MD Viewer for Mac
A free native app for viewing .md files on macOS
If you're looking for an MD viewer on Mac, you've probably noticed that macOS treats .md files as plain text. Double-click one and TextEdit shows you raw Markdown syntax instead of the formatted document. MDViewer fixes that — it's a free, native macOS app that renders Markdown files the way they're meant to be read.
Why macOS Needs a Dedicated MD Viewer
Developers and technical writers work with .md files constantly — READMEs, API docs, project specs, meeting notes. Without a dedicated viewer, the options are limited:
- TextEdit shows raw syntax — unreadable for complex documents
- VS Code has a preview pane, but takes several seconds to launch and uses hundreds of MB of RAM
- GitHub/GitLab renders Markdown in the browser, but requires pushing or copy-pasting — and you can't view local files
- Quick Look shows plain text unless you install a third-party extension
A dedicated MD viewer opens files instantly, renders them correctly, and stays out of your way.
MDViewer — What You Get
MDViewer is built with SwiftUI specifically for macOS. It's not an Electron app running a web browser under the hood — it's a real native Mac app.
Instant Launch
MDViewer opens in under a second. Set it as your default app for .md files and every Markdown document opens from Finder with a double-click or from the terminal with open file.md.
Smart Table of Contents
A sidebar table of contents is auto-generated from your document's headings. It tracks your scroll position in real time, highlighting the section you're reading. Click any heading to jump there.
Git History and Diff
Browse the commit history of any tracked file directly in the sidebar. Click a commit to see a color-coded diff with line numbers and context. No terminal needed.
Inline Editing
Double-click any word to switch to the editor with the cursor exactly where you clicked. Fix a typo, update a section, then press ⌘S to save or Esc to return to reading.
Tabbed Interface
Open multiple files in one window. Files from Finder or the terminal appear as tabs, not new windows. Switch between documents the way you switch browser tabs.
Full GFM Support
Tables, task lists, fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting, strikethrough, and autolinks — all rendered correctly following the GitHub Flavored Markdown spec.
How to Get Started
- Download MDViewer (free, no account required)
- Drag MDViewer to your Applications folder
- Open any
.mdfile — drag it onto the app icon, use File → Open, or open from Terminal - To make it your default MD viewer: right-click any .md file → Get Info → Open with → MDViewer → Change All
Requires macOS 13.0 or later. Intel and Apple Silicon.
How MDViewer Compares to Other MD Viewers on Mac
| Feature | MDViewer | Typora | VS Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $14.99 | Free |
| Native macOS | ✓ SwiftUI | ✗ Electron | ✗ Electron |
| Launch time | < 1 second | 2–3 seconds | 3–5 seconds |
| Git history | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ (extension) |
| Table of contents | ✓ Auto-tracking | ✓ Outline | ✓ Outline |
| Inline editing | ✓ | ✓ WYSIWYG | ✓ Source only |
For a more detailed breakdown, see our full comparison of Markdown viewers for Mac or the MDViewer vs Typora comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MDViewer really free?
Yes. MDViewer is free during the early adopter period. No ads, no tracking, no account required.
Does it work on Apple Silicon?
Yes. MDViewer runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 13.0 or later.
Can I use MDViewer as my default .md app?
Yes. Right-click any .md file in Finder, choose Get Info, set MDViewer under "Open with", and click "Change All". Every .md file will now open in MDViewer by default.
What if I'm not on a Mac?
You can use the free online Markdown viewer — it runs in any browser with no installation required.