Kitsmith / Utilities / MacDown 3000
A free, open-source continuation of the discontinued MacDown editor, started by a different maintainer in 2026 — not the original project, but built in its spirit.
Our take
The original MacDown (2014–2021, by Tzu-ping Chung) went unmaintained; MacDown 3000 is a distinctly branded successor from a different, single maintainer that updates the same Hoedown-based rendering engine for modern macOS and Apple Silicon. Free and open source (MIT), with Prism syntax highlighting, TeX-style math, and GitHub Flavored Markdown support. Distributed via GitHub releases or a Homebrew cask, funded by donations.
- Price
- Free and open source
- License
- Open source
- Requires
- macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later; universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel.
- Get it via
- GitHub · Homebrew
- Developer
- Schuyler Erle
Do you use MacDown 3000?
Who made this
Site (opens in new tab) GitHub (opens in new tab)
Are you Schuyler Erle? Claim this profile to add a photo, a bio, and links — or ask us to remove it.
What it does
Live preview rendering
Hoedown-based Markdown-to-HTML conversion with fenced code blocks and non-standard extensions, configurable in Preferences.
Prism syntax highlighting
Code blocks are highlighted across a wide range of programming and markup languages.
Math & GFM support
TeX-style math notation, GitHub Flavored Markdown task lists, and Jekyll front-matter for static site generators.
HTML/PDF export
Exports rendered documents to HTML or PDF with the app’s styling.
The deal
- Free and open source, MIT License
- Install via Homebrew (brew install --cask macdown-3000) or a direct GitHub download
- Funded by voluntary donations
Worth knowing: Not the same project as the original MacDown (2014–2021, by Tzu-ping Chung) — MacDown 3000 is a separately maintained continuation started in 2026 by a different developer. Confirm this distinction before treating older MacDown reviews, history, or comparisons as applying here.
MacDown 3000 — questions people ask
Is MacDown 3000 the same as the original MacDown?
No — it’s a separate, actively maintained continuation started in 2026 after the original MacDown (2014–2021) went unmaintained. Same spirit and rendering lineage, different maintainer and codebase.
Is MacDown 3000 free?
Yes — free and open source under the MIT License, funded by voluntary donations.
Is MacDown 3000 free?
Yes — MacDown 3000 is free.
Does MacDown 3000 work alongside a notch app like Alcove?
Yes — MacDown 3000 lives in the screen, so it runs happily alongside any Dynamic Island hub or notch app.
Where can I download MacDown 3000?
MacDown 3000 is available via GitHub, Homebrew.
Is MacDown 3000 open source?
Yes — MacDown 3000 is open source.
Reviews
No public ratings yet. Reader reviews are coming to Kitsmith soon.
Listing hand-verified September 18, 2026 from the developer's site and public sources.
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