You are writing a thesis, and your notes, sources and drafts sit in separate files that never line up. Zettlr, a Windows note-taking app by Hendrik Erz, tries to gather them in one Markdown workspace with citation support. The download link on this page points to github.com, the official server.
Scattered notes and citations in one editor
Zettlr targets academic and research writing. Its tags in the catalog include citation, cite, document, editor, markdown and research, which matches that focus.
The idea is plain text files you can write in Markdown, with sources handled inside the same tool. The developer describes the aim as bringing simplicity back to texts.
Search and export for school or work pipelines
Two features answer the scattered-files problem directly. Fast information retrieval is meant to surface the notes that matter, and the exporting options are meant to fit whatever publication pipeline an employer or school uses.
Because specific export formats are not listed here, check that your required output is supported before you commit a project to it.
What to check before installing version 4.9.0
The installer is 157.6 MB, which is sizable for a text editor. Version 4.9.0 was released on October 25, 2026, and the package ID is Zettlr.Zettlr.
The release drops support for macOS 12 and Ubuntu 17.04 and below, which does not affect Windows users. The app is free and published under GPL-3.0. The developer asks for donations through Patreon or PayPal.
What's new in 4.9.0
Version 4.9.0 fixes the "Update failed" error that appeared often after 4.8.0. It also patches a security vulnerability tied to faulty eMudhra TLS certificates and renders reference-style images.
Zettlr pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with a GPL-3.0 license
- Built around Markdown, citation and research writing
- Search is meant to find relevant notes quickly
- Export is meant to fit school or employer publication workflows
- Version 4.9.0 fixes a security vulnerability and the update error
Cons
- Installer is 157.6 MB
- Export formats should be checked before committing a project
- Captions of reference-style images must be edited in the reference itself
- Export compatibility needs checking against your required format
Is Zettlr safe?
Zettlr is open source under the GPL-3.0 license and is published by Hendrik Erz, so its code is open to inspection. Version 4.9.0 closes a security vulnerability caused by faulty eMudhra TLS certificates, and the developers recommend updating right away. It also removes the "Update failed" error that many users saw after 4.8.0; the error was harmless, but it was a nuisance.
How to install Zettlr
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Zettlr from the Start menu.
