The same file in both apps
Marked 3 is a Markdown preview app for the Mac by Brett Terpstra, the successor of Marked 2. You write in any editor, and Marked shows the result as you work. Markko is a read-only Markdown viewer. We make Markko, so read this page with that in mind. The facts about Marked 3 come from its website and pricing page, checked on 2026-10-15. For the screenshot, we opened the Setapp version 3.2.17 on a Mac and looked into its app bundle; we did not test it further.
At a glance
| Markko | Marked 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Markko Pro €12.99, one time | $4.99 a month, $49.99 a year, or $89.99 for a permanent unlock (lower introductory prices) |
| Free version or trial | Free version, no time limit | Free trial of the direct version |
| Where to buy | Mac App Store only | Mac App Store, direct from the developer, or Setapp |
| Quick Look | Yes (free) | Not in Marked 3; separate app Marked QL, $9.99 |
| Mermaid | Pro, also in Quick Look | Yes |
| Math | Pro (KaTeX) | Yes (MathJax and KaTeX are in the app) |
| Export | Pro: PDF and HTML; print is free | PDF, HTML, DOCX, EPUB, RTF, Markdown and more |
| Live reload | Yes (free) | Yes, updates as you edit in your editor |
| macOS minimum | macOS 14 | macOS 11, according to its website |
Prices are in the currency each vendor states. Marked 2 is still sold for $14.99 one time and gets only minimal updates.
Where Marked 3 is the better choice
- Export. Marked 3 saves to DOCX (with change tracking and comments), EPUB, RTF and more. Markko Pro exports to PDF and HTML only.
- Your own styles. Marked 3 has built-in themes and custom CSS. Markko has 12 themes with light and dark.
- Tools for writers. Marked 3 has grammar and style checks. These are not on Markko’s feature list.
- Older Macs. Marked 3 runs on macOS 11 or later, according to its website. Markko needs macOS 14.
- Direct purchase and Setapp. You can buy Marked 3 outside the Mac App Store, or use it with Setapp.
Where Markko is the better choice
- Quick Look is included. Press Space in Finder and see the formatted document. This is in the free version of Markko. For Marked 3, you buy a second app.
- Free without a time limit. Reading, Quick Look, live reload, outline, find, tabs, themes and print cost nothing.
- One low price. Markko Pro is €12.99 one time. Marked 3 is a subscription, or $89.99 for a permanent unlock.
- Comments. Markko Pro stores comments next to the file in
<file>.md.meta. The Markdown file stays as it is. - Mermaid in Quick Look. With Markko Pro, diagrams show in the Finder preview too.
- Made for reading. Markko has an outline, window tabs, line numbers and appearance profiles in the free version.
The verdict
Marked 3 is a tool for people who write and publish. If you must hand over a Word file or an EPUB, or you want your preview to look like your website, Marked 3 does that and Markko does not. Markko is for people who read Markdown: documentation, notes and the files that AI tools write. It opens from Finder with Quick Look, it is free to start, and it never changes your file. Many people can use both: Marked 3 to prepare a text for publication, Markko to read everything else.
FAQ
Does Marked 3 have Quick Look in Finder?
No. Quick Look is a separate app from the same developer, Marked QL, for $9.99 on the Mac App Store or in Setapp. The Marked 3 app that we installed has no Quick Look extension. Markko includes Quick Look in its free version.
How much does Marked 3 cost?
The developer's pricing page lists $4.99 a month, $49.99 a year, or $89.99 for a permanent unlock of Marked 3, with lower introductory prices. It is also in Setapp. Markko is free; Markko Pro is €12.99 one time.
Is Marked 2 still sold?
Yes. The Marked 3 pricing page says Marked 2 remains available as a one-time purchase of $14.99. The developer says it gets only minimal updates.