Markor built a following on Android by doing one thing well: it lets people write plain-text Markdown notes without ceremony, then shows them exactly how that Markdown will look once it is rendered. That is the itch anyone typing .md files, README drafts, or quick notes eventually scratches: a place to write and preview without installing anything or creating an account. So we built Markdown Live, a browser-based editor with the same write-left, preview-right loop. It runs right here on this page, free, with nothing to install and nothing to sign up for.
Play Markdown Live now
Start typing in the left pane and watch the formatted output update on the right, on every keystroke.
How to use it
The editor loads with a sample document already filled in, so you can see headings, bold and italic text, a list, a code block, a blockquote, and a link rendered before you type a single character. Clear it and start writing your own, or use the toolbar buttons for bold, italic, headings, links, lists, and inline code if you would rather click than remember the syntax. The preview pane updates as you type, with no render button to press.
When you are done, download the file as .md to keep editing elsewhere, or as .html to drop the formatted output straight into a page. There is also a copy button that grabs the rendered HTML for pasting into an email or a CMS. Your document saves to this browser automatically as you write, so closing the tab and coming back does not lose your work. Nothing you type here leaves your browser.
How it compares to Markor
Markdown Live keeps the part of Markor we use the most: type on one side, read the formatted result on the other, with zero setup between opening the page and seeing real output. The renderer here covers the everyday syntax people actually reach for, headings, emphasis, links, lists, blockquotes, and fenced code, which is enough for a quick note, a README draft, or checking how a paragraph will look before you paste it somewhere else.
What it does not try to replace is the app itself. Markor is a full file manager for plain-text notes: it browses your device storage, opens and saves real files, syncs with services like Nextcloud or a Git repository, and supports formats beyond Markdown, including Todo.txt and plain text. None of that belongs in a browser tab with no file system access and no account. Markdown Live is for the moment you need to write or check a piece of Markdown right now, on whatever device is in front of you. When you are managing a whole vault of notes day to day, the dedicated app is the better tool for that job.
Get the full app
Markor is free, open source, and built specifically for people who keep their notes as plain Markdown files on their own device. It adds a proper file browser, offline-first editing, and sync options that a single browser tab cannot offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free online markdown editor with live preview?
Yes. Markdown Live on this page renders your Markdown as HTML in a side-by-side preview that updates on every keystroke. There is no signup, no paywall, and no limit on how much you can write.
Do I need an account to use it?
No. There is no login, no email capture, and no cloud save. Everything you type stays in your browser’s local storage on your own device.
Will I lose my work if I close the tab?
No. The editor saves your document to your browser automatically as you type. Reopen the page later on the same device and browser, and your last document is right where you left it.
Can I use this on my phone?
Yes. The layout stacks the editor above the preview on narrower screens, and every button is sized for touch. It works the same way on a laptop or desktop, just arranged side by side instead of stacked.
Is this connected to Markor?
No. Markdown Live is an original tool we built, inspired by the write-and-preview workflow that makes Markor useful. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Markor’s developer, and the download links above point to the official app.
