Mowl

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

What Mowl is

Mowl is a free, open-source Markdown editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers a WYSIWYG editing view that renders Markdown as you type while saving documents as plain Markdown files. It supports local files and GitHub-Flavored Markdown tables, along with KaTeX math and syntax-highlighted code. A source view, find and replace, and tabs with session restore are included.

A document-level right-to-left toggle supports Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew text, and the direction is preserved in HTML exports. Mowl can export self-contained HTML and PDF through the system print dialog. Its website is the project's GitHub repository, where the editor is offered under the MIT license. Windows distribution includes a portable executable and setup packages, and Scoop installation is documented. The maker describes the portable Windows executable as roughly 7 MB and says settings can be stored beside it in a settings.toml file. The README says the app connects to the internet by itself only when checking for updates, and automatic checks can be disabled. Windows self-updates verify release signatures; published release pages also include SHA-256 checksums. The maker says the binaries are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS may show a warning at first launch.

Who it suits

Mowl suits writers who work with Persian, Arabic, or Hebrew and want a document-level right-to-left toggle. It also fits people looking for a portable Markdown editor that works with local files across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What it does well

Renders Markdown inline while saving plain Markdown files.
Supports right-to-left Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew.
Exports self-contained HTML and PDF.
Includes tabs with session restore and source view.
Works with local files on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Free and MIT-licensed.

What to know first

Binaries are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS may warn on first launch.
PDF export uses the system print dialog.
No publishing workflow is provided.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Mowl	Open-source MIT-licensed Markdown editor	Free

As github.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit https://github.com/naderi/mowl.
Choose the release for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
On Windows, use the portable executable or a setup package; Scoop installation is also documented.
Open or create a Markdown document and edit it in the inline-rendering view.
Use the system print dialog to export a self-contained HTML or PDF file.

Verdict

Choose Mowl if you want a free Markdown editor with right-to-left support, local files, and HTML or PDF export. Its portable Windows build and cross-platform support may suit writers who prefer a lightweight editor. Windows and macOS may warn at first launch because the binaries are not code-signed.

Questions

How much does Mowl cost?

Mowl is free and open source under the MIT license.

Which operating systems does Mowl support?

It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Can Mowl export PDF and HTML?

Yes. It exports self-contained HTML and PDF through the system print dialog.

Does Mowl support right-to-left writing?

Yes. A document-level toggle supports Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew, and HTML export preserves text direction.

Does Mowl connect to the internet?

Its README says checking for updates is the only time it connects to the internet by itself. Automatic update checks can be disabled.

Is Mowl code-signed?

The maker says its binaries are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS may show a warning on first launch. Release pages publish SHA-256 checksums.

Facts from Mowl's own pages

Download security: Release pages publish SHA-256 checksums, and the maker says binaries are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS may warn on first launch. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Editing: It renders Markdown inline as users type while saving documents as plain Markdown files. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Export: Mowl exports self-contained HTML and PDF through the system print dialog. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Export formats: HTML,PDF · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Features: Features include tabbed documents with session restore, source view, find and replace, GitHub-Flavored Markdown tables, KaTeX math, and syntax-highlighted code. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Integrations: The README names Tauri, Milkdown Crepe, ProseMirror, comrak, and KaTeX as components of its technology stack. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker highlights writers using right-to-left Persian, Arabic, or Hebrew, as well as users seeking a portable Markdown editor. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Internet access: The README says checking for updates is the only time Mowl connects to the internet by itself, and automatic checks can be disabled. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Local file support: Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Markdown flavor: github_flavored · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Platforms: The release page lists Windows, universal macOS, and Linux builds for x64 and ARM64. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Portability: The maker describes the Windows portable executable as roughly 7 MB and says settings can travel beside it in a settings.toml file. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Product: Mowl is a minimalist, portable WYSIWYG Markdown editor with full right-to-left support for Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Publishing workflow: none · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
RTL support: A document-level toggle supports Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew text, and preserves direction in HTML export. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Support: The README invites users to support development on Ko-fi. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Update security: Windows self-updates verify the downloaded release signature against a key built into the app before installation. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Windows distribution: Windows distribution includes a portable executable and setup packages, with Scoop installation also documented. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026

Where Mowl stands on Freedom251

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