You’ve got .md files on your Android phone — README documentation, project wikis, meeting notes, technical specs — and you need an app that actually renders them properly instead of showing raw Markdown syntax.
The problem? Most apps in the Play Store are either editors with poor rendering, or viewers that can’t handle tables, code blocks, or diagrams. Here’s exactly which app you should use based on your needs.
TL;DR — Quick Recommendation
| Your Situation | Best App |
|---|---|
| Reading docs with Mermaid diagrams | MerMD |
| Opening docs from GitHub or GitLab | MerMD |
| Opening docs from OneDrive or Dropbox | MerMD |
| Documents with LaTeX math equations | MerMD or Obsidian |
| Just reading local .md files simply | MerMD or MD Reader |
| Editing Markdown files | Markor |
| Building a knowledge base | Obsidian |
The 5 Best Apps for Viewing MD Docs on Android
1. MerMD — Best Overall Viewer ⭐
Why it’s the best for viewing docs:
MerMD is purpose-built for one thing: beautifully rendering Markdown files. While other apps try to be editors, todo-list managers, or knowledge bases, MerMD focuses entirely on reading quality.
What makes it stand out:
- Mermaid diagrams — The only free viewer that renders flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, class diagrams, ER diagrams, and more. If your technical documentation includes
mermaidcode blocks, MerMD is the only free app that will show them properly. - Cloud storage browsing — Open .md files directly from GitHub repositories, GitLab projects, OneDrive, and Dropbox. No need to download files first.
- KaTeX math — Full LaTeX equation rendering for STEM documentation.
- Syntax highlighting — Code blocks in 20+ programming languages with professional themes (Monokai, GitHub, Dracula).
- Export — Save rendered docs as PDF, HTML, or high-resolution images.
Best for: Developers, students, and anyone who reads more Markdown than they write.
Price: Free, no ads, no account required
Download: mermd.tech
2. Markor — Best for Editing + Viewing
Why choose Markor:
Markor is the best choice if you need to both read and edit .md files. It gives you full filesystem access and a clean toggle between edit and preview modes.
Strengths:
- Full filesystem browser — navigate any folder on your device
- Quick toggle between raw Markdown and rendered preview
- Todo.txt support for task management
- Open source, available on F-Droid
Limitations:
- No Mermaid diagram support
- No cloud storage integration (local files only)
- Rendering quality is secondary to the editing experience
- No image export
Best for: People who write and edit Markdown on their phone.
Price: Free and open source
3. MD Reader — Simplest Pure Viewer
Why choose MD Reader:
If you want the absolute simplest experience — open a file, see it rendered, nothing else — MD Reader is your app. It strips away all editing tools and focuses purely on display.
Strengths:
- Minimalist, distraction-free interface
- Fast file opening
- Zero learning curve
Limitations:
- No Mermaid diagrams, no KaTeX math
- No syntax highlighting
- No cloud storage
- No export options
- Very basic table rendering
Best for: Opening a single README file occasionally.
Price: Free
4. Obsidian Mobile — Best for Knowledge Bases
Why choose Obsidian:
If your .md files are part of an interconnected vault — a personal wiki, Zettelkasten, or “Second Brain” — Obsidian is the most powerful option available.
Strengths:
- Bi-directional linking and graph view
- 1000+ community plugins
- Mermaid diagram support
- Cross-platform sync with desktop
Limitations:
- Heavy app (~80 MB), slow startup
- Requires vault setup before you can read anything
- Cloud sync costs $8/month
- No direct GitHub/GitLab browsing
- Steep learning curve just to view a single file
Best for: Power users with large, linked note collections.
Price: Free for personal use; Sync $8/mo
5. MarkReader — Best for Privacy
Why choose MarkReader:
MarkReader requires zero Android permissions. It’s ideal if you’re privacy-conscious and just need basic Markdown rendering.
Strengths:
- No permissions required
- Renders tables and fenced code blocks
- Open source
Limitations:
- No Mermaid diagrams
- No cloud storage
- No math rendering
- Basic styling
Best for: Privacy-focused users who need basic rendering.
Price: Free and open source
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | MerMD | Markor | MD Reader | Obsidian | MarkReader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid Diagrams | ✅ All types | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| KaTeX/LaTeX Math | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Syntax Highlighting | ✅ 20+ langs | ✅ Basic | ❌ | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic |
| GitHub Integration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cloud Storage | ✅ 4 providers | ❌ | ❌ | Paid | ❌ |
| PDF Export | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ Plugin | ❌ |
| Image Export | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Offline | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GFM Tables | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| App Size | ~6 MB | ~10 MB | ~3 MB | ~80 MB | ~5 MB |
| Editing | ⚠️ Light | ✅ Full | ❌ | ✅ Full | ❌ |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free + paid | Free |
How to Choose
Ask yourself these questions:
-
Do your docs have Mermaid diagrams? → Yes: Use MerMD (only free viewer with full Mermaid support)
-
Do you need to open files from GitHub, GitLab, or cloud storage? → Yes: Use MerMD (only app with built-in cloud browsing)
-
Do you need to edit files, not just view them? → Yes: Use Markor for editing, MerMD for reviewing the rendered output
-
Do you have a linked knowledge base with hundreds of notes? → Yes: Use Obsidian
-
Do you just need to open one file occasionally? → Use MerMD or MD Reader
The Bottom Line
For viewing and reading Markdown documentation on Android, MerMD offers the most complete feature set of any free app: Mermaid diagrams, KaTeX math, syntax highlighting, cloud storage integration, and professional export — all in a lightweight 6 MB package with no ads and no account required.
Try MerMD — The Best MD Doc Viewer
Open any .md file with beautiful rendering, Mermaid diagrams, and cloud storage access. Free, no ads.