When comparing Dnote vs Zettlr, the Slant community recommends Zettlr for most people. In the question“What are the best knowledge base systems for personal use?” Zettlr is ranked 12th while Dnote is ranked 31st. The most important reason people chose Zettlr is:
While many Markdown editors don't offer specific support for a certain type of workflow, or offer features for scientific workflows only, Zettlr offers features that help the writing process of journalists or researchers in the arts and humanities. It's a lot more text-focused than most editors.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Local first
Supports local use first.
Pro Self-hostable
Because the software is fully open source, it can be self-hosted, if the users want to.
Pro Automated spaced repetition
It sends a weekly digest email for spaced repetition. Refreshes memory and helps learn faster.
Pro Minimal friction
Works as CLI, browser extension, and IDE plugins.
Pro Free and open source software
Free software under GPL license.
Pro End-to-end encrypted
Respects user's privacy with end-to-end encryption
Pro Focuses on writers
While many Markdown editors don't offer specific support for a certain type of workflow, or offer features for scientific workflows only, Zettlr offers features that help the writing process of journalists or researchers in the arts and humanities. It's a lot more text-focused than most editors.
Pro Citation support
While it supports a diverse range of syntax (chart, easy image insert, etc.) found in other editors, the great citation support made it possible to write real articles. Citation from Zotero and Mendeley can be inserted easily which is a huge plus.
Pro Almost perfect
This is the best option, still not perfect, there are some bugs like creating / editing tables and resizing images, but the PROS destroy the CONS, easy quotes, WYSIWYM , attachments tab (supports attaching and opening links to any file), table of contents, TAGs, easy hyperlink between files (same as citations), export to many formats (like Word, HTML5, PDF)...
Pro Renders math in-place through KaTex
Cons
Con Not mobile friendly
No Android app and site is not a PWA. Requires extra work to add notes.
Con No multimedia support
Because it is designed to be as minimalist as possible, it doesn't seem to have multimedia support yet.
Con Obtrusive, like someone WITH CAPS LOCK ON
Too loud, too much going on, and definitely an in-your-face sort of feeling.
Con Large, slow, can't open just a single .md file
