AI writes Markdown.
Your Mac can't read it.

Native macOS reader for the .md files Claude, ChatGPT, and Copilot keep generating. Renders Mermaid, code, tables. $19.99, one-time.

See pricing details
Fullscreen
What your editor can't do

Read it like a document.
Not like code.

Your editor is for writing. MacMD Viewer is for reading.
Like Preview.app for PDFs, but for Markdown. See how it compares to other markdown viewers for Mac →

QuickLook

Press Space. See it rendered.

Hit Space on any .md file in Finder. Rendered with headings, tables, diagrams. No app to open. Works in Spotlight too. Read the QuickLook setup guide →

Fullscreen
Mermaid

Diagrams without pushing to GitHub

Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, all rendered inline. No more committing just to check if your diagram looks right. Complete Mermaid guide →

User Request
Auth
Validate
Response ✓
Syntax

Code blocks that don't look like Notepad

190+ languages, proper highlighting, follows your system theme. AI-generated code finally looks the way it should.

async function deploy(config) {
const result = await build(config)
return result.publish()
}
Live Reload

AI writes, you watch it render

MacMD Viewer watches the file. When Claude or your editor saves, the preview updates in ~50ms. No refresh. No copy-paste.

VS Code
MacMD Viewer
Changes appear in ~50ms
Zoom

Pinch to zoom on any diagram

Tables, flowcharts, code blocks: pinch or ⌘+ to zoom in.
Retina-sharp at every level.

Fullscreen
Simple pricing

Less than one month of ChatGPT Plus.

You pay $20/month for AI that writes Markdown.
Pay $19.99 once to actually read it.

Single
$19.99 one-time
1 active Mac. Move it anytime — no support ticket.
  • Renders any .md file in seconds
  • Mermaid diagrams: no plugins, no config
  • QuickLook: press Space in Finder
  • Syntax highlighting for 190+ languages
  • Dark & Light mode, follows your system
  • Table of contents sidebar
  • Live reload: edit anywhere, see it here
  • Zoom for diagrams, tables & code

14-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked. Email support@macmdviewer.com.

One-time purchase. No subscription. No account needed.

Most popular
Family Pack
$39.99 one-time, 3 keys
3 license keys, 1 Mac per key. Fully transferable.
  • Renders any .md file in seconds
  • Mermaid diagrams: no plugins, no config
  • QuickLook: press Space in Finder
  • Syntax highlighting for 190+ languages
  • Dark & Light mode, follows your system
  • Table of contents sidebar
  • Live reload: edit anywhere, see it here
  • Zoom for diagrams, tables & code

14-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked. Email support@macmdviewer.com.

One-time purchase. No subscription. No account needed.

FAQ

Questions

I use ChatGPT/Claude. How does this help?

AI tools output Markdown by default. When you save or export the output, you get a .md file. MacMD Viewer lets you open it instantly, rendered with headings, code blocks, tables, and diagrams. No copy-pasting into another tool.

Why not just use VS Code's preview?

VS Code splits your workspace in half, takes 1-2 seconds to load, and doesn't render Mermaid diagrams. MacMD Viewer is a dedicated reader. Double-click a file and it opens rendered, like a PDF.

Can a Mac open Markdown files natively?

macOS opens .md files in TextEdit as raw text. MacMD Viewer registers as the default handler. Double-click any .md file and see it rendered with headings, code blocks, tables, and diagrams.

What's the difference between a viewer and an editor?

An editor lets you write Markdown. A viewer renders it for reading. Think Preview.app for PDFs, but for Markdown. You keep your favorite editor. MacMD Viewer handles the read side.

Does it support Mermaid diagrams?

Yes. Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, state diagrams, Gantt charts, all rendered inline. Standard Mermaid syntax, no plugins needed.

Is there a free trial?

There's no trial. At $19.99, it's less than one month of ChatGPT Plus. And if you're not happy, you get a full refund within 14 days. No questions asked.

How is this different from MacDown or Marked 2?

MacDown hasn't been actively maintained. Marked 3 has moved to a subscription model at $69.99 permanent or $2.99/month. MacMD Viewer is a modern SwiftUI app with Mermaid, syntax highlighting, QuickLook, and live reload, for $19.99 one-time.

Can I convert Markdown to PDF on Mac?

MacMD Viewer renders with print-quality formatting. Use macOS Print > Save as PDF to create a PDF from any rendered Markdown file. Output preserves code highlighting, diagrams, and formatting.

Free Online Tools

No download needed to get started

11 free browser tools for Markdown — convert, format, preview, generate. Everything runs locally. When you want native Mac rendering, grab MacMD Viewer.

Markdown to PDF
Convert .md to clean PDF in the browser.
Markdown to HTML
Paste Markdown, copy clean HTML.
PDF to Markdown
Extract text from PDF into Markdown.
Mermaid Viewer
Live preview and PNG/SVG export.
HTML to Markdown
Turn web HTML into clean Markdown.
Table Generator
Visual grid → Markdown table syntax.
See all 11 free Markdown tools →
From the Blog

Guides & Resources

Markdown Cheat Sheet

Every syntax shortcut in one page: headings, lists, links, images, tables, and code blocks.

Complete Mermaid Diagram Guide

Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, ER diagrams: all 13 Mermaid types explained.

Best Markdown Viewer for Mac

Native vs Electron viewers compared on app size, RAM, speed, QuickLook, and Mermaid support.

Markdown Table Syntax Guide

Create tables in Markdown: columns, alignment, formatting, multi-line cells, and generator tools.

Mermaid Live Editor Guide

Create flowcharts and diagrams free with Mermaid Live Editor: syntax examples, PNG/SVG export.

Cursor / VS Code Markdown Preview Not Working? Fixes + Mac Alternative (2026)

VS Code's preview lacks Mermaid by default. Cursor's reload-after-agent bug is real. Six fixes for the common preview problems, plus when to switch viewers.

View Claude, ChatGPT & Cursor Markdown Output on Mac (2026)

AI agents produce Markdown all day — Claude, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini. Here's the fast Mac workflow: save the .md file, render it natively, skip the browser.

The GEO Playbook: How MacMD Viewer Gets Cited by ChatGPT (2026)

130 sessions/month from ChatGPT on a $19.99 indie Mac app. The exact llms.txt, schema, content, and crawler setup we use to get cited by LLMs — copy it.

GitHub Markdown: Complete GFM Guide with Examples (2026)

GitHub Markdown uses GFM spec v0.29 plus alerts, math, and Mermaid. 180M+ developers write it daily (Octoverse, 2025). Complete syntax guide with examples.

Markdown Center Text: 4 Methods That Actually Work (2026)

Markdown center text requires HTML — no native syntax exists (CommonMark 0.31.2). Use align, inline CSS, or custom classes. Platform compatibility guide inside.

Markdown Comments: 5 Proven Methods That Work (2026)

Markdown comments use HTML syntax (<!-- -->) or the [//]: # hack to hide text from output. 5 methods compared across GitHub, VS Code, and Obsidian.

Stop squinting at
raw Markdown.

$19.99 one-time. 14-day money-back guarantee.

Get MacMD Viewer