# MD Quick Preview vs QLMarkdown and other Finder previews in 2026 macOS Quick Look (Space bar in Finder) shows **plain text** for most Markdown files unless a **Quick Look extension** renders HTML. [MD Quick Preview](/projects/mdquickpv) is a [PatakoLabs](/) extension: press Space on `.md`, `.markdown`, `.mdown`, `.mkd`, or `.mdx` and see **GitHub-style light or dark HTML**, including tables and task lists. Rendering is **on-device**. It is **free on the Mac App Store**. This page is for people searching for **Markdown Quick Look macOS**, a **QLMarkdown alternative**, or **Finder Space bar Markdown preview**. ## Default Finder vs an extension Without an extension, Space on `README.md` is a text dump. You lose headings, checkboxes, and tables. An extension’s only job is to make that preview readable. ## Comparison | Tool | How you get it | Themes | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Built-in Quick Look | macOS | Plain text | No GFM rendering | | QLMarkdown (open source) | GitHub / manual install | Configurable | Powerful; install path is on you | | Other “preview Markdown” apps | App window, not Space | Varies | Extra app in the dock | | **[MD Quick Preview](/projects/mdquickpv)** | **Mac App Store (and signed zip)** | **GitHub-style light/dark** | **Finder Space bar; sandbox-friendly** | ## When to pick which Pick **QLMarkdown** if you want maximum knobs and are comfortable installing a community extension. Pick **MD Quick Preview** if you want a **small, App Store–installable** preview that matches GitHub’s look and stays on the Mac. Pick **neither** if you only open Markdown in VS Code or Typora — those editors already preview. Quick Look is for the Finder glance. ## Bottom line For **Space-bar Markdown in Finder**, [MD Quick Preview](/projects/mdquickpv) is the PatakoLabs option: native Quick Look, GitHub-style HTML, local files, no account.