Ferrite

Lightweight open-source editor for Markdown, JSON, YAML and TOML files, written in Rust.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Ferrite

Ferrite is a small, fast text editor for writing and previewing Markdown and for editing structured config and data files such as JSON, YAML and TOML. It is written in Rust with the egui toolkit, so it starts quickly and uses little memory compared with Electron-based editors, and it draws its own native interface rather than embedding a browser. It suits people who want one quick app for notes, READMEs and config files rather than a full programming IDE or a heavyweight knowledge base. Ferrite is free and open source under the MIT licence and is distributed as a desktop app, including on Flathub for Linux. It is a young, mostly single-maintainer project, so it has a smaller feature set and plugin ecosystem than established editors, and there is no mobile version or sync service; your files simply live on disk.

Best for: People who want a quick native app for Markdown notes and config files rather than a full IDE.

What works

Native Rust app that starts fast and stays light
Handles Markdown alongside JSON, YAML and TOML
Free and MIT-licensed

Why people leave

Young project with a small feature set and no plugin ecosystem
No mobile apps or built-in sync
Not a replacement for a programming IDE

Top Ferrite alternatives

See all 6

1
Obsidian
Markdown notes with backlinks, a graph and a huge plugin library, if you want a knowledge base.
68.2
2
Zettlr
Free open-source Markdown editor with citations and export, better for long-form academic writing.
65.9
3
Visual Studio Code
Free editor with Markdown preview and rich JSON/YAML support, for when you need a full IDE too.
55.8
4
Sublime Text
Fast native editor with a mature package ecosystem covering Markdown and every config format.
54.8
5
iA Writer
Polished, distraction-free paid Markdown writing app with focus mode and mobile versions.
52.6

Why people left Ferrite

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Ferrite: common questions

Is Ferrite free?

Yes. Ferrite is free, open-source software.

Is Ferrite open source?

No, Ferrite is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Zettlr, Visual Studio Code and Notepad++.

What platforms does Ferrite run on?

Ferrite is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Ferrite?

The highest-ranked Ferrite alternatives right now are Obsidian, Zettlr and Visual Studio Code. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Ferrite alternatives

Ferrite facts

3 of 3 verified

License: MIT; Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: MIT (MIT License).”
File types: Markdown, JSON, YAML, TOML; Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Description: A fast, lightweight text editor for Markdown, JSON, YAML, and TOML files.”
Built with: Rust and egui; Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Built with Rust and egui for a native, responsive experience..”