Updated June 20, 2026 for Raven's current Mac, iPhone, and iPad app.
Obsidian alternative
Obsidian ownership, without the workshop.
Raven is a native Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It reads the same plain
.md
files Obsidian does, with the same [[backlinks]]
and the same folder-based vault. Raven keeps the files, then gives them an instant native app with less setup.
$14 lifetime until July 31. Keep the vault and write faster from day one.
Keep the vault. Skip the workshop.
Start with the same Markdown folder. Add Raven when you want the Apple-native app around it.
Design principles
What Raven protects.
Principle #1
Ownership
Raven reads the same plain `.md` vault and [[wiki-links]] Obsidian does. Your folder stays the source of truth.
Principle #2
Instant feel
Raven opens fast, searches fast, and skips plugin startup so the app does not get between you and the note.
Principle #3
Platform fit
Mac, iPhone, and iPad get a native app. Companion CLI/MCP stays on Mac, while widgets and Shortcuts stay where iPhone users expect them.
Raven protects the part Obsidian gets right: plain Markdown files in a folder you own. Same
.md files,
same [[wiki-links]],
same vault ownership. The difference is the feel around them: instant on Apple devices, simple by default, and readable by Claude, Codex, Cursor, and MCP clients through the folder plus Raven Companion.
Where Obsidian asks for more.
Obsidian's plugin model and cross-platform reach are real strengths. These are the places where that reach costs you time.
Electron on Mac, every time you open it.
Obsidian can use hundreds of MB of memory before you write a sentence. It runs on a browser engine, and you feel that in startup time, scrolling, and battery drain.
An iOS app that feels wrapped.
Obsidian's iPhone app is a wrapper. Taps feel half a frame late, keyboard handling feels awkward, and plugins you rely on don't all work there. Writing on iPhone is second-class.
A lot of setup before it feels ready.
Themes, CSS snippets, Dataview, Templater, hotkeys, a calendar plugin, a tasks plugin. The setup becomes the work before you write a word.
Slow to open when the idea is small.
Command-Space, 'obsidian', enter, wait for the splash screen, workspace rehydration, and plugin load. By the time you can type, you've forgotten what you were going to write.
What Raven protects.
Native SwiftUI on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Raven is built in SwiftUI and UIKit for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Scrolling, keyboard handling, and touch response feel like an Apple app because the code targets those platforms directly.
Opens in under a second.
Command-Space, type 'Raven', and the app is ready for your cursor without a splash screen, workspace restore, or plugin load sequence.
Your vault stays exactly where it is.
Raven reads the same plain .md files Obsidian does. Point it at your existing vault folder and your backlinks and YAML frontmatter resolve. You can still open the same vault in Obsidian any time.
Local agents can read the same .md vault.
Notes are files on disk, so Claude, Codex, Cursor, and local MCP clients can read your vault without export. Raven adds Companion CLI/MCP for permissioned Raven-aware edits.
Raven vs Obsidian, side by side.
Raven is for ownership, instant feel, and Apple-platform fit. Obsidian is for plugins, graph view, and cross-platform reach.
 Raven |  Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Plain .md files on disk | ||
| [[Wiki-style]] backlinks | ||
| Native Mac app (SwiftUI / AppKit) · Obsidian is Electron | - | |
| Native iPhone app (SwiftUI / UIKit) · Obsidian's mobile app is a wrapper | - | |
| Sub-second launch | - | |
| Beautiful out of the box | - | |
| Cloud sync included · Obsidian Sync is a paid add-on | - | |
| Works with Claude / MCP agents · Both use plain files | ||
| Low memory footprint | - | |
| Plugin ecosystem | - | |
| Graph view | - | |
| Community themes | - | |
| Windows / Linux support | - | |
| Android support | - | |
| Table support | ||
| Daily and weekly Journal | - | |
| Tasks across notes · Obsidian usually needs plugins | ||
| Mermaid diagrams | Soon |
Who should switch. Who shouldn't.
Choose Raven for native Apple speed. Stay with Obsidian for plugins, graph view, and cross-platform vaults.
Switch to Raven if...
- People who just want to open an app and write
- People who primarily use a Mac and an iPhone
- People who care about startup time and input latency
- People who want a native Apple experience out of the box
Stay on Obsidian if...
- People who depend on specific plugins like Dataview or Templater
- People who use the graph view every day
- People who need Windows, Linux, or Android in addition to Apple
- People who enjoy configuring their tools
- People with very large vaults (10k+ notes) and complex linking
Keep your vault. Skip the config weekend.
Your Obsidian vault is already a folder of .md files, and Raven reads those files directly. Open the same folder in Raven and keep Obsidian installed while you compare.
Point Raven at your existing Obsidian vault folder and it works immediately
Your [[wiki-style]] backlinks resolve in Raven
Your folder structure and YAML frontmatter are preserved
Obsidian plugins are not supported in Raven; your underlying notes are unaffected
You can keep opening the same vault in Obsidian any time. Nothing is locked in.
Obsidian-specific questions.
Can I keep using my existing Obsidian vault?
Will my [[backlinks]] still work?
What about my Obsidian plugins?
Can I go back to Obsidian if I change my mind?
Does Raven have a graph view?
Is Raven faster than Obsidian?
Does Raven work with Claude, Codex, Cursor, and MCP clients?
Does Raven work on Windows, Linux, or Android?
Your vault, native on Apple.
Lock in lifetime at $14. Subscription-only from August 1, 2026.
Apple handles refunds through Report a Problem. Your vault is a folder you can always open elsewhere.
Want the side-by-side? Read Raven vs Obsidian.