MDViewer vs Marked 2
Two macOS Markdown previewers compared — which one fits your workflow?
Overview
Marked 2 has been a go-to Markdown previewer on Mac for over a decade. It’s a polished, well-known app with a loyal user base. MDViewer is a newer alternative that takes a different approach — combining viewing, editing, and Git history in one native app. It’s currently free for early adopters (a Pro tier is planned).
Both are macOS-native and both focus on reading Markdown rather than writing it from scratch. But they differ in philosophy, features, and price.
Quick Comparison
| MDViewer | Marked 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (early access; Pro tier planned) | $13.99 (or Setapp) |
| Framework | SwiftUI | AppKit |
| Inline editing | Yes — double-click to edit | No — preview only |
| Git history & diff | Yes — browse commits, color-coded diffs | No |
| Table of contents | Smart TOC with scroll tracking | Auto-generated TOC |
| Tabs | Yes | Yes |
| QuickLook extension | .md, .json, .mermaid | No |
| Mermaid diagrams | Yes — interactive SVG | No (requires custom processor) |
| KaTeX math | Yes | Yes (via MathJax processor) |
| Writing analysis | No | Yes — word count, Fog Index, Flesch-Kincaid |
| Custom CSS themes | No (system light/dark) | Yes — multiple built-in + custom |
| Export to PDF | Yes (smart pagination) | Yes (multiple formats) |
| Export to Word/HTML | No | Yes |
| Third-party editor integration | Not needed (has built-in editing) | Scrivener, Ulysses, Bear, MarsEdit |
| Default .md handler | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum macOS | 13.0 (Ventura) | 10.13 (High Sierra) |
| GFM support | Full | Full |
Where Marked 2 Wins
Writing analysis tools. Marked 2 includes Fog Index, Flesch-Kincaid readability scoring, word/sentence counts, and tips for simplifying sentences. If you’re writing prose — blog posts, books, documentation — these tools are genuinely useful. MDViewer doesn’t have writing analysis.
Custom themes and CSS. Marked 2 lets you apply custom CSS stylesheets to change how your Markdown renders. You can create themes that match your blog, your company docs, or your personal preference. MDViewer uses system light/dark mode only.
Third-party editor integration. Marked 2 was designed to pair with external editors. It watches your file and updates the preview every time you save. It integrates deeply with Scrivener, Ulysses, Highland 2, and others. If you already have a writing tool and just need a preview window, Marked 2 was purpose-built for that workflow.
Export formats. Marked 2 exports to HTML, Word (.docx), PDF, and RTF. MDViewer exports to PDF only.
Older macOS support. Marked 2 runs on macOS 10.13+. MDViewer requires macOS 13.0+. If you’re on an older Mac, Marked 2 is the only option.
Where MDViewer Wins
Price (right now). MDViewer is currently free for early adopters — all features included, no paywalled tiers. A Pro plan is expected in the future, but early users get the full app at no cost. Marked 2 costs $13.99 on the Mac App Store (or is included in a Setapp subscription).
Built-in editing. MDViewer lets you double-click any word to enter edit mode, make changes, and save with Cmd+S. You don’t need a separate editor. Marked 2 is strictly a previewer — you need another app to edit.
Git history and diffs. MDViewer can browse the Git commit history of any .md file and show color-coded diffs between versions. This is unique among Markdown viewers and invaluable for developers working with README.md, CHANGELOG.md, or documentation in Git repos.
Mermaid diagrams. MDViewer renders Mermaid diagrams as interactive SVGs with zoom and pan. Marked 2 doesn’t support Mermaid natively — you’d need to set up a custom preprocessor.
QuickLook extension. MDViewer includes a QuickLook extension for .md, .json, and .mermaid files. Press Space in Finder to preview without opening the app. Marked 2 doesn’t offer QuickLook.
Modern architecture. MDViewer is built with SwiftUI, launches instantly, and uses minimal memory. It’s designed for modern macOS.
Who Should Choose Marked 2
- Writers and authors who use Scrivener, Ulysses, or Highland and need a live preview companion
- People who need readability scoring and writing analytics
- Users who want custom CSS themes for different rendering styles
- Anyone on macOS 10.13–12 who can’t run MDViewer
Who Should Choose MDViewer
- Developers who work with Git repos and want to see file history and diffs
- Anyone who wants both viewing and editing in one app
- Users who read Mermaid diagrams (architecture docs, flowcharts)
- People who want a full-featured Markdown viewer at no cost (currently free for early adopters)
- Users who want QuickLook preview for .md files in Finder
The Bottom Line
Marked 2 is a mature, well-designed previewer built for writers who work in external editors. MDViewer is a modern viewer-editor built for developers who work with Markdown in Git repos.
If your workflow is “write in Scrivener, preview in Marked” — Marked 2 does that better. If your workflow is “open .md files, read them, sometimes edit, check Git history” — MDViewer is the better fit. It’s currently free for early adopters, so there’s no reason not to try both.
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.