Lumd vs the other ways to read markdown
There are good markdown apps for the Mac already. Here is where each one fits, including the free options, so you can pick the right one even if it isn't ours.
| App | Price | Free trial | What it is | Themes | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumd | Free; Pro is $24 one-time ($19 at launch: use code LAUNCH19 at checkout (through Dec 9)), up to 3 Macs | 14-day Pro trial, started whenever you're ready | Reader first; editing with Pro. Quick Look preview in Finder | 14 handcrafted (6 free) | macOS 14+ |
| Marked 3 | $4.99/month, $49.99/year or $89.99 permanent (intro $2.99 / $29.99 / $69.99 for a limited time) | Free trial download (length not stated) | Live previewer that sits beside your editor | Built-in themes plus custom CSS | macOS 11+ |
| Marked 2 | $14.99 one-time | 7 days | Previewer that sits beside your editor | Built-in styles plus your own | macOS 10.12+ |
| Typora | $14.99 one-time (before tax), up to 3 devices | 15 days | Live-preview editor (writes and reads) | CSS themes, fully customizable | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| QLMarkdown (free) | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | — | Quick Look extension only, no viewer window | GitHub style plus custom CSS | macOS |
| Google Docs | Free with a Google account | — | Online editor; opens .md files since October 2026 (rolling out) | None | Web browser |
Prices in US dollars as listed by each developer on October 10, 2026. Sources: markedapp.com/pricing.md · markedapp.com/index.md · marked2app.com · typora.io · support.typora.io/purchase · github.com/sbarex/QLMarkdown · workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/preview-edit-and-collaborate-on-Markdown-files-natively-across-Drive-and-Docs.html
The short version
- You write markdown all day and want one app for writing and reading: Typora. It is a fine editor and it runs on Windows and Linux too.
- You already love your editor and want a live preview beside it: Marked. It updates its preview every time you save.
- You only need a quick look at a file in Finder and want to spend nothing: QLMarkdown, a free Quick Look extension.
- Your team already lives in Google Drive and wants to comment together: Google Docs.
- You mostly read markdown, from AI tools, docs and notes, and want it to look beautiful: Lumd.
Where Lumd is different
Lumd is a reader first. Double-click a .md file and it opens as a finished page: real typography, fourteen handcrafted themes, code, diagrams and math, an outline sidebar, and the same look in Finder's Quick Look when you press Space. Nothing to configure and no CSS to write.
It works offline, needs no account, and your files never leave your Mac. The free version renders everything; Lumd Pro is a one-time $24 ($19 at launch: use code LAUNCH19 at checkout (through Dec 9)) for every theme, editing and watermark-free PDF export.
What about Google Docs?
Google Docs now opens .md files: upload required, no reading themes or designed typography, no Quick Look, and the document lives on Google’s servers.
That is a real improvement for teams who share files in Drive, and if commenting together is what you need, use it. If you want to read a file on your own Mac, beautifully and privately, a local reader is the better fit. More in Google Docs or a Mac reader?
Where Lumd is not the right pick
- You need Windows or Linux. Lumd is Mac only.
- You want a writing app first. Lumd can edit (with Pro), but it is built for reading.
- You need publishing exports such as EPUB or Word. Lumd exports PDF, images and HTML.
Competitor details are from each developer's own site on October 10, 2026. Prices change; if something here is out of date, tell us at the support address and we will fix it.