your data remains in your browser.
Who it’s for
- Writers and founders who do quick brain dumps before organizing ideas.
- Developers drafting release notes or jotting logs during debugging.
- Students collecting lecture highlights and quotes.
- Anyone who wants a distraction‑free, zero‑setup notebook with Markdown.
How to use it (30 seconds)
- Open the app and click New Entry.
- Type a title and write using Markdown (the right panel updates live).
- Click Save. Use Search to find it later; Delete removes it.
Syncing across devices
By default, notes live in your browser only. If you want to see entries on your phone as well, you can host this page on your HTMLSync.io space and enable syncing there.
Why this approach works
Big tools are great for big projects, but they add friction when you just need to write. This free journal app loads fast, respects your focus, and gives you just enough structure (dates, search, preview) to stay organized—without the bloat.
Try Markdown Journal now and make your next thought dump painless.