MarkLook vs Markdown File Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MarkLook
This app transforms raw Markdown text into beautifully typeset documents for effortless reading on Apple devices. It offers customizable themes, advanced syntax support, and optimized mobile viewing for documents with images, code, and equations.
- Read .md files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Customizable reading themes
- Code highlighting for 180+ languages
- LaTeX math equation rendering
- Mermaid flowchart and diagram support
- Optimized mobile reading experience
- Immersive image preview
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Open .md files on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or paste raw Markdown from a social post or chat. MarkLook turns it into a clear, beautifully typeset document for reading. MarkLook stores no files, offers no editor, requires no account, and has no monthly subscription. It is made for reading. On iPhone and iPad, choose an .md file from the Files app or paste Markdown from the clipboard. On Mac, open files from Finder, Quick Look, or the Open With menu. --- FIND YOUR FAVORITE READING VIBE --- To cater to different reading habits and aesthetic preferences, we offer several built-in themes. For each theme, we've fine-tuned the typography, font sizes, and line spacing to ensure reading is effortless, while specifically optimizing the visual balance when mixing English and non-English text. We have prepared several built-in appearances (themes) for you: • Default: The cleanest, foundational system font typography. • Essay: Looks like a meticulously typeset book, perfect for reading long articles. • Typewriter: Recreates the monospace texture of a typewriter, bringing back classic manuscript styling. • Notebook: A rounded, soft notebook style. • GitHub: The classic style familiar to all programmers. All built-in themes support Dark Mode. If you are a loyal Typora user, you can also directly import your commonly used Typora theme packages (.zip or .css formats) to continue your most familiar reading experience. --- OPTIMIZED MOBILE READING EXPERIENCE --- Reading documents on mobile devices is often constrained by the system environment or narrow screen layouts. MarkLook has made targeted optimizations: • Folder Browsing: Add a folder to browse Markdown and TextBundle documents from it and its subfolders in one place, with search by file name, path, or content. • One-Tap Local Image Authorization: Due to iOS sandbox restrictions, apps cannot read external images by default. With a simple one-tap authorization of your document directory, images in your text appear instantly. • Immersive Image Preview: Tap an image to go full-screen. Supports pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures, allowing you to see every detail clearly even on a limited screen. • Smooth Wide Table Scrolling: Optimized algorithms for narrow screens ensure complex tables are no longer crowded or distorted. Supports horizontal scrolling to view complete data, keeping the text looking as it should. --- COMPREHENSIVE ADVANCED FEATURE SUPPORT --- Beyond basic syntax, the following contents are also well-supported: • Code Highlighting: Supports 180+ programming languages with clear logical presentation. • Math Equations: Flawless support for LaTeX math, rendering even complex formulas quickly and elegantly. • Flowcharts & Diagrams: Supports Mermaid flowcharts and sequence diagrams, which can be enlarged for full-screen viewing. --- ONE-TIME PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTIONS --- The app offers both a free and a full version. The "Default" theme is completely free with a clean interface. When you try out other built-in themes, a subtle upgrade prompt will appear at the bottom of the preview page. If you desire a more refined and pure experience, consider a one-time purchase to unlock the full version (no subscriptions, no ads): • Unlock All Built-in Themes: Switch freely between your favorite typography styles without any prompt bars. • Unlock Typora Theme Import: Bring in your custom community theme packages (.zip or .css formats). One-time purchase, universal for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Simply tap "Restore Purchase" on your other device. We hope to provide you with a quiet, comfortable little tool for reading. If you happen to read Markdown files frequently, welcome to give it a try.
Markdown File Reader
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Markdown File Reader 让本地 Markdown 文件更易阅读、修改和分享。技术说明、课程笔记、会议纪要,或是知识库中的一篇长文,都可以在 iPhone 和 iPad 上直接打开,边读边记。 按你的习惯阅读 预览模式专注排版,分屏模式对照源码与效果,源码模式直接编辑原文。配合目录跳转、字号缩放、多种阅读主题与自定义配色,让长文更方便浏览。分屏还支持同步滚动和显示顺序调整。 把重点和想法留在原文旁 在预览中开启批注模式,选中文字即可使用荧光笔、下划线、文字划线,或添加注释。四种荧光笔效果、多种线型与粗细、五种常用色和自定义颜色,适合区分重点、疑问与待办。点击标记查看注释,点击注释回到原文;小屏使用可收起的抽屉,大屏并排展示。 看懂文档里的复杂内容 支持表格、任务列表、代码块、引用等常见 Markdown 与 GFM 格式,也支持 LaTeX 公式、Mermaid 图表、本地与远程图片,以及 Frontmatter、WikiLink、Callout 和高亮语法。 修改时有迹可循 直接编辑并保存 Markdown。开启修订模式可记录编辑快照,在修订历史中查看修改并回退版本,便于校对说明文档、整理笔记和调整草稿。 把文档分享出去 导出 PDF,通过系统分享发送到其他应用,方便交流与存档。 无需注册账号。批注按文档独立保存在本机,不改写 Markdown 原文;当前不跨设备自动同步,也不包含在导出的 PDF 中。文件移动或重命名后,批注不会自动迁移。 适用于 iPhone 和 iPad,需要 iOS / iPadOS 16.0 或更高版本。
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Markdown File Reader at none against MarkLook's 1. MarkLook's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. MarkLook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Markdown File Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
MarkLook ships an update fortnightly, Markdown File Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | MarkLook | Markdown File Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 乙丑 蒋 | 勇坛 王 |
In-app purchases
MarkLook
- MarkLook完全版$4.99
Markdown File Reader
No in-app purchases









