Benchmark: Markdown Parser Performance Comparison [as of May 2025]

HTML Preparation code:

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://unpkg.com/marked@15.0.11/marked.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://unpkg.com/markdown-it@14.1.0/dist/markdown-it.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://unpkg.com/remarkable@2.0.1/dist/remarkable.min.js"></script>

Script Preparation code:

var markedLexer = new marked.Lexer();
var markdownItParser = markdownit();
var remarkableParser = new remarkable.Remarkable();

var md = [
		"---",
"__Advertisement :)__",
"",
"- __[pica](https://nodeca.github.io/pica/demo/)__ - high quality and fast image",
"  resize in browser.",
"- __[babelfish](https://github.com/nodeca/babelfish/)__ - developer friendly",
"  i18n with plurals support and easy syntax.",
"",
"You will like those projects!",
"",
"---",
"",
"# h1 Heading 8-)",
"## h2 Heading",
"### h3 Heading",
"#### h4 Heading",
"##### h5 Heading",
"###### h6 Heading",
"",
"",
"## Horizontal Rules",
"",
"___",
"",
"---",
"",
"***",
"",
"",
"## Typographic replacements",
"",
"Enable typographer option to see result.",
"",
"(c) (C) (r) (R) (tm) (TM) (p) (P) +-",
"",
"test.. test... test..... test?..... test!....",
"",
"!!!!!! ???? ,,  -- ---",
"",
"\"Smartypants, double quotes\" and 'single quotes'",
"",
"",
"## Emphasis",
"",
"**This is bold text**",
"",
"__This is bold text__",
"",
"*This is italic text*",
"",
"_This is italic text_",
"",
"~~Strikethrough~~",
"",
"",
"## Blockquotes",
"",
"",
"> Blockquotes can also be nested...",
">> ...by using additional greater-than signs right next to each other...",
"> > > ...or with spaces between arrows.",
"",
"",
"## Lists",
"",
"Unordered",
"",
"+ Create a list by starting a line with `+`, `-`, or `*`",
"+ Sub-lists are made by indenting 2 spaces:",
"  - Marker character change forces new list start:",
"    * Ac tristique libero volutpat at",
"    + Facilisis in pretium nisl aliquet",
"    - Nulla volutpat aliquam velit",
"+ Very easy!",
"",
"Ordered",
"",
"1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet",
"2. Consectetur adipiscing elit",
"3. Integer molestie lorem at massa",
"",
"",
"1. You can use sequential numbers...",
"1. ...or keep all the numbers as `1.`",
"",
"Start numbering with offset:",
"",
"57. foo",
"1. bar",
"",
"",
"## Code",
"",
"Inline `code`",
"",
"Indented code",
"",
"    // Some comments",
"    line 1 of code",
"    line 2 of code",
"    line 3 of code",
"",
"",
"Block code \"fences\"",
"",
"```",
"Sample text here...",
"```",
"",
"Syntax highlighting",
"",
"``` js",
"var foo = function (bar) {",
"  return bar++;",
"};",
"",
"console.log(foo(5));",
"```",
"",
"## Tables",
"",
"| Option | Description |",
"| ------ | ----------- |",
"| data   | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. |",
"| engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. |",
"| ext    | extension to be used for dest files. |",
"",
"Right aligned columns",
"",
"| Option | Description |",
"| ------:| -----------:|",
"| data   | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. |",
"| engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. |",
"| ext    | extension to be used for dest files. |",
"",
"",
"## Links",
"",
"[link text](http://dev.nodeca.com)",
"",
"[link with title](http://nodeca.github.io/pica/demo/ \"title text!\")",
"",
"Autoconverted link https://github.com/nodeca/pica (enable linkify to see)",
"",
"",
"## Images",
"",
"![Minion](https://octodex.github.com/images/minion.png)",
"![Stormtroopocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/stormtroopocat.jpg \"The Stormtroopocat\")",
"",
"Like links, Images also have a footnote style syntax",
"",
"![Alt text][id]",
"",
"With a reference later in the document defining the URL location:",
"",
"[id]: https://octodex.github.com/images/dojocat.jpg  \"The Dojocat\"",
"",
"",
"## Plugins",
"",
"The killer feature of `markdown-it` is very effective support of",
"[syntax plugins](https://www.npmjs.org/browse/keyword/markdown-it-plugin).",
"",
"",
"### [Emojies](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-emoji)",
"",
"> Classic markup: :wink: :crush: :cry: :tear: :laughing: :yum:",
">",
"> Shortcuts (emoticons): :-) :-( 8-) ;)",
"",
"see [how to change output](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-emoji#change-output) with twemoji.",
"",
"",
"### [Subscipt](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-sub) / [Superscirpt](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-sup)",
"",
"- 19^th^",
"- H~2~O",
"",
"",
"### [\<ins>](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-ins)",
"",
"++Inserted text++",
"",
"",
"### [\<mark>](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-mark)",
"",
"==Marked text==",
"",
"",
"### [Footnotes](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-footnote)",
"",
"Footnote 1 link[^first].",
"",
"Footnote 2 link[^second].",
"",
"Inline footnote^[Text of inline footnote] definition.",
"",
"Duplicated footnote reference[^second].",
"",
"[^first]: Footnote **can have markup**",
"",
"    and multiple paragraphs.",
"",
"[^second]: Footnote text.",
"",
"",
"### [Definition lists](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-deflist)",
"",
"Term 1",
"",
":   Definition 1",
"with lazy continuation.",
"",
"Term 2 with *inline markup*",
"",
":   Definition 2",
"",
"        { some code, part of Definition 2 }",
"",
"    Third paragraph of definition 2.",
"",
"_Compact style:_",
"",
"Term 1",
"  ~ Definition 1",
"",
"Term 2",
"  ~ Definition 2a",
"  ~ Definition 2b",
"",
"",
"### [Abbreviations](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-abbr)",
"",
"This is HTML abbreviation example.",
"",
"It converts \"HTML\", but keep intact partial entries like \"xxxHTMLyyy\" and so on.",
"",
"*[HTML]: Hyper Text Markup Language",
"---",
"__Advertisement :)__",
"",
"- __[pica](https://nodeca.github.io/pica/demo/)__ - high quality and fast image",
"  resize in browser.",
"- __[babelfish](https://github.com/nodeca/babelfish/)__ - developer friendly",
"  i18n with plurals support and easy syntax.",
"",
"You will like those projects!",
"",
"---",
"",
"# h1 Heading 8-)",
"## h2 Heading",
"### h3 Heading",
"#### h4 Heading",
"##### h5 Heading",
"###### h6 Heading",
"",
"",
"## Horizontal Rules",
"",
"___",
"",
"---",
"",
"***",
"",
"",
"## Typographic replacements",
"",
"Enable typographer option to see result.",
"",
"(c) (C) (r) (R) (tm) (TM) (p) (P) +-",
"",
"test.. test... test..... test?..... test!....",
"",
"!!!!!! ???? ,,  -- ---",
"",
"\"Smartypants, double quotes\" and 'single quotes'",
"",
"",
"## Emphasis",
"",
"**This is bold text**",
"",
"__This is bold text__",
"",
"*This is italic text*",
"",
"_This is italic text_",
"",
"~~Strikethrough~~",
"",
"",
"## Blockquotes",
"",
"",
"> Blockquotes can also be nested...",
">> ...by using additional greater-than signs right next to each other...",
"> > > ...or with spaces between arrows.",
"",
"",
"## Lists",
"",
"Unordered",
"",
"+ Create a list by starting a line with `+`, `-`, or `*`",
"+ Sub-lists are made by indenting 2 spaces:",
"  - Marker character change forces new list start:",
"    * Ac tristique libero volutpat at",
"    + Facilisis in pretium nisl aliquet",
"    - Nulla volutpat aliquam velit",
"+ Very easy!",
"",
"Ordered",
"",
"1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet",
"2. Consectetur adipiscing elit",
"3. Integer molestie lorem at massa",
"",
"",
"1. You can use sequential numbers...",
"1. ...or keep all the numbers as `1.`",
"",
"Start numbering with offset:",
"",
"57. foo",
"1. bar",
"",
"",
"## Code",
"",
"Inline `code`",
"",
"Indented code",
"",
"    // Some comments",
"    line 1 of code",
"    line 2 of code",
"    line 3 of code",
"",
"",
"Block code \"fences\"",
"",
"```",
"Sample text here...",
"```",
"",
"Syntax highlighting",
"",
"``` js",
"var foo = function (bar) {",
"  return bar++;",
"};",
"",
"console.log(foo(5));",
"```",
"",
"## Tables",
"",
"| Option | Description |",
"| ------ | ----------- |",
"| data   | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. |",
"| engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. |",
"| ext    | extension to be used for dest files. |",
"",
"Right aligned columns",
"",
"| Option | Description |",
"| ------:| -----------:|",
"| data   | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. |",
"| engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. |",
"| ext    | extension to be used for dest files. |",
"",
"",
"## Links",
"",
"[link text](http://dev.nodeca.com)",
"",
"[link with title](http://nodeca.github.io/pica/demo/ \"title text!\")",
"",
"Autoconverted link https://github.com/nodeca/pica (enable linkify to see)",
"",
"",
"## Images",
"",
"![Minion](https://octodex.github.com/images/minion.png)",
"![Stormtroopocat](https://octodex.github.com/images/stormtroopocat.jpg \"The Stormtroopocat\")",
"",
"Like links, Images also have a footnote style syntax",
"",
"![Alt text][id]",
"",
"With a reference later in the document defining the URL location:",
"",
"[id]: https://octodex.github.com/images/dojocat.jpg  \"The Dojocat\"",
"",
"",
"## Plugins",
"",
"The killer feature of `markdown-it` is very effective support of",
"[syntax plugins](https://www.npmjs.org/browse/keyword/markdown-it-plugin).",
"",
"",
"### [Emojies](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-emoji)",
"",
"> Classic markup: :wink: :crush: :cry: :tear: :laughing: :yum:",
">",
"> Shortcuts (emoticons): :-) :-( 8-) ;)",
"",
"see [how to change output](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-emoji#change-output) with twemoji.",
"",
"",
"### [Subscipt](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-sub) / [Superscirpt](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-sup)",
"",
"- 19^th^",
"- H~2~O",
"",
"",
"### [\<ins>](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-ins)",
"",
"++Inserted text++",
"",
"",
"### [\<mark>](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-mark)",
"",
"==Marked text==",
"",
"",
"### [Footnotes](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-footnote)",
"",
"Footnote 1 link[^first].",
"",
"Footnote 2 link[^second].",
"",
"Inline footnote^[Text of inline footnote] definition.",
"",
"Duplicated footnote reference[^second].",
"",
"[^first]: Footnote **can have markup**",
"",
"    and multiple paragraphs.",
"",
"[^second]: Footnote text.",
"",
"",
"### [Definition lists](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-deflist)",
"",
"Term 1",
"",
":   Definition 1",
"with lazy continuation.",
"",
"Term 2 with *inline markup*",
"",
":   Definition 2",
"",
"        { some code, part of Definition 2 }",
"",
"    Third paragraph of definition 2.",
"",
"_Compact style:_",
"",
"Term 1",
"  ~ Definition 1",
"",
"Term 2",
"  ~ Definition 2a",
"  ~ Definition 2b",
"",
"",
"### [Abbreviations](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-abbr)",
"",
"This is HTML abbreviation example.",
"",
"It converts \"HTML\", but keep intact partial entries like \"xxxHTMLyyy\" and so on.",
"",
"*[HTML]: Hyper Text Markup Language"].join("\n");

Tests:

marked.js
markedLexer.lex(md);
markdown-it
markdownItParser.parse(md, {});
Remarkable
remarkableParser.parse(md, {});

Historical Performance Data aggregated from 6 community runs

Desktop Results:

Chrome 6 runs

Remarkable

7K/s

markdown-it

4K/s

marked.js

2K/s

Fastest: Remarkable (3.0x faster)

View exact numbers

✓ Remarkable: 7,182 ops/sec
• markdown-it: 4,095 ops/sec
• marked.js: 2,381 ops/sec

Results show median performance across all community submissions. Run this benchmark yourself to verify on your device.

Rendered benchmark preparation results:

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Previous results

Test case name	Result
marked.js
markdown-it
Remarkable

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Latest run results:

Run details: (Test run date: one month ago)

User agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/149.0.0.0 Safari/537.36 Edg/149.0.0.0

Browser/OS: Chrome 149 on Windows

View result in a separate tab

Remarkable

7K/s

markdown-it

4K/s

marked.js

2K/s

View exact numbers

Test name	Executions per second
✓ Remarkable	6,686 Ops/sec
markdown-it	3,638 Ops/sec
marked.js	2,327 Ops/sec

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model gpt-4o-mini, generated one year ago):

LLMs can make mistakes. Check important info.

### Benchmark Overview

The benchmark tests the performance of three different JavaScript libraries for parsing Markdown: **marked.js**, **markdown-it**, and **Remarkable**. Each library has its strengths and weaknesses, and the benchmark aims to evaluate their respective performance in terms of how many executions per second they can achieve when parsing a predefined Markdown string.

### Libraries and Their Purpose

1. **marked.js**
   - **Purpose**: Marked is a lightweight Markdown parser and compiler written in JavaScript. Its main goal is to provide a fast and efficient way to convert Markdown into HTML.
   - **Pros**: 
     - Simple to use and lightweight.
     - Good performance for basic parsing tasks.
   - **Cons**: 
     - Limited extensibility compared to other libraries. 
     - May not support advanced features found in other Markdown specifications.

2. **markdown-it**
   - **Purpose**: This is a powerful Markdown parser that supports a wide range of plugins and is highly configurable.
   - **Pros**: 
     - Extensive plugin architecture allowing for custom features (like emojis, footnotes, etc.).
     - Good performance with a rich feature set.
   - **Cons**: 
     - Slightly heavier than marked.js in terms of size and complexity.
     - Can be overkill for simple Markdown parsing tasks.

3. **Remarkable**
   - **Purpose**: Remarkable aims to be a fast and extensible Markdown parser, blending performance with additional features.
   - **Pros**: 
     - Good performance while being feature-rich.
     - Supports extensibility with a clean API.
   - **Cons**: 
     - May require more setup for advanced features compared to some other libraries.

### Performance Results

The benchmark results indicated the following executions per second for each library when parsing the same Markdown string:

- **Remarkable**: 5591.80 executions per second
- **markdown-it**: 2849.71 executions per second
- **marked.js**: 1706.42 executions per second

From the results:

- **Remarkable** stands out as the fastest option, capable of executing the parsing process nearly three times faster than **markdown-it** and more than three times faster than **marked.js**.
- **markdown-it** provides a balance, being more flexible than marked.js while still maintaining reasonable performance.
- **marked.js**, while being the slowest in this specific benchmark, provides simplicity and efficiency for less complex use cases.

### Considerations and Alternatives

When choosing a Markdown parser, considerations include:

- **Performance needs**: If rapid parsing is essential, Remarkable may be the best choice.
- **Feature requirements**: If advanced Markdown features (like footnotes, definition lists, etc.) are needed, markdown-it should be considered since it has robust plugin support.
- **Project complexity**: For projects requiring minimal Markdown functionality, marked.js could suffice, offering a lightweight solution with less overhead.

### Alternatives

Other Markdown parser libraries that could also be explored include:

- **Showdown**: A simple and robust Markdown to HTML converter that is easy to use. 
- **marked-it**: A library similar to markdown-it that integrates GraphQL and Markdown, tailoring for specific needs.
- **Remark**: A popular compiler that can transform Markdown into HTML while allowing for plugins and transformations, particularly useful in modern workflows.

Each library has unique traits, and the best choice depends on the specific requirements of your project, such as ease of use, speed, feature set, and extensibility.

Markdown Parser Performance Comparison [as of May 2025] (version: 1)

A performance comparison of Javascript Markdown parsers.

Comparing performance of: `marked.js vs markdown-it vs Remarkable`

Created: one year ago by: Guest

Go to the latest result

marked.js

markdown-it

Remarkable

Historical Performance Data aggregated from 6 community runs

Desktop Results:

Chrome 6 runs

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model gpt-4o-mini, generated one year ago):

Markdown Parser Performance Comparison [as of May 2025] (version: 1)

A performance comparison of Javascript Markdown parsers.

Comparing performance of: marked.js vs markdown-it vs Remarkable

Created: one year ago by: Guest

Go to the latest result

marked.js

markdown-it

Remarkable

Historical Performance Data aggregated from 6 community runs

Desktop Results:

Chrome 6 runs

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model gpt-4o-mini, generated one year ago):

Related benchmarks

Comparing performance of: `marked.js vs markdown-it vs Remarkable`