The native MarkdownPaper app
Desktop Markdown reader for Mac and Windows
Markdown files should open like finished documents. Make MarkdownPaper the app
your computer uses for .md files, then double click a README, plan or note and
read it on a calm paper surface. The source stays on your disk.
Coming soon to the Mac App Store and the Microsoft Store. $6.99 launch price, paid once, with no subscription.
Try the web reader freeYour Markdown, out of the editor
- Open files like documents. Make MarkdownPaper the default application for
.mdfiles and open them with a double click. - Browse a folder, not a file picker. Open a folder of notes, specs or docs, then move between them from the library.
- Follow live changes. Keep a document beside your terminal and watch the page update when an AI agent or another program rewrites the file.
- Stay local by design. Read and edit without an account, a document upload or a browser tab competing for attention.
The desktop app is the same complete reader as the web app. It adds a native file workflow for people who open Markdown every day.
Web reader or desktop app?
Both render tables, code, task lists, math and Mermaid diagrams with the same typography. Choose the workflow that fits where your Markdown already lives.
| Workflow | Free web reader | Desktop app |
|---|---|---|
Open one .md file | Choose or drop a file | Double click it from your computer |
| Read a folder | Choose files one at a time | Open the folder in the library |
| Follow changes on disk | Reopen the file | Updates automatically |
| Account or upload | Neither | Neither |
System requirements
- Mac: macOS 10.15 Catalina or later. One build runs natively on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
- Windows: Windows 10 or Windows 11.
MarkdownPaper is sold through each platform's own store as a single purchase, with no subscription and no MarkdownPaper account. The store handles installing it on your other computers and keeping it up to date.
Try your own Markdown free
The desktop app and the web reader use the same rendering engine. Before buying anything, open the free web reader and drop in one of your own files. Nothing is installed and the document is not uploaded.
Questions
Does the desktop Markdown reader work offline?
Yes. Once installed, the desktop app reads and renders local files without an internet connection. Store access is only needed for installation and updates.
Does MarkdownPaper upload or index my files?
No. The app reads a file only when you open it, choose it in a system dialog or pick its folder. The app has no account, no analytics and no document upload.
Can MarkdownPaper be the default app for .md files?
Yes. Set MarkdownPaper as the default application for Markdown files on Mac or Windows, then open them directly from Finder or File Explorer. A document that came from a file is saved back to that file. Removing it from the app's library removes only the library entry, not the file on disk. Read the full privacy policy.