Markd.ly vs MacDown — honest comparison
Looking for a MacDown alternative? Here is an honest Markd.ly vs MacDown comparison. MacDown is a free, open-source, much-loved simple dual-pane Mac markdown editor. Markd.ly is an actively maintained, signed and notarized native editor — a one-time $19.99, no subscription — and it runs on Windows and Linux too. The story is maintenance and modern-OS support, not a feature war.
| At a glance | Markd.ly | MacDown |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $19.99 one-time | $19.99 one-time |
| Most popular plan | $19.99 one-time | Free |
| Lifetime license | $19.99 one-time (Mac, Windows & Linux desktop) | Free and open-source (MIT). Latest release v0.7.3, Jan 3 2020 (verified github.com/MacDownApp/macdown, 2026-05-16) |
| Platforms | Mac · Windows · Linux | Mac |
Pick MacDown if
- ·Free and open-source. MacDown is both — a real advantage, stated without hedging.
- ·Its simple dual-pane preview. That clean editor/preview split is exactly why MacDown's fans use it. Markd.ly also has a preview pane, but if your existing MacDown does everything you want, switching for its own sake is not honest advice.
- ·If it still runs fine on your macOS, 'maintained' may not be a problem you have.
Pick Markd.ly if
- +An actively maintained, signed and notarized app with automatic updates. If your concern is MacDown's release pace or running it on a current macOS, that is the honest reason to look at Markd.ly.
- +A one-time $19.99 — no subscription — for a maintained, signed editor with a deeper toolset than MacDown's.
- +Tools MacDown does not have: vim mode, Pandoc export, AES-256-GCM encryption, snippet variables, custom CSS / theme editor, advanced workspace search, and an MCP server — all on the desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux).
- +Windows and Linux too. MacDown is Mac-only; Markd.ly's one purchase covers the Mac, Windows, and Linux desktop.
Full feature comparison
Verified 2026-05-16. Source linked at the bottom.
| Feature | Markd.ly | MacDown |
|---|---|---|
| Price | One-time $19.99 | Free, open-source |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Latest public release | Actively shipping (signed, notarized, auto-update) | v0.7.3, Jan 3 2020 (github.com/MacDownApp/macdown) |
| Signed / notarized + auto-update | Yes — Apple-notarized with automatic in-app updates | Open-source build; users self-build or use Homebrew Cask |
| Platforms | Mac + Windows + Linux | Mac only |
| Dual-pane preview | Pane live preview | Yes (its signature) |
| File format | Plain .md on disk | Plain .md |
| Vim mode (normal/insert/visual, core motions + operators) | Yes (desktop) | No |
| Pandoc export (DOCX/PDF/EPUB/Reveal.js) | Yes (desktop) | Limited |
| Encrypted documents (AES-256-GCM) | Yes (desktop) | No |
| Snippet library with variables | Yes (desktop) | No |
| MCP (AI opens/creates files) | Opens + creates files (macOS) | No |
| Mermaid / KaTeX | Yes | Partial |
Bottom line
MacDown is a small, beloved, free Mac editor and most people searching for an alternative are not unhappy with it — they are wondering whether it will keep running on the next macOS, or they have moved to a Windows or Linux machine and need something there too. Those are the honest reasons to consider Markd.ly, and they are the only ones I would lean on. MacDown is free and open-source and its simple dual-pane feel is genuinely liked; Markd.ly's pane preview is fine but it is not a reason to switch. Markd.ly's real offer is a maintained, signed, modern build — a one-time $19.99 with vim, Pandoc export, encryption, and an MCP server on the desktop — and Windows and Linux coverage. If 'still maintained and on Windows or Linux too' is what you want, that is the trade. If MacDown works for you, keep it.
FAQ
Is MacDown still maintained?+
Factually: MacDown's most recent public release is v0.7.3, dated Jan 3 2020 (github.com/MacDownApp/macdown). We state the date and let you judge — no editorializing from us.
Is Markd.ly free like MacDown?+
No — Markd.ly is a one-time $19.99 (no subscription). MacDown is fully free and open-source, so on price MacDown wins; Markd.ly's case is active maintenance, signing, Windows and Linux coverage, and the deeper toolset.
Does Markd.ly run on Windows?+
Yes — one purchase covers Mac, Windows, and Linux. MacDown is Mac-only.
Can I open MacDown files in Markd.ly?+
Yes — plain .md, nothing to convert.
More Markd.ly comparisons
Pricing verified 2026-05-16. MacDown pricing source. Subject to change.