SwiftDown
SwiftDown app icon

Write Markdown.
See it as you type.

SwiftDown is a native Markdown editor for macOS. WYSIWYG inline editing, live preview, code highlighting, math, and Mermaid diagrams. Everything works offline.

Download on the Mac App Store Feedback & support

Requires macOS 15 or later · Apple silicon and Intel

Everything you need to write

A focused editor that handles plain notes, technical docs, and everything in between.

  • Inline WYSIWYG editing

    Formatting renders right where you type. Select text for a floating toolbar, or use familiar shortcuts like ⌘B and ⌘I.

  • Tables made easy

    Edit cells in place and add rows and columns with a click, without counting pipes.

  • Code highlighting

    Fenced code blocks get syntax highlighting in both the editor and preview.

  • Math formulas

    Write inline $...$ and block $$...$$ formulas and see them rendered instantly.

  • Mermaid diagrams

    Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and more render directly from Mermaid code blocks. Zoom in to see the full-size diagram.

  • README-ready HTML

    Centered logos, badges, collapsible details blocks, and HTML tables render the way they do on GitHub.

  • Outline and folding

    The outline sidebar (⌃⌘S) lists every heading so you can jump anywhere. Collapse long sections and promote or demote headings with ⌃⌘↑ / ⌃⌘↓.

  • Images that just work

    Paste a screenshot or drag in an image and it's saved to a .assets folder next to your document. Local and web images display inline, and click to view them full size.

  • Respects your files

    Encodings are detected automatically, and saving keeps the original encoding and line endings. If another app changes the file, SwiftDown reloads it and never overwrites your unsaved edits without asking.

  • Quick Look in Finder

    Press Space on any .md file in Finder to see it rendered, and get Markdown thumbnails in Finder.

  • Export to PDF

    Turn any document into a clean PDF with ⇧⌘E.

  • Make it yours

    Adjust fonts, font size, line height, and colors for light and dark appearance. The editor and preview stay in step, and Source mode can use its own font.

Four ways to view

Switch any time from the View menu or with a shortcut. Press ⌘/ to jump between your two most recent modes without losing your place. Each file remembers the mode you last used.

Mode Shortcut What it does
Inline⌘1WYSIWYG editing, the default mode
Source⌘2Plain Markdown with syntax coloring
Split⌘3Editor and preview side by side, scrolling in sync
Preview⌘4Rendered output only

Inline mode is available for files up to 170 KB. Larger files open in Split mode.

Light, fast, and private

A native Mac app that stays out of your way and keeps your documents to yourself.

  • Lightweight by design

    Built with native macOS technologies instead of a bundled browser engine, so it stays small and easy on memory and battery.

  • Smooth at any size

    Multi-megabyte documents open smoothly, and parsing runs in the background so typing and scrolling never stall.

  • Your documents stay on your Mac

    Everything is processed locally, with all rendering resources bundled in the app. The only network requests load images your documents link to on the web.

Feedback and support

Found a bug or have an idea? We track everything in the open on GitHub.

Report a bug Suggest an idea Browse issues