# MDX

> A WYSIWYG Markdown editor for the AI era. Looks like a document, saves as
> plain `.md`. Built for two audiences: (1) non-coders who receive `.md` files
> from ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini and want to edit them like Word, and (2)
> researchers and technical writers who need real math and citation support.
> Native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. $15 one-time. Local-first,
> bring-your-own AI key, no account required.
>
> MDX is an independent product, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored
> by OpenAI, Anthropic, Anysphere, Google, Perplexity AI, Microsoft, or any
> other company named on this site. Those names appear only to describe the
> Markdown files and workflows MDX supports; the trademarks belong to their
> respective owners.

## What MDX is

MDX is a desktop markdown editor where formatting is done by clicking toolbar
buttons (like Word or Notion), but the file on disk is plain markdown — open
the same `.md` file in any other editor and it still works.

It is built for writers who want the *output* of markdown (portable plain-text
files) without the *input cost* (memorizing syntax, typing asterisks, breaking
flow to count backticks). It is also the only WYSIWYG markdown editor at this
price point with WYSIWYG math editing (MathLive) and a built-in BibTeX/RIS/
CSL-JSON reference manager that produces a numbered bibliography on export.

## Key facts

- **Pricing:** $15 one-time payment. No subscription, no tiers.
- **Free trial:** 14 days, no credit card required.
- **Refund policy:** 14-day no-questions-asked refund.
- **Platforms:** macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows (.exe / .msi installers), Linux (.AppImage / .deb / .rpm).
- **File format:** Plain `.md` on disk, always. No proprietary format, no lock-in.
- **Privacy:** No account. No telemetry. No MDX servers in the loop. Files never leave your machine unless you sync them yourself.
- **Cloud sync:** Use your own iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a local folder. MDX does not host your files.
- **AI / Ghost-writer:** Tab-to-accept inline suggestions. Bring your own API key for Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, or a local model (Ollama, any OpenAI-compatible endpoint). Your prompts go directly to the provider you choose; MDX never proxies them.
- **Exports:** PDF, HTML, DOCX (Word). The source file stays as `.md`.

## What MDX supports

Click-to-format toolbar for: headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, inline
code, code blocks (syntax-highlighted), bulleted lists, numbered lists, task
lists, blockquotes, inline and block math (WYSIWYG via MathLive — no LaTeX
syntax required), tables (no pipe characters), diagrams (no mermaid syntax),
links, images (drag-and-drop or paste a screenshot), citations (sidebar
picker reading from imported BibTeX/RIS/CSL-JSON files).

References & citations: import `.bib`, `.ris`, `.nbib`, `.enw`, or CSL-JSON.
Insert citations with `[@citekey]` syntax via a fuzzy-search picker. On export
to DOCX, PDF, or HTML, citations are auto-numbered in order of appearance and
a formatted References section is appended at the end of the document.

AI-output workflow: MDX opens any `.md` file generated by ChatGPT, Claude,
Gemini, Perplexity, NotebookLM, Cursor, Claude Code, or any other tool that
exports Markdown. It renders the file as a visually-edited document and saves
it back as plain `.md`. MDX registers itself as a handler for `.md` files on
all three OSes so it can be set as the default opener (double-click any
`.md` to open in MDX).

## Who MDX is for

- People who receive `.md` files from AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini,
  Perplexity, NotebookLM, Cursor) and want to edit them like a Word document
  without learning Markdown syntax.
- Researchers, graduate students, and technical writers who need a real
  WYSIWYG editor with proper math and citation support, but don't want the
  weight of a full LaTeX toolchain.
- Writers who like markdown's portability but dislike its typing overhead.
- Developers who keep notes, docs, and READMEs in markdown and want WYSIWYG.
- People who want a Typora-style or iA-Writer-style experience but with a
  click-to-format toolbar and BYO AI suggestions.
- Anyone who wants their files to live on their own disk and sync through
  their own cloud, not a vendor's server.

## Comparison

- **vs Obsidian:** MDX is a writing editor, not a knowledge graph. No
  bidirectional links, no plugins ecosystem. Simpler, faster, $15 one-time.
  Obsidian shows math as raw LaTeX source; MDX edits math visually.
- **vs Typora:** Similar WYSIWYG philosophy. MDX adds a visible toolbar (no
  syntax to remember at all), WYSIWYG math editing, built-in BibTeX/CSL
  reference management, BYO-key AI ghost-writing, and ships on all three
  desktop OSes. Typora's math is source LaTeX and citations require pandoc.
- **vs Zettlr:** Zettlr is free and open-source with strong pandoc-based
  citation support, but its WYSIWYG mode is partial and math stays as source
  LaTeX. MDX trades the free price for fully visual math and citations.
- **vs Overleaf:** Overleaf is the standard for collaborative LaTeX
  authoring; if you live in `\documentclass` files, stay there. MDX is for
  writers who want academic-grade output (math + bibliography) without
  writing LaTeX source.
- **vs Notion:** Notion stores your docs on Notion's servers in a proprietary
  format. MDX stores your docs on your disk as plain `.md` files. No login.
- **vs Word / Pages:** MDX produces plain-text files that work with git,
  static site generators, and every other tool. Word produces `.docx`.

## Pages on this site

- [Home](https://hellomdx.com/): overview, features, pricing
- [Download](https://hellomdx.com/download/): installers for macOS, Windows, Linux + how to set as default `.md` opener
- [Open .md files (guide)](https://hellomdx.com/open-md-file/): what a `.md` file is, how to open one on Windows / macOS / Linux, how to view a `.md` file as a formatted document instead of raw text, and an FAQ covering `.md` vs `.markdown`, files from ChatGPT/Claude/Cursor, mobile, and the "nothing happens when I double-click" case
- [For Researchers](https://hellomdx.com/for-researchers/): math, citations, and a comparison with Zettlr, Obsidian, Typora, Overleaf
- [Markdown editor for ChatGPT output](https://hellomdx.com/chatgpt-markdown-editor/): open and edit the Markdown ChatGPT gives you as a formatted document; export to Word/PDF/HTML
- [Markdown editor for Claude output](https://hellomdx.com/claude-markdown-editor/): edit Claude answers, Artifacts, and the `.md` files Claude Code writes; export to Word/PDF/HTML
- [Markdown editor for Cursor output](https://hellomdx.com/cursor-markdown-editor/): read AI-generated `.md` (READMEs, plans, docs) as documents; git-friendly; export for non-developers
- [Markdown editor for NotebookLM notes](https://hellomdx.com/notebooklm-markdown-editor/): turn NotebookLM study guides/briefing docs into polished documents; add citations; export to Word
- [Markdown editor for Perplexity answers](https://hellomdx.com/perplexity-markdown-editor/): edit Perplexity research answers, keep source links, combine into a report; export to Word/PDF
- [Typora alternative](https://hellomdx.com/typora-alternative/): honest MDX vs Typora comparison — visual math (no LaTeX), built-in BibTeX/RIS/CSL citations, and Word export without Pandoc; both save plain `.md`, both ~$15 one-time
- [Obsidian alternative](https://hellomdx.com/obsidian-alternative/): honest MDX vs Obsidian comparison — MDX is a single-document editor with visual math, built-in citations and Word export; Obsidian is a free, mobile-capable linked-note vault with backlinks/graph/plugins. MDX opens the same plain `.md` files
- [Markdown editor like Word](https://hellomdx.com/markdown-editor-like-word/): for people who want a Word/Google-Docs writing feel — format with toolbar buttons and shortcuts, edit tables/math/diagrams visually, export to `.docx`/PDF/HTML; the file on disk stays plain `.md`. Honest note: it's a Markdown editor, not a Word replacement (no track changes/comments)
- [Support & FAQ](https://hellomdx.com/support/): contact, lost license recovery, refunds, and the canonical FAQ (pricing, platforms, offline use, file storage, AI providers, citations, AI-generated `.md` workflow, account/telemetry)
- [Privacy Policy](https://hellomdx.com/privacy/)
- [Terms of Service](https://hellomdx.com/terms/)
- [Refund Policy](https://hellomdx.com/refund/)

## Contact

Support email: support@hellomdx.com