MacMD Viewer is the app most similar to Markko. Both are native, read-only Markdown viewers for macOS. Both have Quick Look in Finder, live reload, an outline and 12 themes. We make Markko, so read this page with that in mind. The facts about MacMD Viewer come from its own website, which we mirrored on 2026-10-09. We did not test the app.
At a glance
| Markko | MacMD Viewer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Markko Pro €12.99, one time | $19.99, one time, for one Mac |
| Free version or trial | Free version, no time limit | No trial, no free version; 14-day refund on direct purchases |
| Where to buy | Mac App Store only | Direct from macmdviewer.com; also on Homebrew and Setapp; a Mac App Store version exists |
| Quick Look | Yes (free) | Yes |
| Mermaid | Pro, also in Quick Look | Yes, also in Quick Look |
| Math | Pro (KaTeX) | No |
| Export | Pro: PDF and HTML; print is free | PDF; print |
| Comments | Pro, stored in <file>.md.meta |
Not listed on its site |
| Profiles | Appearance profiles (free) | Not listed on its site |
| Live reload | Yes (free) | Yes |
| Native or Electron | Native | Native (SwiftUI) |
| macOS minimum | macOS 14 | macOS 14 |
Prices are in the currency each vendor states. MacMD Viewer says its prices do not include tax.
Where MacMD Viewer is the better choice
- More ways to get it. You can buy it directly, install it with Homebrew, or use it through Setapp. Markko is on the Mac App Store only.
- One price for everything. There is one licence and no second tier. Mermaid and PDF export are included. In Markko, both are part of Pro.
- Licence packs. MacMD Viewer sells a Family Pack with 3 keys for $39.99 and team packs from $129 for 10 keys. You can move a key to another Mac in the app.
- Hooks for AI coding tools. It has a URL scheme, a Claude Code plugin and a setup script that opens new Markdown files from Claude Code, Cursor and Windsurf.
- Reading controls. Its changelog lists a text column width control and a full-screen view for diagrams and wide tables.
- Refund. Direct purchases can be refunded within 14 days.
Where Markko is the better choice
- You can start for free. Formatted GitHub Flavored Markdown, Quick Look, live reload, outline, find, tabs, themes and print cost nothing. MacMD Viewer has no trial.
- Math. Markko Pro renders math with KaTeX. MacMD Viewer states that it has no math rendering.
- HTML export. Markko Pro exports to PDF and HTML. MacMD Viewer exports to PDF only.
- Comments. Markko Pro lets you comment on a document. The comments are stored next to the file in
<file>.md.meta, so the Markdown file stays as it is. - No analytics. Markko collects no data. MacMD Viewer sends anonymous usage data through TelemetryDeck. It says no file content leaves your Mac.
- Lower price for the full set. Markko Pro is €12.99 once. MacMD Viewer is $19.99 once.
- Appearance profiles and line numbers. Both are in the free version of Markko.
The verdict
The two apps do the same main job, and both do it without changing your files. MacMD Viewer is the better choice if you do not want to use the Mac App Store, if you need keys for a team, or if you want its ready-made hooks for AI coding tools. Markko is the better choice if you want to try a viewer at no cost, if your documents contain math, if you want to add comments, or if you want an app that collects no data. If all you need is Mermaid and PDF export, both apps cover it: compare the price and the place where you prefer to buy.
FAQ
Is there a free version of MacMD Viewer?
No. Its product facts page says there is no trial and no free tier. A single licence costs $19.99 once, and direct purchases can be refunded within 14 days. Markko is a free download, and Markko Pro is a one-time €12.99 in-app purchase.
Do both apps show Mermaid diagrams in Quick Look?
Yes. MacMD Viewer includes Mermaid in its single licence. In Markko, Mermaid is part of Markko Pro, and it also works in Quick Look.
Which of the two renders math?
Markko Pro renders math with KaTeX. MacMD Viewer says on its own comparison pages that it has no math rendering.
Sources
- macmdviewer.com (site mirror, 2026-10-09)
- MacMD Viewer product facts (site mirror, 2026-10-09)
- MacMD Viewer pricing (site mirror, 2026-10-09)
- MacMD Viewer features (site mirror, 2026-10-09)
- MacMD Viewer changelog (site mirror, 2026-10-09)
- MacMD Viewer comparison pages (site mirror, 2026-10-09)