MDViewer vs MacDown
Two free Markdown apps for Mac — one actively maintained, one legacy
Quick Overview
MacDown is a free, open-source Markdown editor for macOS with a split-pane live preview. It was one of the most popular Markdown apps on Mac, but the original project has not had a stable release since January 2020. A community fork called MacDown 3000 continues development.
MDViewer is a free, native macOS Markdown viewer with inline editing, Git history, Mermaid diagrams, and a smart table of contents. It is actively maintained and built with SwiftUI.
Both are free. The key difference is that MacDown is a split-pane editor designed for writing, while MDViewer is a viewer-first app designed for reading and navigating Markdown files.
Feature Comparison
| MDViewer | MacDown | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (open source) |
| Last stable release | Actively updated | January 2020 (v0.7.3) |
| Technology | Native SwiftUI | Native Cocoa |
| Apple Silicon | Native | Rosetta 2 only (original) |
| Primary use | Viewing & quick edits | Writing & editing |
| Live preview | Rendered view (default) | Split-pane (editor + preview) |
| Inline editing | Yes (double-click to edit) | No (always in split view) |
| Git history & diff | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Tabs | Yes | No (separate windows) |
| Table of contents | Yes (auto, tracks scroll) | No |
| Mermaid diagrams | Yes (interactive SVG) | Broken in v0.7.3 |
| Math (LaTeX) | Yes (KaTeX) | Yes (MathJax) |
| Export to PDF | Yes (⌘⇧E) | Yes (print-based) |
| Custom themes | Light & Dark (system) | Multiple preview themes |
| QuickLook extension | Yes | No (MacDown 3000: yes) |
| Gatekeeper signed | Yes | No (security warning) |
Who Should Use MacDown
MacDown is a good choice if you want a split-pane writing environment where you see source and preview side by side. It still works for basic Markdown editing and supports LaTeX math, Graphviz, and code highlighting.
Consider MacDown (or MacDown 3000) if:
- You prefer a side-by-side editor + preview layout
- You want an open-source app you can modify
- You write Markdown with LaTeX math or Graphviz diagrams
- You need multiple preview themes for different contexts
Who Should Use MDViewer
MDViewer is designed for people who read Markdown more than they write it — developers reviewing READMEs, specs, and documentation. It opens files instantly, shows them rendered, and lets you navigate with a smart table of contents.
Choose MDViewer if:
- You want a modern, maintained app with native Apple Silicon support
- You need Git history and diffs without opening a terminal
- You want Mermaid diagrams that actually render (broken in MacDown v0.7.3)
- You need tabs to keep multiple files in one window
- You want a default .md app that opens from Finder without security warnings
- You want a table of contents that tracks your scroll position
When MacDown Is the Better Choice
If your workflow is writing-first — drafting blog posts, papers, or documentation — MacDown’s split-pane layout gives you constant feedback as you type. You see source on the left, rendered output on the right, in real time.
MacDown also supports Graphviz diagrams natively, which MDViewer does not. If you use Graphviz for graphs and flowcharts, MacDown handles that out of the box.
When MDViewer Is the Better Choice
If you spend more time reading Markdown than writing it, MDViewer is purpose-built for that. It renders files instantly, tracks your position with a table of contents, and lets you browse Git history without leaving the app.
MDViewer is also the practical choice if you care about maintenance and compatibility. The original MacDown triggers Gatekeeper warnings, doesn’t run natively on Apple Silicon, and has 500+ unresolved issues. MDViewer is signed, notarized, and actively updated.
What About MacDown 3000?
MacDown 3000 is a community fork that picks up where the original left off. It adds Apple Silicon support, a QuickLook extension, Mermaid v11, and new themes. If you liked MacDown’s split-pane workflow but need modern macOS support, it’s worth trying.
The tradeoff: it’s maintained by a solo developer, and it’s still a Cocoa app — functional but not built with the latest Apple frameworks.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Set MDViewer as your default .md app for quick viewing and reading. Use MacDown (or MacDown 3000) when you want to write in split-pane mode. They don’t conflict.
Try MDViewer
MDViewer is currently free for early adopters — all features included. Download it and see if it fits your workflow.
Requires macOS 13.0 or later. Intel and Apple Silicon.