A note is a file.
Raven stores notes as ordinary .md files. You can open the same note in Raven, a text editor, Finder, Terminal, or another Markdown app.
Updated May 28, 2026 for Raven Companion and the current Mac, iPhone, and iPad app.
Plain-text notes
Notes you can read without the app.
Raven is a plain-text Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Every note is an ordinary .md file in a folder you control, with a native Apple app for writing and browsing.
Get Raven for .md notes
$14 lifetime until July 31. Apple handles refunds through Report a Problem.
What is a plain-text notes app?
A plain-text notes app stores notes in readable text files instead of locking them inside a private database. Raven uses Markdown, so a heading still looks like a heading and a checklist still looks like a checklist, even with the app closed.
Export should not be the only way out.
If your notes are already files, you can leave the app without a cleanup project. You can keep writing, searching, backing up, or editing with other tools because the note itself is still text on disk.
Plain files make your notes more useful.
The folder is yours.
Your notes live in a folder you control instead of being locked inside an app database. Back it up, move it, rename it, or inspect it from the command line.
Developer tools still work.
Plain files can be searched with ripgrep, versioned with git, diffed in an editor, or read by Claude, Codex, Cursor, and local MCP clients.
Writing stays readable.
Markdown keeps headings, lists, links, and tasks legible even before any app renders them.
Plain text keeps the app accountable.
| Criterion | Raven | Database-first notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Plain .md files in a folder | App database or cloud workspace |
| Opening a note elsewhere | Open the same file directly | Export, copy, or use an API first |
| Long-term readability | Readable as text | Depends on the app and export format |
| Search and automation | Finder, grep, ripgrep, scripts, Claude, Codex, Cursor, Companion | Usually limited to app search or integrations |
| Formatting | Markdown syntax in plain text | App-specific document model |
| Best for | Personal writing, PKM, developer notes, folder-readable files | Team documents, shared databases, collaborative workspaces |
Raven is a good fit if...
- You want notes that survive if you stop using the app.
- You use Mac, iPhone, and iPad and want a native writing surface around Markdown files.
- You care about Finder, folders, Terminal search, git, Claude, Codex, Cursor, or MCP tools.
- You want a daily Journal, tasks, tables, and backlinks without spending a weekend wiring up plugins.
Skip Raven if...
- You need Windows, Linux, Android, or a browser-first notes workspace.
- You want real-time team collaboration or shared databases.
- You want a graph-first PKM system with a large plugin ecosystem.
- You only need a free default notes app and do not care where the files live.
Plain text gives local agents files to open.
Claude, Codex, Cursor, terminal scripts, and local MCP clients do not need a custom Raven export to read your notes. The base layer is plain Markdown; Raven Companion adds the permissioned path for Raven-aware note and task edits.
If that is the main reason you care about plain files, read the focused guide to AI-friendly notes in Raven.
Plain-text notes, plainly answered.
What is a plain-text notes app?
A plain-text notes app stores notes in readable text files instead of hiding them inside an app database. Raven uses Markdown, so each note is a plain .md file. The formatting still makes sense when you open the file in any text editor.
Is Markdown the same as plain text?
Close enough. Markdown is plain text with a few formatting conventions on top. A Markdown note is still readable in any text editor; apps like Raven render the symbols into headings, links, and tasks.
Can I open Raven notes in another app?
Yes. Raven notes are ordinary .md files in a local folder. Open them in another Markdown editor, poke at them in Finder, or move the folder somewhere else when you want to.
Does plain text mean ugly or bare bones?
Plain text describes the storage format, not how the app looks. Raven puts a native Mac, iPhone, and iPad app around your Markdown files, with search, folders, backlinks, tables, and a daily Journal.
Why does plain text matter for Claude, Codex, and Cursor?
Claude, Codex, and Cursor are easier to use when notes are already readable. Raven keeps the files plain, then adds Companion CLI/MCP for permissioned Raven-aware reads and writes.