Open the file fast
The app should open local Markdown directly from Finder, recent docs, or a saved folder tree without forcing you into project setup.
Markdown viewer for Mac.
Vanilla Markdown is a Markdown viewer for Mac for people who want to open local .md files, README files, and documentation folders without getting dropped into an editor. It focuses on clear rendering, folder browsing, local links, table of contents support, and search. If your goal is reading Markdown cleanly on macOS, not poking it with a cursor, Vanilla is the right kind of tool.
Vanilla is for the moment when you want to read the doc and get on with your day. No vault. No workspace. No ceremony. Just the file.
Best for
- Developers reading README files, project docs, and architecture notes
- People who want local Markdown rendering without sync or workspace setup
- Mac users who need a table of contents, links, and search more than editing tools
Not for
- Writing long-form Markdown inside the same app
- Building a note-taking system with plugins and sync rules
- Publishing workflows that depend on editor or CMS integrations
What good looks like
A proper Mac viewer should open fast and then hush.
Render the document clearly
Tables, tasks, code blocks, and links should look correct immediately so README files and GitHub-style docs stay readable.
Move through connected docs
Local links, back and forward history, and a live table of contents matter because technical docs usually live in more than one file.
Stay out of the way
A viewer should not expose editing chrome or accidental-save risks when the task is simply reading and understanding the content.
Why Vanilla fits
More reader, less control panel.
That means folder browsing, a document links panel, a proper table of contents, and keyboard movement are first-class features. It also means Vanilla is explicit about what it is not: it is not trying to replace your editor, your notes app, or your life philosophy.
More scoops
Try another flavor
Open Markdown files on macOS
See the practical file-opening and supported-extension angle.
Read local README files
Focus on project documentation folders and linked Markdown trees.
Marked 2 alternative
Compare a standalone file viewer with a preview companion for writers.
Bear alternative
Compare local-file reading with a note-taking app built around editing and sync.
Obsidian alternative
Compare lightweight reading to a broader notes and workspace tool.
One last scoop
If you need a Markdown viewer for Mac, start with the one that knows it’s a viewer.
Vanilla keeps local reading fast, structured, and distraction-free so your editor can stay your editor and your docs can stay readable.