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ReadMe
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For macOS 26 and later

Markdown, the way it was meant to be read.

ReadMe renders any .md file the way GitHub does, with math, diagrams and code, in a native Mac window. Press Space in Finder to preview one without opening anything.

Coming soon to the Mac App Store

No account, no tracking

A reader for the files you write every day.

READMEs, changelogs, notes and specs open rendered, stay in step with your editor, and are never rewritten.

Everything GitHub renders, and then some.

CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown, plus the extensions people actually write.

  • | a | b |

    GitHub Flavored Markdown

    Tables, task lists, strikethrough, autolinks and footnotes.

  • $e^{iπ}$

    Math

    Inline and display formulas, typeset with KaTeX.

  • ```mermaid

    Diagrams

    Mermaid flowcharts, sequence diagrams and more, drawn in place.

  • > [!NOTE]

    Alerts

    Note, tip, important, warning and caution callouts, styled like GitHub’s.

  • ```swift

    Highlighted code

    Syntax colours for common languages, in light and dark.

  • ---

    Front matter

    YAML metadata shown as a tidy row of chips instead of raw text.

Also

  • Emoji shortcodes
  • Definition lists
  • ==Highlight==
  • H~2~O and x^2^
  • Heading anchors
  • Safe inline HTML

Made to sit quietly beside your editor.

Write wherever you like. ReadMe keeps the rendered view honest and up to date.

  • Never rewrites your file

    ReadMe only reads. Line endings, encoding and every byte of the file stay exactly as they were.

  • Always current

    Save in your editor and the window updates in place, keeping your scroll position.

  • Links that work

    Web links open in your browser, links to other .md files open in ReadMe, and #anchors scroll to their heading.

  • Images beside the file

    Pictures next to your document show up in place, once you give ReadMe access to the folder.

  • Works offline

    Every font, script and stylesheet is bundled. Nothing is fetched, even for math and diagrams.

  • Private by design

    Sandboxed, with no account and no analytics. Your documents never leave your Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Something else? Get in touch.

Can ReadMe change my file?
No. ReadMe only reads the file you open. Line endings, encoding and every byte stay exactly as they were.
How do I make ReadMe the default for .md files?
In the Finder, choose Get Info on any .md file, pick ReadMe under Open with, and click Change All.
Does anything I open leave my Mac?
No. ReadMe bundles everything it needs and never connects to the internet. There is no account and no analytics. See the privacy policy for the details.
Can I edit in ReadMe?
Not yet. Today ReadMe is a viewer: keep writing in the editor you like, and ReadMe updates the moment you save.
Which files does it open?
Files ending in .md or .markdown. macOS doesn’t recognise rarer extensions such as .mdown or .mkd as Markdown, so ReadMe can’t open those yet.
Does it support math and diagrams?
Yes. Formulas between $ or $$ are typeset with KaTeX, and ```mermaid code blocks are drawn as diagrams, in light and dark.
Quick Look doesn’t show the rendered page. What now?
Open ReadMe once after installing it; that registers the preview. If another previewer still wins, turn it off in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions › Quick Look.
Why are images missing from the preview?
Quick Look only lets ReadMe read the file itself, so pictures next to it show as placeholders there. In the app they appear once you give ReadMe access to the folder. Images on the web are never loaded.
Which Macs does it run on?
Any Mac that runs macOS 26 or later.

Read your next README in ReadMe.

Runs on macOS 26 or later.

Coming soon to the Mac App Store