MDViewer vs MacMD Viewer
Two native macOS Markdown viewers with QuickLook — compared
Overview
MDViewer and MacMD Viewer are direct competitors. Both are native SwiftUI apps for macOS, both render GitHub Flavored Markdown, and both include QuickLook extensions. If you’re choosing between them, the differences are in features, price, and what each prioritizes.
Quick Comparison
| MDViewer | MacMD Viewer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lite: Free / Pro: $9.99 | $19.99 |
| Framework | SwiftUI | SwiftUI |
| Inline editing | Yes — double-click to edit | No |
| Git history & diff | Yes — browse commits, color-coded diffs | No |
| QuickLook extension | .md, .json, .mermaid | .md (with Mermaid rendering in QuickLook) |
| Mermaid in QuickLook | Yes | Yes |
| Table of contents | Smart TOC with scroll tracking | Yes |
| Tabs | Yes | No |
| Mermaid diagrams | Yes — interactive SVG | Yes |
| KaTeX math | Yes | No |
| Syntax highlighting | Yes | Yes |
| Export to PDF | Yes (smart pagination) | Yes (Print → Save as PDF) |
| Default .md handler | Yes | Yes |
| Custom themes | System light/dark | System light/dark |
| GFM support | Full | Full |
| Minimum macOS | 13.0 | Recent macOS |
Where MacMD Viewer May Have an Edge
QuickLook depth. MacMD Viewer markets itself as having the most feature-complete QuickLook extension for Markdown on Mac. Both apps support Mermaid in QuickLook, but MacMD Viewer may render additional elements in the QuickLook preview that others don’t. If QuickLook is your primary use case, it’s worth testing both.
Marketing and documentation. MacMD Viewer has a well-structured website with blog posts, feature pages, and guides. Their marketing is polished. If you’re evaluating tools for a team, their documentation may help with the decision.
Where MDViewer Wins
Price. MDViewer Lite is free with core viewing features (Markdown rendering, Mermaid, syntax highlighting, QuickLook, TOC, dark mode). Pro costs $9.99 one-time and adds editing, Git history, PDF export, and unlimited tabs. MacMD Viewer costs $19.99 as a one-time purchase.
Inline editing. MDViewer lets you edit Markdown in the same app. Double-click a word, make changes, Cmd+S to save. MacMD Viewer is a viewer only — you need a separate editor.
Git history and diffs. MDViewer shows the full Git commit history of any .md file with color-coded diffs between versions. This is essential for developers reviewing documentation changes. MacMD Viewer doesn’t offer Git integration.
JSON and Mermaid QuickLook. MDViewer’s QuickLook extension handles .md, .json, and .mermaid files — not just Markdown.
KaTeX math rendering. MDViewer renders inline and display LaTeX math formulas. This matters for technical and academic documentation.
Proven track record. MDViewer has been available and actively updated. Check the changelog for version history and feature releases.
Who Should Choose MacMD Viewer
- Users who primarily want QuickLook preview and value MacMD’s deeper QuickLook integration
- People who prefer paying for software to support indie development
- Users who don’t need editing or Git history
Who Should Choose MDViewer
- Developers who work with Git repos and want file history + diffs
- Anyone who wants viewing and editing in one app
- Users who also preview .json and .mermaid files via QuickLook
- People who want a free Lite tier and affordable Pro ($9.99 one-time)
- Teams where a free viewer with optional Pro upgrade is easier than justifying $19.99 per seat
The Bottom Line
MDViewer and MacMD Viewer are both solid native Markdown viewers for macOS. The core Markdown rendering experience is similar. The difference is that MDViewer adds inline editing and Git history, while MacMD Viewer focuses on QuickLook depth.
For most users — especially developers — MDViewer offers more features. MDViewer Lite is free, so you can try both and decide.
Try MDViewer
MDViewer Lite is free. Pro adds editing, Git history, and PDF export for $9.99. Download and see if it fits your workflow.
Requires macOS 13.0 or later. Intel and Apple Silicon.