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 with a free tier and an optional one-time Pro — and it runs on Windows too. The story is maintenance and modern-OS support, not a feature war.
| At a glance | Markd.ly | MacDown |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Most popular plan | $19 lifetime (launch) | Free |
| Lifetime license | $19 launch / $29 retail (one-time, Mac + Windows 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 · iPhone · Android | 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 genuinely free tier so the price gap is soft; Pro ($19/$29 one-time, lifetime) is optional for the deeper toolset.
- +Pro 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 (Mac deepest; Windows rolling across 1.x).
- +Windows too. MacDown is Mac-only; Markd.ly's one purchase covers Mac + Windows desktop.
Full feature comparison
Verified 2026-05-16. Source linked at the bottom.
| Feature | Markd.ly | MacDown |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier + one-time $19/$29 Pro | 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 | 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) | Pro (Mac today; Windows rolling across 1.x) | No |
| Pandoc export (DOCX/PDF/EPUB/Reveal.js) | Pro (Mac today; Windows rolling across 1.x) | Limited |
| Encrypted documents (AES-256-GCM) | Pro (Mac today; Windows rolling across 1.x) | No |
| Snippet library with variables | Pro (Mac today; Windows rolling across 1.x) | No |
| MCP (AI read/write files) | Read free / write Pro (Mac) | No |
| Mermaid / KaTeX | Free | 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 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 with a free tier, optional one-time Pro (vim/Pandoc/encryption/MCP), and Windows coverage. If 'still maintained and on Windows 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?+
Markd.ly has a free tier; Pro is one-time $19/$29. MacDown is fully free and open-source.
Does Markd.ly run on Windows?+
Yes — one purchase covers Mac + Windows. 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.