MarkEdit
Just like TextEdit on Mac but dedicated to Markdown.
A free, fast, open-source Markdown editor for Mac that feels like the built-in TextEdit app but built specifically for Markdown, with multi-cursor editing, code folding, and support for Apple Intelligence writing tools.
MarkEdit is a free, open-source Markdown editor for Mac. The simplest way to describe it is TextEdit (the plain-text editor that comes built into macOS) but built specifically for Markdown files. It is a small, fast native app with an installer around 4 MB, and it can handle files as large as 10 MB without slowing down.
The app does not collect any user data. Its interface is built with native macOS controls, which means it feels consistent with the rest of the system and supports things like force-touch word lookup, inline text predictions, and Writing Tools (Apple's built-in AI text features available on macOS Tahoe). MarkEdit requires macOS 15 or later, though separate older releases are available for macOS 12, 13, and 14.
MarkEdit follows the GitHub Flavored Markdown specification for formatting rules rather than inventing its own syntax. Complex editing features such as multi-cursor editing and code folding are handled by CodeMirror 6, a well-regarded open-source code editor library known for correctness and performance. The project explicitly avoids adding features that are not clearly useful, preferring to stay minimal by design.
Customization is done through CSS, JavaScript, and CodeMirror extensions. Official extensions from the same team add a preview pane, custom themes, and an AI writing tool for Apple Intelligence. A companion skill for AI agents is also linked from the repository for users who want to manage the editor programmatically.
To install, you download a DMG file from the releases page and drag the app to Applications, or use the Homebrew package manager with a single command. The app checks for updates automatically.
Where it fits
- Edit Markdown files on a Mac with a lightweight native app that handles large files smoothly and feels consistent with the system.
- Use Apple Intelligence writing tools and multi-cursor editing inside a Markdown editor without heavy software subscriptions.
- Customize the editor's look and behavior with CSS themes and CodeMirror 6 extensions, such as adding a live preview pane.
- Manage and edit Markdown files programmatically from an AI coding agent using the companion agent skill.