# MarkdownPaper > MarkdownPaper is a Markdown reader. Open a .md file or paste Markdown and it is typeset as a calm page on a paper sheet, with tables, highlighted code, KaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams, footnotes and task lists, and the contents in the margin. The web reader at markdownpaper.app is free, needs no account, renders in the browser without uploading the document, and works offline once opened. A desktop app for Mac and Windows opens .md files from Finder and File Explorer, browses folders and follows changes to files on disk. Documents stay on the device: the web reader keeps its library in the browser, and nothing is sent to a MarkdownPaper server. A finished document can be printed to PDF, saved as a self contained HTML file, or copied as rich text into Google Docs or an email. The desktop app: Coming soon to the Mac App Store and the Microsoft Store. $6.99 launch price, paid once, with no subscription. It is made by Alpstack Technologies, India. Contact: markdownpaper@alpstack.com. ## Use the reader - [Online Markdown viewer and reader](https://markdownpaper.app/): The free web reader. Open a .md file or paste Markdown to read it as a typeset page. - [Read Markdown Without an Editor](https://markdownpaper.app/markdown-viewer/): Read a .md file as a finished page rather than in a code editor: tables, code, math, diagrams and long documents, typeset privately in your browser. - [Markdown Preview Online, Live and Private](https://markdownpaper.app/markdown-preview/): Paste Markdown or open a .md file and edit it beside a live preview. Tables, code, math and Mermaid diagrams render as you type, with no upload. - [How to Open a .md File on Any Device](https://markdownpaper.app/open-md-file/): Learn what a .md file is and open Markdown on macOS, Windows, Linux, or in a browser without uploading your local document. - [Markdown to PDF with Clean Tables, Math, Diagrams and Code](https://markdownpaper.app/markdown-to-pdf/): Convert Markdown to a clean PDF with useful page margins and support for tables, highlighted code, KaTeX math, and Mermaid diagrams. - [README Viewer for Local Files and GitHub Links](https://markdownpaper.app/readme-viewer/): Read local README.md files and public GitHub Markdown links in a calm, long-form view with tables, code, diagrams, and contents navigation. - [AI Markdown Reader for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Codex](https://markdownpaper.app/ai-markdown-reader/): Turn long AI-generated Markdown into a readable standalone document while keeping headings, tables, code, formulas, and diagrams intact. - [Copy Markdown to Google Docs with Formatting](https://markdownpaper.app/copy-markdown-to-google-docs/): Render Markdown before copying it to Google Docs so headings, lists, links, tables, blockquotes, and code transfer as rich text. ## Desktop app - [Desktop Markdown Reader for Mac and Windows](https://markdownpaper.app/desktop/): Open .md files as finished pages on Mac and Windows. Browse folders, follow live file changes, work offline, and keep every Markdown document on your device. ## Guides - [Markdown Guides and Tutorials](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/): Practical Markdown guides with real examples. The syntax, tables, code, footnotes, math and diagrams, each shown as the source beside the typeset result. - [What Is Markdown? A Plain Guide With Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/what-is-markdown/): Markdown is a simple way to format plain text with symbols like # and *. What it is, what a .md file is, where it is used, and examples you can try. - [Markdown Tutorial for Beginners in 10 Minutes](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-tutorial/): Learn Markdown in ten minutes by building one real document, step by step. Headings, bold, lists, links, a table and code, each shown as you type it. - [Markdown Cheat Sheet With Rendered Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-cheat-sheet/): Every common piece of Markdown syntax beside its rendered result. Headings, emphasis, lists, links, images, code, tables, task lists and footnotes. - [Markdown Example File, Explained Line by Line](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-example/): A free Markdown example file that explains itself. Every common feature, with a note on how it is written. Download the .md file or open it in a reader. - [Sample Markdown File to Download and Test](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/sample-markdown-file/): A free sample Markdown file that uses every common feature, from tables and footnotes to math, diagrams and unsafe HTML. Download it or open it in a reader. - [What Is a README File? README.md Explained](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/what-is-a-readme/): A README is the first file people read in a project. What it is for, why it is usually README.md, where GitHub shows it, and what to put in one. - [How to Write a Good README, With a Template](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/how-to-write-a-readme/): How to write a README that people actually read. What to put in each section, a full example, common mistakes, and a free README.md template to download. - [Markdown Links: Anchors, Sections and Other Files](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-links/): How to add a link in Markdown. The link syntax, links to a section in the same file, to a heading, to another Markdown file, email links and reference links. - [How to Add an Image in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-images/): How to add an image in Markdown, with examples. The image syntax, alt text, image size, centring, captions, images as links, and why an image does not show. - [Markdown Tables: Syntax, Alignment and Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-tables/): How to make a table in Markdown. The syntax, column alignment, a pipe or line break inside a cell, tables without a header, and why cells cannot be merged. - [Markdown Code Blocks and Inline Code](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-code-blocks/): How to add code in Markdown. Inline code, fenced code blocks, naming the language for colors, backticks inside code, diff blocks, and the language names to use. - [Markdown New Line and Line Break: Every Way](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-line-breaks/): Why pressing Enter does not start a new line in Markdown, and every way that does: a backslash, two spaces, the
tag, and an empty line for a new paragraph. - [Markdown Lists: Bullets, Numbers and Nested Lists](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-lists/): How to make lists in Markdown. Bullet lists, numbered lists, nested lists and indentation, starting at any number, and code or paragraphs inside a list item. - [Markdown Checkboxes and Task Lists](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-checkboxes/): How to add a checkbox in Markdown. Task list syntax for ticked and unticked boxes, nested tasks, where you can click them, and why a checkbox sometimes does not show. - [Markdown Bold, Italic, Strikethrough and More](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-text-formatting/): How to make text bold, italic or struck through in Markdown, and how to add underline, highlight, superscript, subscript and keyboard keys with a little HTML. - [How to Underline Text in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-underline/): Markdown has no underline syntax. How to underline text anyway with the or HTML tag, where each one works, and why underlined text is best kept rare. - [How to Color Text in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-text-color/): Markdown cannot color text, and GitHub removes HTML color styles. What does work instead: callouts, emphasis, diff blocks, and a little HTML where the app allows it. - [How to Center Text and Images in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-center-text/): Markdown cannot center text, but HTML can. How to center text, headings and images with align="center", why it works on GitHub, and where centering is ignored. - [Markdown Horizontal Line and Page Divider](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-horizontal-line/): How to add a horizontal line in Markdown with three dashes, asterisks or underscores, the empty line it needs, and the trap where dashes turn text into a heading. - [How to Escape Characters in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-escape-characters/): How to show a literal *, _, #, | or ` in Markdown with a backslash, which characters can be escaped, escaping inside tables and lists, and dollar signs. - [Emoji in Markdown: Shortcodes and Typing Them In](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-emoji/): How emoji work in Markdown. Typing them directly with your system's emoji picker, :shortcodes: like :rocket:, which apps turn shortcodes into emoji, and which do not. - [Markdown Headings and How to Link to Them](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-headings/): How to write headings in Markdown with #, the six heading levels, the underline style, heading anchors and links, custom anchors, and why a page needs one title. - [How to Make a Table of Contents in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-table-of-contents/): How to make a table of contents in Markdown with links to each heading, how heading anchors are made, why [TOC] is not standard, and apps that build one for you. - [How to Add Comments in Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-comments/): How to write a comment in Markdown that does not show on the page. HTML comments, the [//]: # trick, commenting out a block, and where each one is hidden. - [Collapsible Sections in Markdown With Details](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-collapsible-section/): How to make a collapsible section in Markdown with
and , keep Markdown working inside it, start it open, and hide a long code block. - [Markdown Footnotes: Syntax and Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-footnotes/): How to add footnotes in Markdown. The [^1] syntax, named notes, notes with several paragraphs, where footnotes appear, and which apps support them. - [Markdown Callouts and Alerts: Note, Tip, Warning](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-callouts/): How to add a callout or alert box in Markdown with > [!NOTE], [!TIP], [!IMPORTANT], [!WARNING] and [!CAUTION], where they work, and how Obsidian callouts differ. - [Math in Markdown: Equations With LaTeX](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-math/): How to write math in Markdown with LaTeX. Inline math with $, display equations with $$, fractions, symbols, matrices, the math fence, and which apps render it. - [Mermaid Diagrams in Markdown: Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/mermaid-diagrams-in-markdown/): How to draw diagrams in Markdown with Mermaid. Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts and pie charts with live examples, common mistakes, and where Mermaid renders. - [Markdown Frontmatter: YAML at the Top of a File](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-frontmatter/): What frontmatter is in a Markdown file, how to write YAML and TOML frontmatter, what static site generators and note apps use it for, and why it is hidden on the page. - [GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) Explained](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/github-flavored-markdown/): What GitHub Flavored Markdown is, what it adds to standard Markdown (tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks), the extras only GitHub has, and other flavors. - [What Is AGENTS.md (and CLAUDE.md)? With an Example](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/agents-md/): AGENTS.md is a Markdown file of instructions for AI coding agents. What goes in it, how it differs from CLAUDE.md and GEMINI.md, which tools read it, and an example. - [How to Read the Markdown Files AI Coding Agents Write](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/reading-ai-agent-markdown/): Where Claude Code, Cursor and Codex leave their plans and notes, how to read a long agent written Markdown file comfortably, and how to review a plan before accepting it. - [Markdown for AI Prompts: Why and How, With Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-for-ai-prompts/): How to use Markdown to structure a prompt for ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. Headings, lists and code fences that make a long prompt clear, and how to ask for Markdown back. - [How to Copy a ChatGPT or Claude Answer as Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/copy-ai-answer-as-markdown/): How to copy an answer from ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini as Markdown rather than formatted text, why it pastes differently in each app, and how to check what you copied. - [What Is llms.txt? Format, Example and How to Write One](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/llms-txt/): llms.txt is a Markdown file at the root of a website that tells AI agents what the site is and where its best pages are. The format, an example, and what it does not do. - [Markdown to HTML: How It Converts, With Examples](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-to-html/): How Markdown converts to HTML, what each symbol becomes, how to save a Markdown document as a self contained HTML file, and the command line tools that do it in bulk. - [Markdown to Word: Convert and Keep the Formatting](https://markdownpaper.app/guides/markdown-to-word/): How to get Markdown into Microsoft Word with headings, lists and tables intact. Copy it as formatted text, or convert whole files to .docx with Pandoc. ## Compare - [Compare Markdown Readers and Tools](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/): Honest comparisons between MarkdownPaper and the other ways people read Markdown, including where the other tool is the better choice for the job. - [VS Code Markdown Preview vs a Dedicated Reader](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/vs-code-markdown-preview/): VS Code's built-in Markdown preview beside MarkdownPaper. What each one is for, where each one is better, and when a reader built for reading is worth it. - [Typora Alternative for Reading Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/typora-alternative/): Typora beside MarkdownPaper. Where Typora's editor is the better choice, where a reader built for finished pages wins, and when it makes sense to use both. - [Marked 2 Alternative for Mac and Windows](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/marked-alternative/): Marked beside MarkdownPaper. Where Marked 2 and Marked 3 are the better choice, where a reader that needs no setup wins, and what to use on Windows. - [Markdown Viewer Chrome Extension vs a Reader App](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/markdown-viewer-chrome-extension/): The Markdown Viewer browser extension beside MarkdownPaper. Where each is better, and how to fix the extension when a .md file shows as plain text. - [Obsidian Alternative for Reading Markdown Files](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/obsidian-for-reading/): Obsidian beside MarkdownPaper. Where Obsidian's vault of linked notes is the better choice, and where a reader that opens any one file, as it is, fits better. - [StackEdit and Dillinger Alternative for Reading](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/stackedit-dillinger-alternative/): StackEdit and Dillinger beside MarkdownPaper. Where the browser editors are better, where a browser reader wins, and how the two editors differ today. - [GitHub Markdown Preview vs a Local Reader](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/github-markdown-preview/): GitHub's own Markdown rendering beside MarkdownPaper. When only GitHub's preview will do, and when a private reader on your own machine is the better fit. - [Windows Notepad Markdown vs a Markdown Reader](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/notepad-markdown/): Windows Notepad's new Markdown formatting beside MarkdownPaper. What Notepad now shows, where it is enough, and where a reader for finished documents fits. - [iA Writer Alternative for Reading Markdown](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/ia-writer-alternative/): iA Writer beside MarkdownPaper. Where iA's writing app is the better choice, where a reader for documents you did not write fits better, and what each costs. - [Glow Markdown Viewer vs a Reader App](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/glow-terminal-markdown/): Glow, the terminal Markdown reader, beside MarkdownPaper. When the terminal is the right place to read, and when a document needs a real page. - [MacDown and MarkText Alternative for Reading](https://markdownpaper.app/compare/macdown-marktext-alternative/): MacDown, MacDown 3000 and MarkText beside MarkdownPaper. Where the free editors are the better choice, where a reader fits, and which of them is maintained today. ## Support and policies - [Support and Help](https://markdownpaper.app/support/): Help with MarkdownPaper: open .md files by default, reinstall on another Mac, get a refund, check system requirements, and report a bug. - [Contact MarkdownPaper and Alpstack Technologies](https://markdownpaper.app/contact/): Contact the people behind MarkdownPaper for support, feedback, press or business. MarkdownPaper is made by Alpstack Technologies in India. - [Privacy Policy](https://markdownpaper.app/privacy/): MarkdownPaper collects no personal data: no account, no cookies, no tracking of you. How the web reader and desktop app keep your documents on your device. - [Terms of Use](https://markdownpaper.app/terms/): The terms for the free MarkdownPaper web reader and the MarkdownPaper desktop app: licensing, your documents, warranties, liability and governing law. ## Optional - [About MarkdownPaper, a Reader-First Markdown App](https://markdownpaper.app/about/): MarkdownPaper is a web and desktop Markdown reader designed to make finished documents feel calm, complete, and easy to review. - [Changelog](https://markdownpaper.app/changelog/): User-visible changes to the MarkdownPaper reader, web experience, task guides, rendering support, and the desktop app. - [Sample Markdown file](https://markdownpaper.app/sample-markdown-file.md): The raw Markdown of the sample file, which uses every feature the reader supports.