Native Mac feel
Raven is built for Apple platforms instead of wrapped in a browser shell. Launch, scrolling, and text input feel like a Mac app.
Native Mac notes with plain Markdown files underneath.
Raven is a Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone. It feels like an Apple app because it is one, and it stores notes as ordinary .md files in a folder you control.
What should a Mac Markdown notes app do?
It should open quickly, feel native, and keep the working copy as plain Markdown. You still need the daily stuff: search, folders, backlinks, tables, tasks, and journal notes. Raven ships those pieces already.
A notes app should be calm before it is clever.
A visible vault folder
Every note is a plain .md file in a folder you can open, back up, grep, version, or share with local tools.
Fast capture
Open Raven, write the thought down, and get back to work. That is the whole job when an idea shows up.
Markdown editing with controls
Tables, tasks, backlinks, folders, daily notes, and weekly notes are built into the editor instead of patched together later.
Question Raven Typical trade-off
Storage
Raven: Plain .md files in your folder
Trade-off: Database, cloud document, or export format
Mac app
Raven: Native Apple app
Trade-off: Often Electron or web-first
Claude access
Raven: Folder-readable by Claude, Cursor, and MCP tools
Trade-off: Export, API, or plugin required
Setup
Raven: Ready out of the box
Trade-off: Themes, plugins, or workspace tuning
Best fit
Raven: Writers, developers, and Mac users who live in plain files
Trade-off: Teams, web workspaces, or plugin-heavy PKM
Find out if your notes are trapped
Run a one-minute check for Finder, git, backups, Claude, and export cost.
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Markdown tables in Raven
See how Raven keeps tables portable while making them easier to edit.
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Free Markdown templates
Start with reusable templates for planning, meetings, research, journals, and tasks.
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The folder does the work.
Claude, Cursor, git, and terminal search all understand files. Raven keeps your notes in that shape while you work, instead of saving portability for an export day.
Search the folder
Open the source
Keep it fast
Questions about Raven on Mac.
What is the best Markdown notes app for Mac if I care about plain files?
For Mac users who want native feel and plain .md files, Raven is built around that model. The working notes stay in a normal folder, and the app around them is native.
Can Raven open an existing Obsidian vault?
Yes. Raven reads plain .md files and [[wiki-style]] backlinks. If your Obsidian vault is mostly Markdown files, Raven can work with the same folder.
Does Raven work offline?
Yes. Raven is local-first. Notes are files on your device, and sync between Mac and iPhone is optional.
Does Raven include a chat box?
No. Raven keeps notes as files. Claude, Cursor, terminal tools, and MCP agents can work with the folder when you grant access.