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Raven

Native Markdown Notes

 Pricing

Updated May 20, 2026 with current Apple Notes export guidance.

Raven
vs
Apple Notes

Apple Notes is convenient. Raven gives you the files.

Raven is a native Apple Notes alternative for people who want Markdown notes as files. Apple Notes is excellent for free capture, scans, attachments, and shared lists. Raven is for the notes you want as plain .md files that Finder, git, Claude, Cursor, and terminal tools can read directly.

Move to Markdown

$14 lifetime now. Subscription-only from July 1, 2026.
Raven iPhone editor showing the current writing toolbar, headings, and clean native typography.

If you want Markdown files, start with files.

Use a notes app that writes Markdown as the actual note format, not as a cleanup step later. Raven keeps the Apple-native feel while making every note a plain Markdown file in a folder. Apple Notes can export Markdown; Raven starts there.

See what stays inside Apple Notes →

Keep Apple Notes for capture. Move long-term writing to files.

Markdown is the storage model, not an export step.

Apple Notes can export a note as Markdown on current iPhone software. Raven starts there: every note is already a .md file in a folder you control.

Your notes live in a visible folder.

Open the vault in Finder, edit files in another Markdown app, back them up however you like, or keep the folder under git. Raven does not hide your writing behind an app library.

Claude and Cursor can read the vault directly.

Claude, Cursor, terminal tools, and MCP filesystem servers work with files. With Raven, you give the tool a folder instead of exporting, copying, and pasting.

Search stays local and text-first.

Raven gives you app search, but the files also stay searchable with ripgrep, Spotlight, scripts, and any text-first setup you already trust.

Keep Apple Notes where it works best.

Apple Notes is still the better home for scans, locked notes, handwritten notes, shared lists, and anything that relies on Apple's attachment-heavy note model.

Move long-term writing to files.

Project notes, research, meeting notes, daily notes, and Claude context belong in a format your tools can inspect. Raven gives those notes a normal folder and normal Markdown files.

Raven vs Apple Notes.

Apple Notes is better for free capture and Apple integration. Raven is better when you want Markdown files you can inspect.

Raven Raven
Apple Notes Apple Notes
Free and preinstalled -
Plain .md files on disk · Apple Notes exports Markdown; it does not store notes as files -
Native Mac app
Native iPhone app
Works with Claude / MCP agents · Export first -
Grep / git / terminal access -
[[Wiki-style]] backlinks -
Tables
Checklists
Document scanning -
Audio transcription on supported devices -
Collaboration -
Daily and weekly Journal -
Reusable Markdown templates -
One-time purchase option -

Which should you use?

You want free notes with scans, handwriting, and collaboration

Apple Notes

You want a Markdown vault that Claude or Cursor can inspect

Raven

You mostly capture receipts, PDFs, sketches, and quick shared lists

Apple Notes

You want your notes in git, Finder, terminal tools, or another editor

Raven

You want Markdown as an occasional export format

Apple Notes

You want Markdown as the actual note format

Raven

Source notes.

Comparison pages should be useful, current, and checkable. These are the Apple sources this page relies on.

Apple Support: Notes can create checklists, add tables, add attachments, scan documents, sync with iCloud, and link notes. Apple iPhone User Guide: Notes can export a note as a Markdown file through Export as Markup.

Apple Notes questions.

What is the best Apple Notes alternative for Markdown?
Raven is for people who like Apple Notes but want Mac and iPhone notes stored as plain Markdown files. Apple Notes is still better for free collaboration, scanning, handwriting, and built-in Apple ecosystem capture.
Can Apple Notes export Markdown?
Yes. Apple documents an Export as Markup option that lets a note be exported as a Markdown file. Apple Notes uses Markdown for export. Raven stores each note as Markdown from the start.
Can Claude read Apple Notes?
Claude can read text you provide or files it can access, but Apple Notes does not expose your notes as a normal local Markdown folder. Raven does, so a filesystem-aware tool can read, search, and write notes directly when you grant folder access.
Should I replace Apple Notes completely?
Not necessarily. Keep Apple Notes for scans, locked notes, shared family lists, handwriting, and fast system capture if you rely on those. Use Raven for writing that should live as Markdown, with templates, backlinks, and local files Claude can read.
Does Raven have Apple Notes collaboration?
No. Raven is built around personal Markdown files, not shared note collaboration. If you mainly need shared lists and collaborative notes, keep Apple Notes for that.
Does Raven cost money?
Yes. Raven is $14 lifetime through June 30, 2026. From July 1, 2026, it moves to subscription-only at $2.49/month or $24.99/year. Apple Notes is free with Apple devices.

Keep the native feel. Take the files with you.

Lock in lifetime at $14. Apple refunds are available within 48 hours.

Move to Markdown

Also comparing Bear or Obsidian? Read the Apple Notes to Markdown guide.