Online Markdown Editor

One document, two renderings: .md file vs comment

Most online editors pick one way to handle a single line break and never mention it. GitHub uses two. In a .md file in a repository, a single newline is just a space. In an issue, pull request or discussion comment, every newline is a visible break. GitHub's own formatting docs state both rules, and it is why text that looked right in a comment runs together once it is pasted into a README.

Thanks for the review!
I pushed a fix for the typo.

The Render as switch above the editor flips between the two, so you can check a draft against wherever it is going. Chat apps like Discord and Slack behave like the comment mode. To force a break that works in both, end the line with two spaces or a backslash; the line breaks guide covers every option.

Keyboard shortcuts

These are the same shortcuts GitHub's comment box uses, so they carry over in both directions. Select text first to wrap it; press again on wrapped text to remove the formatting. The toolbar adds headings, quotes and all three list types, and applies them to every selected line.

Toolbar edits go through the browser's own undo history, so Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z undoes a Bold the same way it undoes typing.

When an online editor is the right tool

• Drafting a README, issue or PR description before pasting it into GitHub, with the preview matching where it will land.
• Formatting a one-off document on a machine where you cannot install anything.
• Turning Markdown into a PDF or HTML without Pandoc: print the preview, or copy the HTML into a CMS.
• Cleaning up AI output. Chat assistants answer in Markdown; paste the reply here to read it properly or to edit it before it goes anywhere else.

For notes you will keep, a desktop app that saves real files is better: Obsidian, or VS Code with its built-in preview (see the VS Code guide). To just read a .md file someone sent you, the Markdown viewer is simpler. New to the syntax? Keep the cheat sheet open in another tab.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Markdown editor?

A Markdown editor is a text editor that shows you what your Markdown will look like as you write it. You type plain text with symbols like ** for bold and # for headings, and a preview pane renders the formatted result. The editor on this page does that live, side by side, in your browser.

What is the best free Markdown editor?

It depends on where you write. For a quick document with nothing to install, an online editor like this one is enough. For notes you keep, Obsidian is free and stores plain .md files. For code projects and READMEs, VS Code has a built-in preview. All three are free.

What editor should I use for Markdown?

Use whatever you already write in, as long as it previews. VS Code previews Markdown with Ctrl+Shift+V, Obsidian renders it as you type, and GitHub previews it in the Preview tab of any comment box or file editor. Reach for an online editor when you need one of those results without setting anything up.

What is the best Markdown editor for Windows 11?

Windows 11's own Notepad renders Markdown formatting since 2025, which covers reading and light editing with nothing to install. For writing with a live preview, VS Code and Obsidian are both free and run on Windows, and this online editor works in any Windows browser.

Is this online Markdown editor free and private?

Yes. There is no account, no limit, and no upload. The editor runs in your browser, your draft is stored in this browser's local storage only, and the page keeps working offline once it has loaded.

Why does my line break disappear in the preview?

Because in a Markdown file a single newline is a space. Switch the preview to Comment mode to see how GitHub issues, pull requests and discussions render the same text, where every newline is a break. For a break that works everywhere, end the line with two spaces or a backslash.

Can I export Markdown to PDF or HTML?

Yes. Print / PDF opens your browser's print dialog on the rendered preview, where you can choose Save as PDF. Copy HTML puts the rendered HTML on your clipboard, and Download .md saves the source as a file.

Does the editor support tables and task lists?

Yes. It renders GitHub Flavored Markdown, which adds tables, task lists, strikethrough and fenced code blocks to standard Markdown. The toolbar inserts task lists directly; for tables, the Markdown table generator builds the pipes for you.