The free Markdown viewer
for .md files

Open any Markdown file and see it rendered instantly with clean, GitHub-style formatting. Use it right in your browser — or download the fast native Mac app. No sign-up, no ads, free forever.

View Markdown in browser Download for Mac — Free
.md · .markdown · README · CHANGELOG · docs

Stop reading raw Markdown

Markdown files look like a wall of symbols in a plain text editor — # for headings, ** for bold, | for tables. A Markdown viewer renders all of that into the clean, formatted document it's meant to be: real headings, styled tables, highlighted code blocks, and clickable links.

GitHub-style rendering
Headings, tables, task lists, blockquotes, images, and fenced code blocks render exactly the way you expect from GitHub READMEs.
Syntax highlighting
Code blocks are highlighted in dozens of languages — perfect for viewing technical docs, READMEs, and changelogs.
Opens whole folders
Point it at a docs folder and browse every file from the sidebar tree. Search across all documents with ⌘K.
Private & local
Files stay on your machine. The Mac app works fully offline — nothing is uploaded anywhere.
More than a viewer
Need to fix a typo? It's a full Markdown editor too — split view with raw Markdown on the left, live preview on the right.
Free, no sign-up
Pay what you want — including $0. All features included, no account, no watermarks, no ads.

How to open a .md file

  1. In your browser: open the MarkdownPad web app, then drag your .md file in or paste its contents. The rendered preview appears instantly.
  2. On your Mac: download MarkdownPad free, then double-click any .md file or open a whole folder of docs. Toggle between preview-only and split view with ⌘\.
  3. For a repo: open the project folder to browse the README, CHANGELOG, and docs from one sidebar.
# what a viewer turns this…
## Getting Started
Install with `npm install`, then:
```bash
npm run dev
```
- [x] Clone the repo
- [ ] Read the **docs**
# …into a clean, formatted page ✓

Markdown viewer FAQ

What is a Markdown viewer?
A Markdown viewer is an app that renders .md files into formatted documents — turning Markdown syntax like # headings, **bold**, and | tables | into clean, readable pages instead of raw text.
How do I open an .md file on a Mac?
Download MarkdownPad (free), then double-click any .md file or drag it onto the app. You'll see a live, GitHub-style rendered preview immediately. You can also open an entire folder to browse all its Markdown docs.
Can I view Markdown online without installing anything?
Yes — the MarkdownPad web app runs in any modern browser. Open it, drop your .md file in, and the rendered preview appears instantly. No account or installation needed.
Is this Markdown viewer really free?
Yes. MarkdownPad uses pay-what-you-want pricing, and $0 is a valid choice. Every feature is included — viewing, editing, themes, and folder browsing.
Can it edit Markdown too, or only view it?
Both. MarkdownPad is a full editor with slash commands, a table creator, and built-in Claude AI assistance — but you can use it purely as a viewer with the preview-only mode.
Get MarkdownPad free