Online Markdown Editor & Live Preview — Free, No Login
Stop switching between a text editor and a browser tab just to preview your Markdown. This online Markdown editor gives you a real-time, split-screen view: raw Markdown on the left, beautifully rendered output on the right — updating as you type, with zero lag.
Whether you're drafting a README, writing documentation, composing a blog post, or jotting down structured notes, you get a polished preview without installing anything. Export to .html or .md, share via a compressed link, or import an existing file to pick up where you left off.
How It Works
The editor is split into two panels. On the left, you type standard Markdown syntax — headings, lists, bold, tables, fenced code blocks. On the right, the preview updates live with fully styled HTML output.
- Type or paste your Markdown in the editor on the left.
- See the preview update instantly on the right — no button to press.
- Export or share using the toolbar: download as
.mdor.html, copy the rendered HTML to your clipboard, or generate a shareable link. - Import an existing
.mdfile from your device to continue editing in the browser.
All processing happens locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server — your content stays private.
Supported Markdown Features (GFM)
This editor renders GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), the most widely used Markdown dialect:
- Headings (
#,##,###,####) - Bold, italic,
strikethrough, andinline code - Ordered and unordered lists, nested lists
- Fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting for JavaScript, Python, Bash, JSON, TypeScript, and 180+ languages
- Tables with alignment
- Blockquotes (
>) - Horizontal rules (
---) - Links and images (including base64 URLs)
- Task lists (
- [x] Done,- [ ] Todo) - Auto-linked URLs
Convert Markdown to HTML
The "Download HTML" button exports a complete, self-contained .html file with embedded styles — ready to open in a browser or paste into any CMS. The "Copy HTML" button copies just the rendered HTML fragment for embedding in existing pages.
The exported HTML includes clean typography, styled code blocks, and table formatting. No external dependencies or CDN links — it works offline.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Work faster with these shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+S / Cmd+S |
Download .md file |
Shift+Enter |
Copy rendered HTML to clipboard |
The draft name shown at the top is editable — click it to rename before downloading.
Offline and No-Install Options
Because this editor runs entirely in the browser, you can:
- Use it without internet after the initial page load (all JavaScript is cached).
- Share content via URL — the share button compresses your Markdown and encodes it into a link. The recipient opens the link and sees your exact content loaded in the editor.
- Import local files — drag an existing
.mdfile or use the "Import .md" button to load it into the editor instantly.
Common Use Cases
- README files: Draft and preview GitHub README markdown before committing. The GFM rendering matches what GitHub shows.
- Technical documentation: Write structured docs with headings, code blocks, and tables. Export to HTML for internal wikis.
- Blog posts: Many static site generators (Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy) use Markdown. Compose and preview here before publishing.
- Meeting notes: Structure notes with headings, checkboxes, and lists. Share via link or download as
.md. - Developer cheat sheets: Create a reference sheet with formatted code blocks and tables, then export to HTML for easy distribution.
Markdown Quick Reference
Here are the most common Markdown patterns:
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
**bold** *italic* ~~strikethrough~~ `code`
- Bullet list item
- Another item
1. Numbered item
2. Another
> This is a blockquote
| Column A | Column B |
|----------|----------|
| Cell 1 | Cell 2 |
```js
const greeting = 'Hello, World!';
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is Markdown and what is it used for?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It lets you format plain text using simple symbols — asterisks for bold, hashes for headings, hyphens for lists — that convert to HTML. It's widely used for README files on GitHub, technical documentation, blog posts, and note-taking because it's readable in raw form and renders cleanly in any Markdown viewer.
### How do I use this online Markdown editor?
Type or paste Markdown into the left panel. The preview on the right updates in real time. Use the toolbar to import an existing `.md` file, clear the editor, download as `.md` or `.html`, generate a shareable link, or copy the rendered HTML to your clipboard. The draft name at the top is editable — rename it before downloading.
### Do I need to sign in to use it?
No. This Markdown editor requires no account, no login, and no email. It runs entirely in your browser. Your content is never sent to a server.
### Can I use it offline or save it as an app?
After visiting the page, the editor works offline because the JavaScript is cached by the browser. You can also install the site as a PWA on Chrome or Edge using "Add to Home Screen" / "Install App" from the browser menu, giving you a standalone offline Markdown editor.
### How do I export Markdown to HTML?
Click "HTML" in the toolbar to download a complete `.html` file with embedded styles. Alternatively, click "Copy HTML" to copy just the rendered HTML fragment — useful for pasting into CMS platforms, email clients, or HTML templates.
### What Markdown features (GFM) are supported?
This editor supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM): headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, inline code, fenced code blocks with syntax highlighting, unordered and ordered lists, task lists, tables, blockquotes, horizontal rules, links, images, and auto-linked URLs.
### How do I add images, links, and code blocks?
Use standard Markdown syntax: `[link text](url)` for links, `` for images, and triple backticks for fenced code blocks (optionally followed by a language name for syntax highlighting, e.g., ` ```javascript `).
### Are there keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Press `Ctrl+S` (or `Cmd+S` on Mac) to download your `.md` file, and `Shift+Enter` (while not in the editor) to copy the rendered HTML. The shortcuts work consistently across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
### Is it free to use?
Yes, completely free. No subscription, no watermark on exports, no character limits. The tool is part of Quick Tools, an open collection of browser-based utilities for developers.
### Which browsers are supported?
This editor works in all modern browsers: Chrome 105+, Firefox 101+, Safari 15.4+, and Edge 105+. It uses the native `CompressionStream` API for share links and `dvh` units for layout, both of which require a relatively modern browser. Internet Explorer is not supported.
## Resources
- [CommonMark Specification](https://commonmark.org/help/) — Official interactive tutorial covering standard Markdown syntax with live examples.
- [GitHub Markdown Guide](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax) — Reference for GitHub Flavored Markdown extensions like task lists and tables.
- [Daring Fireball — Markdown](https://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/) — John Gruber's original Markdown specification and design philosophy.
