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Comparison

Downer vs MacDown

MacDown is a free, long-running Markdown editor with a live preview, now carried on by a community edition. Downer is a fast reader with its own editor. Here's how they differ.

Download for MacFree · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon

At a glance

Downer and MacDown side by side
DownerMacDown
Main jobReading Markdown, with an editor when you need itWriting Markdown with a live preview
EditingSource beside live preview, formatting bar, Fix FormattingLive preview as you type, auto-completion and configurable extensions
Mermaid diagramsAbout 35 diagram types, drawn in your themeNot listed on its site
MathKaTeX-compatible commandsTeX-style math
LaTeX papers (.tex)Opens and reads them as pagesNot listed on its site
Themes15 themes, each light and dark, and 30 fontsEditor themes and preview styles such as GitHub, Clearness and Tomorrow
ExportNot availableHTML and PDF in the MacDown 3000 edition
UpkeepUpdated in 2026The original's current version is 0.7.3; the community MacDown 3000 edition continues it
PriceFreeFree, with its source published under the MIT licence

Choose Downer if

  • You read more Markdown than you write and want documents to open almost instantly.
  • You want Mermaid diagrams, math and LaTeX papers drawn without setup, in a theme you like.
  • You want Quick Look previews in Finder, Files with recent documents and collections, and Fix Formatting.

Choose MacDown if

  • You want an editor first, with auto-completion and Markdown extensions you can switch on and off.
  • You need export to HTML or PDF, or you use an Intel Mac or an older macOS (MacDown 3000 needs macOS 11).
  • You want an app whose source you can read and change.

MacDown has been a well-known free Markdown editor on the Mac for years. It started as a successor to Mou, and its community edition, MacDown 3000, carries it on today.

MacDown is an editor first

MacDown shows a live preview as you type, with auto-completion, coloured code blocks, task lists and TeX-style math. You can switch Markdown extensions on and off and pick from a set of preview styles. MacDown 3000 offers export to HTML and PDF and a folder sidebar, and runs on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs. It’s free, and its source is published under the MIT licence.

Downer is a reader first

Downer is built around opening documents. Pages appear almost instantly, long documents get a map of their headings and a command palette, and Mermaid diagrams, math and LaTeX papers are drawn without any setup. It comes with 15 themes in light and dark and 30 fonts. When you need to change something, the editor opens beside the preview, and Fix Formatting tidies a messy file in one step.

The short version

If you want a classic free editor with export, or you’re on an Intel Mac, choose MacDown or MacDown 3000. If you mostly read Markdown and want diagrams, math and papers looking their best, choose Downer.

Sources

Details about MacDown were last checked on . Products change; check their site for the latest.

Questions

Is MacDown still maintained?

The original MacDown's site still offers version 0.7.3. Development continues in MacDown 3000, a community edition that keeps the same approach and runs on current Macs.

Can I switch between them?

Yes. Both open plain Markdown files from anywhere on your Mac, so there's nothing to import.

Editor

Downer opens files for reading. Press edit and the source slides in beside the live preview, scrolled to the same place, with a formatting bar and the shortcuts you expect.

Read more

Themes and fonts

Every theme comes in light and dark, and Downer can switch with your Mac. Pick separate fonts for the page, for code and for the app itself.

Read more

Mermaid diagrams

Open a Markdown file full of Mermaid blocks, or a .mmd file on its own, and Downer draws each diagram right in the page. No browser, no plugins, no waiting.

Read more

Downer vs Typora

Typora is a polished editor that hides Markdown as you type. Downer is a fast reader first, with an editor beside the preview. Here's how they differ.

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Downer vs Marked 2

Marked 2 is a long-standing previewer that sits beside whichever editor you write in. Downer is a reader with its own editor built in. Here's how they differ.

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Downer vs Obsidian

Obsidian is a notes app built around a vault of linked Markdown files, with plugins and paid sync. Downer opens any Markdown file on your Mac and reads it beautifully.

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Try Downer on your Mac

Free for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later.

Download for Mac