Key takeaways
- Spiritual successor to Notational Velocity from Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney (MultiMarkdown creator)
- Search-first interface — start typing to instantly find or create notes
- Still in private beta as of June 2026 — a 'Mark II' beta shipped May 2026, but pricing and release date remain TBD
FAQ
What is nvUltra?
nvUltra is a Mac note-taking app from Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney that combines blazing-fast search with plain text markdown files. It's the modern successor to Notational Velocity.
Is nvUltra available to buy?
Not yet. As of June 2026 nvUltra remains in private beta (since approximately 2019). The website lists free trial, direct purchase, and Mac App Store buttons as 'coming soon' with no release date or pricing announced.
Who is building nvUltra?
Brett Terpstra (creator of Marked, nvALT) and Fletcher Penney (creator of MultiMarkdown).
Executive Summary
nvUltra is the long-awaited successor to Notational Velocity and nvALT — beloved minimalist note apps known for their instant search-first interface. Built by Brett Terpstra (creator of Marked and nvALT) and Fletcher Penney (creator of MultiMarkdown), nvUltra promises the same lightning-fast search workflow with modern MultiMarkdown features. As of June 2026 it remains in private beta with no public release date — the site says the team has "as many beta testers as we can reasonably handle" and is "squashing the final bugs," with trial, direct purchase, and Mac App Store buttons all marked "coming soon." Development is not dead — a "Mark II" beta shipped in May 2026 with active forum threads through early 2026 — but seven years in, it remains vaporware-adjacent despite its pedigree.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Brett Terpstra / Fletcher Penney (indie) |
| Founded | ~2019 (announced) |
| Funding | Bootstrapped |
| Headquarters | USA |
Product Overview
nvUltra follows the "modal entry" philosophy that made Notational Velocity famous: there's one search/create field where you start typing. If a matching note exists, it appears instantly. If not, pressing Enter creates a new note with that title. This workflow eliminates the friction of "where do I put this?" — you just type and go.
Notes are stored as plain MultiMarkdown files, making them portable and editable in any application. nvUltra adds modern features like multiple notebooks, live preview, and support for non-text files in your folders.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Modal Search/Create | Single field for finding or creating notes instantly |
| MultiMarkdown | Full MultiMarkdown support with live preview |
| Multiple Notebooks | Any folder can be a notebook; open several at once |
| Drag & Drop Links | Connect notes by dragging between them |
| Non-Text Files | Images, PDFs, and other files indexed alongside notes |
| Live Preview | Side-by-side synchronized scrolling preview with customizable themes |
| Wiki-Style Links | Wiki-style linking between notes |
| Writing Tools | Syntax highlighting, autocomplete, snippet expansion, CriticMarkup change tracking, focus and typewriter modes |
Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Mac App | Native macOS application | Private Beta |
Technical Architecture
nvUltra stores notes as plain text files in standard folders — no proprietary database. This means you can edit files with any other app while nvUltra is running, and it will keep up with external changes.
The app builds on Fletcher Penney's MultiMarkdown technology, supporting advanced features like tables, footnotes, citations, and math equations.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| File Format | .md, .txt, .mmd (plain text) |
| Storage | Local folders |
| Sync | iCloud or any folder sync service |
| Preview | Live MultiMarkdown rendering |
| Integration | Works with Marked 2 for advanced preview |
Strengths
- Search-first workflow — The Notational Velocity paradigm remains the fastest way to capture and retrieve notes
- Plain text files — Notes are future-proof, portable, and never locked in
- MultiMarkdown power — Advanced features like tables, footnotes, citations, math (from the creator of MultiMarkdown)
- Multiple notebooks — Open several folders at once, drag and drop between them
- Pedigree — Built by Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney, two of the most respected names in Mac productivity
Cautions
- Perpetual beta — Has been in private beta since ~2019 with no clear release timeline; still unreleased as of June 2026
- Mac-only — No iOS companion, no cross-platform support planned
- Invitation-only — The team says it has "as many beta testers as we can reasonably handle" and isn't taking more
- Pricing unknown — No announced pricing structure; purchase buttons remain "coming soon"
- Developer attention elsewhere — Terpstra shipped Marked 3 in May 2026 (his "largest release of Marked since its inception") and an nvALT rescue tool, with no nvUltra news on his blog this year
- Competition has evolved — Obsidian, Bear 2, and others have matured while nvUltra remains unreleased
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | Free (invitation only, currently closed to new testers) | Full app access during beta |
| Release | TBD | Unknown |
Licensing model: Unknown (likely one-time purchase based on developer history). As of June 2026 the website shows free trial, direct purchase, and Mac App Store options — all labeled "coming soon."
Hidden costs: None known, but unclear until release.
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Obsidian | nvUltra has simpler search-first UX; Obsidian has plugins and linking |
| Bear | Bear has polish and iOS; nvUltra has plain files and speed |
| FSNotes | FSNotes is free/open-source and shipping; nvUltra is beta |
| Nota | Similar plain-text philosophy; Nota is available now |
When to Choose nvUltra Over Alternatives
- Choose nvUltra when: You loved Notational Velocity/nvALT and want the modern successor (if you can get beta access)
- Choose Obsidian when: You need wiki links, plugins, and cross-platform now
- Choose FSNotes when: You want a free, shipping Notational Velocity alternative
- Choose Bear when: You want polished design with iOS sync
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Former Notational Velocity / nvALT users
- Writers who prioritize speed of capture over organization
- MultiMarkdown power users
- Mac-only users who value plain text files
Poor fit:
- Anyone who needs a shipping product now
- Cross-platform users (Windows, Linux, iOS)
- Anyone who can't get beta access (the beta is currently closed to new testers)
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Unknown — beta only, no revenue yet |
| Market Position | Niche — competing for Notational Velocity loyalists |
| Innovation Pace | Slow — years in beta, though a "Mark II" beta shipped May 2026 |
| Community/Ecosystem | Limited — closed beta, low-traffic support forum |
| Long-term Outlook | Uncertain — may never ship publicly |
The extended beta is concerning. While Brett Terpstra and Fletcher Penney have excellent track records, nvUltra has been "coming soon" for roughly seven years. Development continues — the beta forum shows posts from Terpstra in December 2025 and a new beta build in May 2026 — but Terpstra's public energy in 2026 has gone into shipping Marked 3 (May 2026), not nvUltra. Many potential users have moved to alternatives.
What Users Say
Sentiment in 2025–2026 ranges from nostalgia to open frustration. In a March 2026 Hacker News thread about minimalist note apps:
"I still lament the loss of nvALT. The GOAT." — jen729w, Hacker News
"I'm more upset about the one-decade-in-beta, almost-certain-never-to-be-released, quasi-vaporware nvULTRA." — treetalker, Hacker News
Earlier Reddit discussion struck the same note — curiosity about the app paired with resignation that beta invites never arrived and alternatives filled the gap.
Bottom Line
nvUltra represents the ideal evolution of Notational Velocity — fast search, plain text files, modern MultiMarkdown support, now with wiki-style links and CriticMarkup. The pedigree is impeccable, and as of June 2026 the project is still alive: a "Mark II" beta shipped in May 2026 and the site claims the team is "squashing the final bugs." But seven years of private beta without a release date or pricing make it hard to recommend waiting for it.
Recommended for: Notational Velocity/nvALT loyalists who already have beta access and are patient.
Not recommended for: Anyone who needs a solution now, or cross-platform users — and the beta is currently closed to new testers anyway.
Outlook: If nvUltra ships, it will likely be excellent — the May 2026 beta activity and "final bugs" language suggest a release is closer than ever. But Terpstra just spent his 2026 shipping Marked 3 instead, and the community has largely written nvUltra off as "quasi-vaporware." Watch Brett Terpstra's blog for updates, but don't hold your breath.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology
Sources
- [1] nvUltra Official Website
- [2] Brett Terpstra's Blog
- [3] Using Hookmark with nvUltra
- [4] Reddit Discussion on nvUltra
- [5] Brett Terpstra and nvUltra (Wayback Machine)
- [6] Hacker News thread lamenting nvALT and nvUltra's beta (March 2026)
- [7] nvUltra Beta downloads — MultiMarkdown Software community forum