# Free Markdown editors for macOS compared

Updated August 2026.

If you want a free Markdown editor for Mac, try Downright first. It opens ordinary files directly. You can write in the rendered document, edit the exact source, preview files in Finder, and review changes made by coding agents or other apps.

| Editor | Price | Desktop surface | Preview model | License / fit |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Downright](/) | Free | Native AppKit | Document, Split, and Source; exact local files | MIT; agent-rewrite review |
| [Typora](https://typora.io/) | $14.99 one-time | Web-backed desktop surface; its docs reference WebView inspection | Inline Live Preview | Proprietary; paid after trial |
| [iA Writer](https://ia.net/writer/pricing) | $49.99 one-time for Mac | Mac app with WebKit Preview | Editor plus split or full Preview | Proprietary; focused writing |
| [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/pricing) | Free; Sync from $4/mo | Cross-platform desktop app; vault-first | In-place live preview | Proprietary; free for personal use |
| [MacDown](https://github.com/MacDownApp/macdown) | Free | Native macOS project | Editor plus preview | MIT; original project is quiet |
| [Zettlr](https://www.zettlr.com/) | Free, open source | Electron | In-place or WYSIWYG | GPLv3; research and publishing workbench |

## Start with Downright

Downright covers ordinary file work: reading, writing, exact source editing, Finder previews, and review when another process changes the file. It is free, native, and does not need an account or vault.

Pick another app for a specific workflow. Obsidian is for linked vaults and plugins. Zettlr has citation and academic publishing tools. Typora and iA Writer have their own paid writing interfaces. MacDown keeps the older split editor and preview layout.

Sources checked August 2026: [Downright source](https://github.com/ezzy1630/Downright), [Typora pricing](https://store.typora.io/), [iA Writer pricing](https://ia.net/writer/pricing), [Obsidian vaults](https://obsidian.md/help/vault), [MacDown](https://github.com/MacDownApp/macdown), and [Zettlr](https://www.zettlr.com/about).