Markling is a local Markdown editor published by Mihail Duchev. No separate Markling account is required. The app has no advertising or tracking SDKs, no developer-operated analytics, and no developer-operated backend. Documents are processed on your device; the developer does not receive your document text through the app or sell personal information.
Documents and local storage
Documents are processed on your device and saved to locations you choose. Settings and recent-file references are stored locally. Android may keep a local recovery copy of unsaved changes in storage excluded from cloud backup and device transfer. The app does not upload document text to the developer.
Local writing tools — upcoming update
The next writing-tools update adds local workspace search, favorites and recent search queries, reusable Markdown templates, writing preferences and goals, and document-history snapshots. These features are being prepared for testing and are not present in every current store build. This section applies when your installed version offers them. Workspace search reads the files you permit Markling to open. Search indexes are held on your device; saved queries, favorites, templates and preferences are local app data. These tools do not send your writing to a developer service or introduce a Markling sync account.
Document history — upcoming update
Document History stores copies of document text in private local app storage, separately from Android recovery of unsaved changes. It keeps up to 30 snapshots per document within a shared 64 MiB source-data limit; older snapshots are removed when limits are reached. A snapshot is limited to the app's 16 MiB document ceiling. Document identifiers in the history index are hashed, but the snapshot text is not encrypted by Markling. The history directory is excluded from Apple backups and Android cloud backup/device transfer. It is a limited local revision history, not an independent backup service.
Use Document History → Clear This Document’s History (Clear history on Android) to remove that document's snapshots. This does not delete the original document, an exported or restored copy, or Android recovery data. Later editing can create new snapshots. Restore as Copy creates a separate document so you can choose what to keep. Removing a file or its Recent Files entry does not clear its separately stored snapshots; clear wanted history before deleting the original or removing app data. Clearing app storage through the operating system removes local history, subject to the operating system's handling of app containers and backups.
Quick Capture and image imports — upcoming update
When you share text, links or images to Markling, or use Quick Capture, Markling receives the content you choose and processes it locally. You choose a new-file folder or an existing append destination. The app remembers destination references and access grants locally so you can use them again. Images you confirm are copied into an assets folder beside the document and linked from ordinary Markdown; these saved files follow the selected provider's retention, backup and sharing rules. Cancelling capture does not delete the sender's original content. Images kept with a failed append may remain available for recovering the draft; inspect the document and its assets before deleting them.
On Mac, the share extension hands text and images to the main app using a temporary local capture-transfer file. When another capture is staged, it attempts to remove transfers older than 24 hours and keep at most four recent transfers. Cleanup runs on a later capture, so 24 hours is not a guaranteed deletion deadline; operating-system temporary-file cleanup may also remove them. Failed handoffs attempt to remove their staged transfer. On Android, capture text, titles, destination references and shared-image references can be stored in private app storage excluded from Android cloud backup and device transfer so an unfinished capture can be restored after a restart. The activity state holds only an opaque local token. Shared-image references are not copies of the image bytes, and restoring them still requires access from the source provider. Stored drafts are not encrypted by Markling. Saving or cancelling a capture removes it from the retained session; the session file is deleted once no captures remain. Closing the activity normally also removes its retained session. After an interrupted session, drafts older than 24 hours are removed when the draft store is next used. The store keeps at most 16 sessions within a 256 MiB storage limit, with up to eight captures per session; older sessions can be removed to stay within those limits. Cleanup is triggered by later app activity, so 24 hours is not a guaranteed deletion deadline. Clearing Markling's app storage removes these retained drafts. Sharing into Markling does not upload that content to the developer.
App lock and screen privacy — upcoming update
Optional app lock uses the operating system's biometrics or device credential to control access inside Markling. The app receives the authentication result, not your fingerprint, face or iris data, device passcode, or login password. Apple share capture authenticates independently when invoked; Mac saving is confirmed in the main app. Inactive-window or recent-app preview protection can hide content, and Android's optional screen-protection setting can prevent screenshots. These controls do not encrypt Markdown documents, image assets, local history, templates or exported files, and do not stop another app that already has permission to access those files. Protect your device account and selected file-provider account as appropriate.
Retention and deletion
You control how long to keep documents: delete them in Files, Finder, or your Android file provider. Removing an entry from Recent Files, clearing the recent list, or turning recent-file storage Off removes references, not the documents themselves. Provider trash, backups, and version history follow that provider's policies.
Local preferences remain until reset or removed. Android recovery data is cleared after a successful save or when recovery is discarded. Clearing Markling's app storage in Android Settings removes its preferences, recent references, recovery data and any local history, templates and capture preferences provided by the installed version; save wanted changes first. On Apple platforms, recent references can be removed in the app. Removing app data through the operating system removes local settings; uninstalling an app does not necessarily delete documents or all Mac container data. Copies you exported or shared remain wherever you saved or sent them.
Network access
Mermaid diagram and KaTeX math libraries are bundled and render locally. A document containing an HTTPS image address may cause Markling to request that image for Preview or export. Plain HTTP images are blocked. The image host may receive your IP address, requested URL, and ordinary request metadata, and applies its own retention and privacy policy. These requests are directed to the addresses in your document, not to the developer.
Mac trial and purchases
The iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro versions are free. Android core editing is free; optional Android Pro purchases are described below. On Mac, Apple handles activation of the free 14-day trial and the optional one-time unlock through the App Store. Markling reads Apple-verified purchase and trial information on your device to determine access and restore purchases. This includes product and transaction references, purchase dates, and whether a purchase has been revoked. The app does not send these records to a developer-operated server. The developer does not receive your payment-card details or Apple Account password.
Markling stores trial-start records and time-check information in the Mac Keychain so that reinstalling the app or changing the clock does not restart a trial. These records may remain after the app is uninstalled. Apple retains purchase and transaction information under its own privacy and retention policies; removing local app data does not delete your App Store purchase history. Starting a trial, buying the unlock, or restoring purchases may contact Apple.
Android Pro purchases
Android Pro is an optional one-time Google Play purchase for PDF/printing and self-contained HTML export. Editable Word (DOCX) export is planned for a later Android update. Opening, reading, editing, saving, Preview, Split view, outline, find and replace, and line numbers remain free.
In the purchase-enabled update, Google Play handles payment and supplies product and purchase information to Markling. The app verifies signed purchase records on your device and stores the signed record, signature and purchase token in private app storage excluded from Android cloud backup and device transfer. The purchase token is sent to Google Play to acknowledge delivery of the unlock. Markling does not send these records or your documents to a developer-operated server. The developer does not receive your payment-card details or Google Account password through the app.
Markling checks Google Play for current purchases when the app returns to the foreground and when you restore access. A previously verified purchase can support offline access if Google Play is temporarily unavailable. A successful purchase check updates or removes local access to reflect the current Google Play account and refunded or revoked purchases; an offline device may not receive those changes immediately. Clearing app storage or reinstalling removes the local record. Restore access through Google Play using the purchasing account after reinstalling or moving to another Android device. Removing local data does not delete your Google Play purchase history. Google processes and retains payment and store records under its own policies. Buying or restoring Pro requires Google Play and may require an internet connection.
Markling connects to Google Play Billing after you open Android Pro, choose a paid export, or request purchase restoration. It remembers that choice locally so later launches can refresh access or finish a pending transaction. Core editing without using these Pro controls does not start the billing service. Clearing app storage removes this local preference and any cached purchase record; save wanted changes first.
The Google Play Billing library also sends Google technical information about its operation through its bundled diagnostic transport. This can include Markling and Billing library versions, Android version, device model and operating-system build details, language and region settings, network type, a randomly generated billing-session value, billing results or errors, and operation timing. This supports operation and troubleshooting of Google Play Billing. Markling does not send document contents to this diagnostic service or use it for advertising. Google handles this service data under its own policies; the developer does not operate or receive its diagnostic logs. These billing communications can occur when the billing service connects or checks access, not only when a payment completes.
File providers and stores
Files stored in iCloud Drive or other cloud providers may sync through those providers under their terms and privacy policies. Stores and operating systems may process purchases, downloads, or diagnostics under their own policies. Markling does not operate its own sync service.
Support and website
If you email support, the developer receives the information you choose to send and uses it to respond. Please do not send private documents unless needed for your request. Support correspondence is kept while needed to resolve the request and handle follow-up; you can ask for deletion by email. Required legal records may be retained where applicable. The static Markling website uses no advertising or analytics scripts. Its hosting provider may process ordinary server request logs to deliver and protect the site.
Children
Markling is a general-purpose productivity app. It processes documents locally and does not ask users, including children, to create a Markling account or send personal information to the developer to use the editor. Mac trial activation and purchases are handled by Apple; Android Pro purchases are handled by Google Play. Store account, purchase approval and family controls apply as described by the relevant store.
Changes and contact
Material changes will be published with an updated effective date. For privacy questions or support-data deletion requests, email support@markling.app.
Website hosting
This static website is hosted by Cloudflare. It has no publisher-added analytics, advertising trackers, contact form, or mailing-list form. Cloudflare may process ordinary delivery and security information, including IP addresses, browser information, requested URLs, and request times. Provider processing and retention follow the applicable service configuration and Cloudflare Privacy Policy. The app data practices described above are separate from these website requests.