How to Preview Markdown Online
Markdown is the de facto format for READMEs, documentation, blog posts, and technical writing. But writing Markdown without seeing the output is like coding without running the program. This guide shows you how to preview Markdown in real time and export the result.
When You Need a Markdown Previewer
- Writing or editing a GitHub README and want to see how it looks
- Drafting a blog post in Markdown before publishing
- Creating documentation with tables, code blocks, and checklists
- Converting Markdown to HTML for embedding in a website or email
- Checking that your Markdown syntax is correct
How to Preview Markdown
Step 1: Open the tool
Go to the Markdown Previewer.
Step 2: Write or paste Markdown
Type Markdown in the left editor panel. The right panel shows the rendered preview in real time. Click "Sample" to load an example with headings, tables, code blocks, and checklists.
Step 3: Export
Click "Copy HTML" to copy the rendered HTML to your clipboard, or "Download HTML" to save a complete, self-contained HTML file with inline styling.
GFM Features
- Tables — pipe-separated columns with header row
- Task lists —
- [x]and- [ ]for checklists - Strikethrough —
~~text~~ - Fenced code blocks — triple backticks with optional language tag
- Auto-linking — URLs are automatically converted to links
Tips
- Use the "Copy MD" button to copy your Markdown source — useful when switching between the previewer and your editor.
- The HTML download includes inline CSS, so the file looks good standalone — no external stylesheets needed.
- Need to compare two versions of a document? Use the Diff Checker to see what changed.
FAQ
What Markdown features are supported?
The tool supports GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) including headings, bold/italic/strikethrough, links, images, ordered and unordered lists, task lists (checklists), tables, code blocks with syntax highlighting hints, blockquotes, and horizontal rules.
Can I use this for GitHub READMEs?
Yes. The previewer uses GFM, which is the same Markdown flavor GitHub uses. What you see here is very close to how your README will look on GitHub.
What does the HTML export include?
The downloaded HTML file is a complete, self-contained document with inline CSS. It looks good in any browser without external dependencies — perfect for sharing or embedding.
Is my data uploaded to a server?
No. All Markdown parsing and preview rendering happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device.
Try It Now
Ready to preview? Open the Markdown Previewer — it works entirely in your browser with no sign-up required.