Mowl
Mowl is a free, portable WYSIWYG Markdown editor for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What Mowl is
Mowl is a free, portable WYSIWYG Markdown editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. It renders Markdown formatting as you type while keeping documents as plain Markdown files, and it supports local files. Its document-level right-to-left toggle is intended for Persian, Arabic and Hebrew, with text direction preserved in HTML export. Editing features include tabs with session restore, source view, find and replace, GitHub-Flavored Markdown tables, KaTeX math and syntax-highlighted code. Mowl exports self-contained HTML and PDF through the system print dialog. Windows releases include a portable executable and setup packages, and Scoop installation is documented. The maker describes the portable Windows executable as roughly 7 MB; settings can be stored beside it in a settings.toml file. The README says Mowl connects to the internet by itself only to check for updates, and automatic checks can be disabled. Windows self-updates verify release signatures, and release pages publish SHA-256 checksums. The maker says binaries are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS may show a warning on first launch.
Good
- Supports Persian, Arabic and Hebrew right-to-left text.
- Saves documents as plain Markdown files.
- Exports self-contained HTML and PDF.
- Includes tabs with session restore.
Watch out
- Binaries are not code-signed.
- Windows and macOS may warn on first launch.
- No publishing workflow is listed.
Who it suits
Mowl suits writers who prefer a portable Markdown editor, especially those writing Persian, Arabic or Hebrew. It also fits users who want Markdown, HTML and PDF output from local files.
Verdict
Mowl combines a rendered editing view with plain Markdown files, local-file support and right-to-left handling. Be aware that its binaries are not code-signed and may trigger first-launch warnings on Windows or macOS.
Plans and prices
From Mowl's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Mowl | Free | Open-source MIT-licensed Markdown editor |
The facts
Each one read from Mowl's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Editing
- It renders Markdown inline as users type while saving documents as plain Markdown files.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Export
- Mowl exports self-contained HTML and PDF through the system print dialog.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- HTML,PDFchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Features
- Features include tabbed documents with session restore, source view, find and replace, GitHub-Flavored Markdown tables, KaTeX math, and syntax-highlighted code.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README names Tauri, Milkdown Crepe, ProseMirror, comrak, and KaTeX as components of its technology stack.checked 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.checked 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Local file support
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Markdown flavor
- github_flavoredchecked 20 Sep 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- Mowl is a minimalist, portable WYSIWYG Markdown editor with full right-to-left support for Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Publishing workflow
- nonechecked 20 Sep 2026
- RTL support
- A document-level toggle supports Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew text, and preserves direction in HTML export.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README invites users to support development on Ko-fi.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Update security
- Windows self-updates verify the downloaded release signature against a key built into the app before installation.checked 8 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The release page lists Windows, universal macOS, and Linux builds for x64 and ARM64.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- windows,macos,linuxchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Windows distribution
- Windows distribution includes a portable executable and setup packages, with Scoop installation also documented.checked 8 Oct 2026
