Downright for MAC

Free, open-source native Markdown editor and reader for Mac that opens your files in place, keeps their exact source and adds Quick Look previews.

Downright Overview

Downright is a native Markdown editor and reader for macOS. It opens the Markdown files you already have, wherever they live, and shows them as polished Mac documents, with no library to import, vault to maintain or account to create. You can switch between a rendered Document view and the exact source at any time, and both views share the same position and selection. The original text on disk stays authoritative: the rendering decorates it rather than rewriting or normalizing it.

The app is built with AppKit and TextKit 2 rather than a web view, and it works offline. It renders CommonMark and GitHub-flavored Markdown, including math, Mermaid diagrams, tables, tasks, callouts, images and footnotes, and adds Quick Look previews and Finder thumbnails. When another app or a coding agent rewrites an open file, Downright refreshes it in place, keeps your unsaved edits and lets you review the word-level changes. Downright is released under the MIT license, signed and notarized, and needs macOS 14 or later; the app is universal for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Version 1.0.20 fixes the reading position and caret while you edit and delete words in Document mode. It also installs the down and md terminal commands.

Key Features

Downright treats Markdown files like ordinary Mac documents.

  • Exact source: The rendering never rewrites or normalizes your text.
  • Two views: Document and Source views share position and selection.
  • Rich rendering: CommonMark and GFM with math, Mermaid, tables, tasks, callouts and footnotes.
  • Finder integration: Quick Look previews, Finder thumbnails and Spotlight metadata.
  • Safe external edits: Changes from other apps refresh in place, and dirty edits are never silently replaced.
  • Version history: Local snapshots and a version timeline.
  • Six themes: Precise typography and an adjustable line length.
  • Export and commands: HTML and PDF export, plus the down and md terminal commands.

What’s New in Version 1.0.20

Downright 1.0.20 makes editing in Document mode steadier.

  • Editing and deleting words in Document mode keeps the reading position and caret alignment, including in large documents.
  • Stale queued repairs no longer override newer edits or selections.
  • Repeated scroll repairs no longer add up to position errors.
  • Deferred layout repairs while typing restore the reading position before drawing.

Downright FAQ

Is Downright free?

Yes. Downright is free and open source under the MIT license, and it needs no account.

Which macOS version does Downright need?

Downright needs macOS 14 or later.

Does Downright run on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. Downright is a universal app that runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Does Downright change my Markdown files?

No. The original Markdown stays authoritative on disk. The rendering decorates the text rather than rebuilding or normalizing the document.

Which Markdown features does Downright render?

It renders CommonMark and GitHub-flavored Markdown, including math, Mermaid diagrams, tables, tasks, callouts, images and footnotes.

Which file types does Downright open?

Downright opens .md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkd, .mdx, .mdc, .qmd and .rmd files.

Does Downright work offline?

Yes. Downright works offline and keeps your Markdown on your Mac. It does not use a web view or a sync service.

What happens when another app edits an open file?

Downright refreshes the file in place and keeps your reading position. Unsaved local edits are never silently replaced, and you can review the word-level changes.

Is Downright signed by Apple?

Yes. The release is signed and notarized, and the app updates itself through its built-in updater.

Where does the Downright download on downright.FULLMAC.app come from?

The download button leads to the official Downright download page at https://downright.cc/download/. downright.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.

Similar Apps

FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.