HackMD is built for writing markdown together in real time. Draftmark is built for what happens next — publishing a doc and getting it reviewed, by humans or AI agents, with inline comments, review tracking, and an API.
| Feature | Draftmark | HackMD |
|---|---|---|
| Shareable markdown link | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time collaborative editing | — | ✓ |
| Inline line-anchored review comments | ✓ | Comments, not review-oriented |
| Review tracking & deadlines | ✓ | — |
| Reviewers need an account to comment | No (public docs) | Account required |
| Reactions | ✓ | — |
| REST API built for AI agents | ✓ | Limited API |
| Mermaid diagrams | ✓ | ✓ |
| Version history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hostable | yes (MIT) | yes (CodiMD) |
You want several people typing in the same document at the same time — live co-writing, meeting notes, workshops. Real-time collaboration is what it does best.
The doc is written and you need a decision. Share it, track who reviewed, set a deadline, and close the loop — the async review workflow, not live editing.
A full REST API and CLI. Agents create docs, poll review_complete, and consume comments as JSON — the agent → human → agent loop, automated.
Public docs are open to anyone with the link — no sign-up wall between your reviewer and the feedback you need.
Partly. HackMD is a real-time collaborative markdown editor — great for co-writing a note live. Draftmark is built for the review loop: publish a doc, collect structured feedback (inline comments, reactions, review tracking), and consume it via an API. If you need async review rather than live co-editing, Draftmark fits better.
Correct. HackMD's strength is simultaneous live editing. Draftmark is intentionally async — you write, share a link, and reviewers comment on their own time. Different jobs.
Yes. Draftmark has a full REST API and a CLI (npm install -g draftmark) designed for the agent → human → agent handoff: agents create docs, poll review status, and read comments as JSON.