Can I mix HTML into Markdown?

Yes. Most Markdown parsers pass through raw HTML, so you can drop in a table or div when Markdown's syntax isn't enough.

Does Markdown replace HTML?

No. Markdown compiles to HTML — the browser still renders HTML. Markdown just makes authoring the common cases easier.

How do I convert between them?

Use a Markdown-to-HTML converter for publishing, or an HTML-to-Markdown converter to turn existing pages into editable prose.

Markdown vs HTML

Markdown and HTML both describe formatted documents, but at different levels. Markdown is a lightweight shorthand designed to be readable as plain text and converted to HTML. HTML is the underlying markup the browser actually renders, with full control over structure and attributes.

The trade-off is speed versus power. Markdown lets you write fast without tags; HTML gives you precise control at the cost of verbosity. Most content workflows author in Markdown and convert to HTML for publishing.

At a glance

Aspect	Markdown	HTML
Verbosity	Minimal, plain-text	Verbose, tag-heavy
Control	Limited to common elements	Full — any element and attribute
Learning curve	Very low	Higher
Renders directly	No — needs conversion	Yes, in browsers
Best for	Docs, READMEs, notes, blog posts	Web pages, email, precise layout

When to use Markdown

You're writing prose-heavy content like docs or articles.
You want source that stays readable without rendering.
You value writing speed over pixel-level control.

When to use HTML

You need custom attributes, classes, or complex structure.
You're building a web page or HTML email.
You need something the browser renders without a build step.

Verdict

Write in Markdown, publish in HTML. Markdown keeps authoring fast and clean, and Markdown supports inline HTML for the rare cases you need extra control. When you inherit HTML you want to edit as prose, convert it back to Markdown. The two are partners in a pipeline, not rivals.

Frequently asked questions

Related free tools

Markdown to HTML

Convert Markdown into clean, ready-to-use HTML code instantly.

Open Tool

HTML to Markdown

Convert HTML source into clean, readable Markdown instantly.

Open Tool

HTML Formatter

Indent and beautify HTML with clean nesting while preserving pre and script blocks.

Open Tool