A READER THAT FITS THE WAY YOU WORK
The same files can be a project to read, a draft to write or a publication to prepare. Choose the window that makes sense for the job.
Explore the comparisonsA practical map of the options, what they share and where the differences matter.
Choose a Markdown workflowWHAT REALLY CHANGES THE CHOICE
An outline helps within a document. A folder tree helps across a project. An editor helps when the next step is to change the words. Shared features can support very different days.
Start with the task you do most. Then compare how you follow links, handle source changes and share the result. The right app should fit the documents you already have.
For reading
Start here for READMEs, specifications and the Markdown your coding agent writes.
The important difference is the editing boundary: read-only by design, or reading with an explicit edit-and-save path.
The question is the folder-reading workflow you will use, not whether a paid app has more value simply because it costs money.
A Quick Look preview shows one file for a moment; a reader keeps the folder, the links and your place.
For writing & notes
An editor or note system may already be the right home for the work. Compare what a separate reader would add.
Both can read and edit. Typora makes composition the default; Aero Markdown starts with the rendered document.
A vault is also local files. The decision is whether you need a note system around those files or a focused reading window.
The original MacDown and later continuations need separate evaluation. A familiar name is not a reliable version number.
A shared writing environment across operating systems and a dedicated Mac reading app solve different needs.
The editor is built around the source; a reader is built around the rendered page and the route between documents.
For publishing
Proofing a manuscript and exporting a publication call for different controls from reviewing project files.
HOW WE COMPARE
Written by the team building Aero Markdown. Official product documentation reviewed . These are documented workflow comparisons, not hands-on performance tests. Aero Markdown’s Mac app and checkout are not public yet.
We link the sources, acknowledge shared capabilities and leave unverified behavior open. Prices and releases can change; check the developer’s current terms.