Key takeaways
- iA Writer and Bear dominate the polished minimalist space — iA for writing, Bear for organizing
- Obsidian wins for local-first power users who want plugins and graph views
- Scratch is the first note app with native Claude Code integration — edit notes with AI agents
- By 2027, AI-assisted writing will be table stakes — iA Writer's authorship tracking is early signal
FAQ
What's the best minimalist markdown app for Mac?
iA Writer for focused writing, Bear for everyday notes with organization, Obsidian for knowledge management.
What's the best free markdown note app?
Simplenote is completely free across all platforms. FSNotes is open source and free on Mac.
What markdown apps store notes as plain text files?
Obsidian, iA Writer, Nota, nvUltra, FSNotes, and Typora all store notes as local .md files you own.
What's the difference between iA Writer and Ulysses?
iA Writer is one-time purchase with plain text files; Ulysses is subscription with a proprietary library. Both excel at long-form writing.
What markdown note app works with AI coding agents?
Scratch has built-in Claude Code CLI integration. Obsidian and FSNotes work with AI agents via their local file storage.
Executive Summary
The minimalist markdown note-taking space on Mac is mature and competitive, with clear leaders serving distinct use cases.[1] iA Writer remains the gold standard for distraction-free writing with its focus mode and AI authorship tracking. Bear dominates casual note-taking with its Apple Design Award-winning interface.[2] Obsidian has emerged as the power user choice for local-first knowledge management.[3]
Key Findings:
- Local files are winning — most users now demand plain .md files they own, not proprietary databases
- Subscription fatigue is real — one-time purchases (iA Writer, Typora) are gaining ground over subscriptions (Ulysses, Bear Pro)
- AI is arriving carefully — iA Writer's authorship tracking distinguishes human vs AI text, setting the template for ethical AI integration
Strategic Planning Assumptions:
- By 2027, AI writing assistance will be integrated into 80% of markdown editors
- By 2028, wiki-style [[linking]] will be standard across all note apps, not just PKM tools
- By 2026, Obsidian will surpass 5M active users, cementing its position as the dominant open-format note platform
Market Definition
Minimalist markdown note-taking apps are Mac-native applications that prioritize distraction-free writing with markdown formatting support and local or synced storage.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Native Mac app (not web-based)
- Markdown or Markdown-variant support
- Focus on simplicity/minimalism
- Suitable for notes, not just code editing
Exclusion Criteria:
- Full IDEs (VS Code, Sublime Text)
- Web-only apps (Notion, Craft)
- Database-heavy apps without markdown export
- Apps without active development (>2 years stale)
Comparison Matrix
| App | Storage | Pricing | Sync | Wiki Links | Focus Mode | Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Database | Free / $30/yr | iCloud | ❌ | ❌ | GA |
| Byword | Local files | $11 one-time | iCloud/Dropbox | ❌ | ✅ | GA |
| Drafts | Database | Free / $20/yr | iCloud | ❌ | ❌ | GA |
| FSNotes | Local files | Free | iCloud | ✅ | ❌ | GA |
| iA Writer | Local files | $50 one-time | iCloud | ❌ | ✅ | GA |
| Nota | Local files | $20 one-time | iCloud | ✅ | ❌ | GA |
| nvUltra | Local files | TBD | iCloud | ✅ | ❌ | Beta |
| Obsidian | Local files | Free / $50/yr | iCloud/Paid | ✅ | ✅ | GA |
| Scratch | Local files | Free | Manual | ❌ | ❌ | GA |
| Simplenote | Cloud | Free | Automattic | ❌ | ❌ | GA |
| Tot | Memory | $20 one-time | iCloud | ❌ | ❌ | GA |
| Typora | Local files | $15 one-time | Manual | ❌ | ✅ | GA |
| Ulysses | Library | $50/yr | iCloud | ❌ | ✅ | GA |
Product Profiles
Scratch
"A minimalist markdown scratchpad"[4]
Overview
Scratch is a lightweight, open-source markdown scratchpad by indie developer Eric Li. It's designed for quick capture — todos, thoughts, ideas — without accounts or subscriptions. The standout feature is built-in Claude Code CLI integration: you can use AI to edit your notes directly. At less than 10% the size of Obsidian or Notion, it's genuinely minimal.
Strengths
- Claude Code integration — Edit notes with your local Claude Code CLI, first note app with native AI agent support
- Truly lightweight — Less than 10% the size of Obsidian or Notion
- Open source — Free, transparent, on GitHub
- WYSIWYG markdown — Rich text editing that saves as plain .md
- Git integration — Optional version control built in
- Offline-first — No cloud, no account, no internet required
Cautions
- Mac-only — No iOS, Windows, or mobile companion
- New/indie — Single developer, less proven than established apps
- Limited organization — No wiki links, tags, or folders
- No sync — Manual file management for cross-device
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free (open source) |
| Platforms | Mac only |
| File Format | .md (local files) |
| Unique Feature | Claude Code CLI integration |
iA Writer
"The benchmark of markdown writing apps"[1]
Overview
iA Writer pioneered the distraction-free writing movement and remains the reference implementation. Its focus mode highlights the current sentence while fading everything else. The 2024 Authorship feature tracks what you typed vs. pasted vs. AI-generated — a response to the ChatGPT era that distinguishes human and machine contributions.
Strengths
- Focus Mode — Sentence/paragraph highlighting keeps you in flow
- Authorship Tracking — Distinguishes human, pasted, and AI-generated text
- Style Check — Flags clichés, fillers, and weak language on-device
- Plain text — Files are yours, portable, future-proof
- One-time purchase — No subscription fatigue
Cautions
- No organization — Single-folder workflows; no tags, notebooks, or wiki links
- No mobile web — Apple platforms only (Mac, iPad, iPhone)
- Opinionated design — If you don't like the philosophy, there's no customization
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 (one-time) |
| Platforms | Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, Android |
| File Format | .txt, .md |
Bear
"Markdown notes you'll love"[2]
Overview
Bear won Apple's Design Award in 2017 and remains one of the most visually polished note apps. It uses tags for organization (no folders), supports inline images, and offers beautiful themes. Bear 2.0 added tables, drawing, and improved sync. It strikes a balance between simplicity and features.
Strengths
- Beautiful design — Apple Design Award winner, polished UI
- Tag-based organization — Flexible, non-hierarchical
- Rich formatting — Images, tables, todos, sketches inline
- OCR search — Find text inside images and PDFs (Pro)
- Cross-platform Apple — Mac, iPad, iPhone sync seamlessly
Cautions
- Subscription model — Pro features require $29.99/year
- Proprietary storage — Notes live in Bear's database, not as files (export available)
- No wiki links — Can't link between notes with [[syntax]]
- Apple-only — No Windows, Android, or web access
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free / $29.99/yr (Pro) |
| Platforms | Mac, iPad, iPhone |
| File Format | Bear database (exports to .md) |
Obsidian
"Your thoughts are yours"[3]
Overview
Obsidian stores notes as local markdown files in a "vault" (folder) you control. Its killer features are wiki-style [[linking]], a graph view showing note relationships, and a massive plugin ecosystem (2,000+ community plugins). It's become the default for personal knowledge management (PKM) and Zettelkasten practitioners.
Strengths
- Local-first — Plain .md files, no lock-in, works offline
- Wiki links — [[Note linking]] with backlinks panel
- Plugin ecosystem — 2,000+ community plugins extend functionality
- Graph view — Visual map of note connections
- Free for personal use — Commercial/sync are paid add-ons
Cautions
- Complexity creep — Plugin rabbit hole can undermine minimalism
- Electron-based — Not as snappy as native Mac apps
- Sync costs extra — $8/month for official sync, or DIY with iCloud/Git
- Learning curve — Power features require investment
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free / $50/yr (Sync) / $50/yr (Publish) |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| File Format | .md (local files) |
Ulysses
"A lightweight composing app faster and more elegant than any big-tech competitor"
Overview
Ulysses is built for serious writers working on long-form projects — books, screenplays, blogs. It uses a "sheet" metaphor with a library that organizes projects into groups. Export options include ePub, PDF, and direct publishing to WordPress, Medium, and Ghost. It's the choice of authors who want structure without leaving markdown.
Strengths
- Project management — Groups, filters, and goals for long-form work
- Publishing — Direct export to WordPress, Medium, Ghost, ePub
- Beautiful writing experience — Clean typography, focus mode
- Writing goals — Track daily word counts and deadlines
- Full-text search — Fast search across entire library
Cautions
- Subscription-only — $49.99/year, no one-time option
- Proprietary library — Notes stored in Ulysses format, not plain files (export available)
- Overkill for notes — Designed for writing, not quick capture
- Apple-only — Mac and iOS, no Windows or Android
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $49.99/yr (subscription) |
| Platforms | Mac, iPad, iPhone |
| File Format | Ulysses library (exports to .md) |
Nota
"Pro notes app designed for local Markdown files"[5]
Overview
Nota is an indie Mac app that combines a clean editor with power-user features like multiple cursors, wiki links, and scriptable extensions. It's built by a solo developer and targets the gap between simple note apps and full IDEs. Files are plain markdown, stored wherever you want.
Strengths
- True plain text — No reformatting on open, no transformations on paste
- Wiki links — [[linking]] with backlinks and auto-update on rename
- Extensions — Custom commands and scripts in multiple languages
- Power editing — Multiple cursors, expand selection, quick dialogs
- One-time purchase — No subscription
Cautions
- Mac-only — No iOS companion app
- Indie project — Single developer, unknown long-term viability
- No sync — Relies on iCloud/Dropbox for cross-device
- Limited ecosystem — Smaller community than Obsidian
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $20 (one-time) |
| Platforms | Mac only |
| File Format | .md (local files) |
FSNotes
"Modern notes manager for macOS and iOS"[6]
Overview
FSNotes is open-source and inspired by Notational Velocity — the beloved fast-search note app. It prioritizes speed (works smoothly with 10k+ files), uses GitHub Flavored Markdown, and syncs via iCloud. It's free, respects your files, and has no business model beyond App Store tips.
Strengths
- Open source — Free, transparent, community-driven
- Blazing fast — Handles 10k+ notes without lag
- Local files — Plain markdown, your choice of storage
- Wiki links — [[double brackets]] support
- No subscription — Free forever
Cautions
- No subfolders on iOS — Flat organization only on mobile
- Limited polish — Not as refined as commercial alternatives
- Fewer features — No built-in graph view or plugins
- Development pace — Updates are sporadic
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free (open source) |
| Platforms | Mac, iOS |
| File Format | .md (local files) |
Typora
"A new way to read & write Markdown"
Overview
Typora pioneered true WYSIWYG markdown editing — you see rendered formatting as you type, not source code with a preview pane. Headers expand, bold text becomes bold, and tables form visually. The syntax only appears when you place your cursor on formatted text. This seamless experience has made it a favorite among writers who want markdown portability without constantly translating syntax.
Strengths
- True WYSIWYG — Markdown renders instantly as you type; no split-pane previews
- Excellent table handling — Drag-to-resize columns, visual row/column insertion
- Cross-platform — Mac, Windows, and Linux (including ARM)
- One-time purchase — $14.99 with no subscription
- Diagrams built-in — Mermaid, flowcharts, and sequence diagrams inline
Cautions
- 3-device limit — License restricts use to 3 computers
- No organization — Pure editor with no tags, notebooks, or wiki links
- No mobile — Desktop only; no iOS or Android apps
- Closed source — Can't inspect or modify the codebase
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 (one-time) |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux |
| File Format | .md, .txt (local files) |
nvUltra
"Searchable, portable, MultiMarkdown notes"
Overview
nvUltra is the long-awaited successor to Notational Velocity and nvALT from Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney (creator of MultiMarkdown). It follows the search-first philosophy: one field where you type to instantly find existing notes or create new ones. Notes are plain MultiMarkdown files, portable and future-proof. However, it has been in private beta for years with no public release date.
Strengths
- Search-first workflow — The Notational Velocity paradigm, refined and modernized
- Plain text files — MultiMarkdown files you own, never locked in
- Multiple notebooks — Any folder can be a notebook; open several at once
- Pedigree — Built by Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney, two Mac productivity legends
- Live preview — Side-by-side synchronized scrolling with the editor
Cautions
- Perpetual beta — Has been in private beta since ~2019 with no clear release timeline
- Mac-only — No iOS, Windows, or cross-platform support
- Invitation-only — Must request beta access from Brett Terpstra
- Pricing unknown — No announced pricing structure
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | TBD (private beta) |
| Platforms | Mac only |
| File Format | .md, .mmd (local files) |
Simplenote
"The simplest way to keep notes"
Overview
Simplenote is exactly what the name suggests: a simple note app with instant sync across every device. Backed by Automattic (WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce), it's completely free — no premium tier, no ads, no hidden costs. Notes sync in real-time, support markdown, and include version history. For users who want basic cross-platform notes without complexity, Simplenote is hard to beat.
Strengths
- Completely free — No premium tier, no ads; backed by Automattic's resources
- Universal availability — Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and web
- Instant sync — Notes appear on other devices immediately
- Open source — All apps are GPL v2, providing transparency
- Version history — See and restore any previous version of a note
Cautions
- Cloud-dependent — Notes stored on Simplenote servers, not as local files
- Minimal features — No folders, wiki links, or rich formatting beyond markdown
- Security concerns — Some users uncertain about encryption for sensitive data
- Basic markdown only — No tables, diagrams, or advanced markdown extensions
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
| File Format | Cloud (exports to .txt, .md) |
Byword
"Markdown text editor app for Mac, iPhone and iPad"
Overview
Byword is a minimalist markdown writing app designed for focused writing and easy publishing. Its standout feature is direct publishing to WordPress, Medium, Blogger, Tumblr, and Evernote — write in markdown, hit publish, done. With a clean interface, iCloud/Dropbox sync, and one-time pricing, Byword serves writers who want simplicity without subscription fatigue.
Strengths
- Clean writing experience — Minimal interface with focus mode
- Direct publishing — Publish to WordPress, Medium, Blogger, Tumblr
- One-time purchase — ~$17 combined for Mac + iOS, no subscription
- Native apps — Fast, responsive (not Electron)
- Plain text files — Documents are .md files in iCloud/Dropbox
Cautions
- Apple-only — No Windows, Android, or web version
- Limited features — No wiki links, tags, or organization beyond folders
- Publishing costs extra — $4.99 in-app purchase for blog publishing
- Separate purchases — Mac and iOS apps are separate
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $10.99 Mac / $5.99 iOS (one-time) |
| Platforms | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| File Format | .txt, .md (local files) |
Other Notable Players
| App | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drafts | Quick capture | "Where text starts" — capture first, route later |
| Tot | Scratchpad | 7 color-coded dots for quick text, $20 |
Architecture Patterns
Storage Approach
| Approach | Apps | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local .md files | Scratch, Obsidian, iA Writer, Nota, FSNotes, Typora | Portable, future-proof, git-friendly | No conflict resolution |
| App database | Bear, Ulysses, Drafts | Better sync, metadata | Vendor lock-in risk |
| Cloud-native | Simplenote | Zero setup, free | Dependent on service |
Sync Approach
| Approach | Apps | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud native | Bear, iA Writer, FSNotes | Free, invisible | Apple-only |
| Bring your own | Obsidian, Nota | Control, cross-platform | Setup required |
| Proprietary | Obsidian Sync, Simplenote | Conflict resolution | Costs extra |
Gap Analysis
| Feature | Scratch | iA Writer | Bear | Obsidian | Ulysses | Nota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local .md files | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Wiki links | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Focus mode | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Plugin system | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| iOS app | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free/One-time | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI agent integration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅* | ❌ | ❌ |
*Via plugins or file watching
Bottom line: No single app has everything. Scratch is the only one with native AI agent integration, but lacks wiki links and iOS. Obsidian offers the most features but with complexity overhead.
Strategic Recommendations
By Use Case
| Use Case | Recommended | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| Distraction-free writing | iA Writer | Ulysses |
| Everyday notes | Bear | Obsidian |
| Knowledge management / PKM | Obsidian | Nota |
| Quick capture | Drafts | Tot |
| Open source / Free | FSNotes | Scratch |
| Long-form books/articles | Ulysses | iA Writer |
| AI agent workflows | Scratch | Obsidian |
By Buyer Profile
Developer who wants plain files: → Obsidian or Nota — both store .md locally, work with git, support wiki links
Developer using AI coding agents: → Scratch — Native Claude Code integration, detects external file changes, git built-in
Writer focused on prose: → iA Writer — Focus Mode, Style Check, and authorship tracking for the AI age
Casual note-taker who values aesthetics: → Bear — Beautiful, well-organized, syncs effortlessly across Apple devices
Budget-conscious user: → FSNotes (free, open source) or Simplenote (free, cross-platform)
Market Outlook
Near-Term (2026)
- AI writing assistance will arrive across more apps (following iA Writer's lead)
- Obsidian continues consolidating the PKM market
- Subscription fatigue will benefit one-time purchase apps
Medium-Term (2027-2028)
- Wiki-style linking becomes expected in all note apps
- Voice-to-note and AI summarization become standard features
- Bear may need to respond to Obsidian's growth with linking features
Long-Term (2029+)
- Local-first wins as users tire of cloud lock-in
- Consolidation: smaller apps acquired or abandoned
- AI authorship tracking (like iA Writer) becomes standard
Bottom Line
The minimalist markdown note space has mature winners serving different needs:
Current Leaders:
- iA Writer for focused writing with AI-era awareness
- Bear for beautiful, organized everyday notes
- Obsidian for power users who want local files and linking
The trend is local-first. Users increasingly demand plain markdown files they control, not proprietary databases. Apps that respect this (Obsidian, iA Writer, Nota, FSNotes) are gaining ground.
Watch for AI integration. iA Writer's authorship tracking is the template for responsible AI: transparent about what's human vs. machine. Other apps will follow.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology