MDViewer vs MarkText

Quick Overview

MarkText is a free, open-source Markdown editor built on Electron. It provides true WYSIWYG editing — Markdown renders inline as you type, with no split pane. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux and has over 57,000 GitHub stars.

MDViewer is a free, native macOS Markdown viewer built with SwiftUI. It prioritizes reading over writing, with instant launch, Git history, and a smart table of contents.

Both apps are free. The core difference: MarkText is a cross-platform editor for writing, while MDViewer is a native Mac viewer for reading.

Feature Comparison

Who Should Use MarkText

MarkText is for people who want a free, full-featured Markdown editor with WYSIWYG rendering. It shows your formatted output as you type, without a split pane.

Choose MarkText if:

• You want true WYSIWYG — Markdown renders inline as you type
• You need a free editor on macOS, Windows, and Linux
• You want 33+ themes including dark mode options
• You work with Mermaid diagrams and KaTeX math while writing
• You want Focus and Typewriter modes for distraction-free writing
• You prefer open source software you can inspect and contribute to

Who Should Use MDViewer

MDViewer is for developers who primarily read and review Markdown files. It opens instantly, renders everything correctly, and gives you tools to navigate and understand documents.

Choose MDViewer if:

• You read Markdown files more than you write them
• You need Git history and diffs built into your viewer
• You want an app that launches instantly and uses minimal memory
• You want a native macOS app that integrates with Finder and QuickLook
• You want a smart table of contents that tracks your scroll position
• You want a default .md app for Finder that renders files on open

When MarkText Is the Better Choice

If you write Markdown regularly and want the content to look formatted as you type, MarkText’s WYSIWYG approach is genuinely different from split-pane editors. You see the final output in real time, which is especially useful for documents with tables, images, and diagrams.

MarkText is also the only option if you need the same editor on multiple operating systems. MDViewer is macOS only.

When MDViewer Is the Better Choice

If you care about performance and system integration, MDViewer wins on every metric. As a native SwiftUI app, it launches in milliseconds, uses a fraction of the memory, and integrates with macOS features like QuickLook and Finder.

MDViewer is also the better choice for code-adjacent workflows. Built-in Git history lets you see how a document changed over time, who changed it, and what the diffs look like — without leaving the app. MarkText has no Git integration.

Native vs Electron: Does It Matter?

For a Markdown app, the difference is real:

• Launch time: MDViewer opens instantly. MarkText takes a few seconds to start because it loads a Chromium runtime.
• Memory: MDViewer typically uses 50–100 MB. MarkText uses 300–500 MB due to the Electron overhead.
• System integration: MDViewer supports QuickLook, native macOS keyboard shortcuts, and Finder integration. MarkText provides cross-platform consistency at the cost of native feel.

If you keep a Markdown viewer open all day as a reference tool, the resource difference adds up. If you open an editor for focused writing sessions, it matters less.

Can You Use Both?

Yes. Set MDViewer as your default .md app for instant viewing from Finder. Use MarkText when you want to write or do heavy editing with WYSIWYG rendering. Both are free, so there’s no cost to keeping both installed.

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.