Free online Markdown viewer

Markdown viewer online

Drop a .md file onto the box below and see it rendered as a clean, readable document. Free, no signup. Works with GitHub-flavored Markdown: tables, code blocks, task lists, footnotes. Edit inline if you want, share a link when you're ready.

Drop a file or click to upload
Up to 1 MB · stays in your browser

The file rendered above. Free, no signup. Files stay in your browser until you click Share.

What renders

Headings, lists, emphasis

All six heading levels render with proper hierarchy. Numbered and bulleted lists, bold, italic, strikethrough, inline code.

GitHub-flavored Markdown

Tables, fenced code blocks with language hints, task lists with checkboxes, strikethrough, and autolinks all render exactly the way GitHub renders them.

Tables and code blocks

Multi-column tables render as proper HTML tables. Code blocks get syntax highlighting and a copy-to-clipboard button.

Frontmatter, footnotes, embeds

YAML frontmatter is parsed and hidden from the rendered view. Footnotes render as superscript with hover preview.

Vela Docs vs. other online Markdown viewers

Most online Markdown viewers either show ads, require an account, or render only the lowest-common-denominator features. Here's how the popular options compare for the "open the file ChatGPT just gave me" case.

 Vela DocsDillingerStackEditGitHub Gist
Free, no signup to viewyesyeslimitedlimitedno
Drop a .md fileyesimportimportimportimportno
GitHub-flavored Markdownyesyesyesyes
Tables + footnotesyespartialpartialyesyes
Inline comments on shareyesnonono anchorsno anchors
Real-time co-editingyesnonono

Common questions

What is an online Markdown viewer?
An online Markdown viewer is a web page that takes Markdown text (or a .md file) and renders it as a formatted document: headings become large bold text, asterisks become italic, hashtags become section titles, and so on. You see the Markdown the way the author intended it, without installing a desktop app.
How do I view a .md file online?
Open https://docs.vela.partners/markdown-viewer in any browser, drop your .md file onto the page, and it renders immediately. No signup needed for viewing. The file stays in your browser until you click Share, in which case it gets uploaded so collaborators can open the same view.
Does the viewer support GitHub-flavored Markdown (GFM)?
Yes. Tables, fenced code blocks, task lists, strikethrough, and autolinks all render the way GitHub renders them. Footnotes and definition lists are supported too. If your file has frontmatter (YAML between --- markers at the top), that block is hidden in the rendered view.
Can I copy the rendered Markdown as rich text?
Yes. Select the text in the rendered view, copy it, and paste into Google Docs, Word, Notion, or any rich-text target. The formatting (headings, lists, bold) carries over. To export the file itself, click Download in the editor menu — you'll get either the original .md or a downloadable HTML render.
Is the viewer free for commercial use?
Yes. The viewer itself has no usage fee for individuals or teams. There's no signup wall to view or download. Share-link features that involve uploading to the server require a free Google or magic-link account, but viewing alone does not.
What's the difference between this and Obsidian or HackMD?
Obsidian is a desktop app for personal knowledge bases — install, configure a vault, link notes. HackMD is a web editor that requires an account to do anything (including view). Vela Docs is the in-between: a browser viewer with no signup wall, plus optional share + comment features when you want them.
Can I edit, not just view?
Yes. The viewer doubles as an editor. Click any heading or paragraph and start typing — you're editing the rendered document directly. Use the toolbar for headings, lists, or links. The output is still clean Markdown; you can download it at any time.

Need step-by-step instructions? How to open a .md file.

Editing with a team? Collaborative Markdown editor.