OpenMarkdown vs Apple Notes
Apple Notes is where most of your quick notes probably live — and it should be. This isn't a case for switching. It's about one specific thing Apple Notes can't be: a plain .md file on disk that your coding agent can open and edit with you.
At a glance
| OpenMarkdown | Apple Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free — built into Apple's OSes (a tie) |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux, Windows | macOS, iPadOS, iOS, iCloud web (Apple ecosystem) |
The note is a plain .md file on disk | Yes — the file is the source of truth | No — notes live in a proprietary database; Markdown only via import/export |
| Markdown while writing | Live-preview / source / reading | Rich text; Markdown import & export only (since macOS 26), not while you type |
| Agent co-editing over MCP (built-in) | Built-in MCP server, seven tools, section-level conflict protection — macOS and Linux today; Windows coming soon | — (no file on disk for an agent to co-edit) |
| Rich media (handwriting, scans, photos, audio) | — (plain Markdown, images by path) | Yes — a core strength |
| Sync across your devices | — (plain files; sync with your own tools) | Yes — seamless iCloud |
| Maturity / reach | New (first public release 2026) | Built in on every Apple device, huge user base |
Facts checked 2026-07-19; Apple Notes gained Markdown import/export in macOS 26 / iOS 26. Features change — see apple.com/notes for current details.
Where Apple Notes wins
For everyday personal notes, Apple Notes is hard to beat — and it's already on your devices:
- Zero setup, everywhere in the Apple world. It's built in, free, and synced across iPhone, iPad, and Mac over iCloud without a thought. OpenMarkdown is a separate download: native on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
- Rich media. Handwriting and Apple Pencil, document scanning, photos, audio, sketches, collaborative sharing. OpenMarkdown is deliberately just Markdown and plain files.
- Ubiquity. Deeply integrated with Siri, the share sheet, widgets, and Lock Screen — a note is always one tap away.
Where OpenMarkdown is different
This is the one comparison where "local-first" genuinely is the difference — not a tie.
Apple Notes keeps your writing inside a proprietary database (NoteStore.sqlite). Markdown, added in macOS 26, is a conversion at the import and export edges — the note itself is never a plain file you own. In OpenMarkdown, the plain .md file on disk is the note. That's exactly what lets a coding agent take part: its built-in MCP server hands Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI or opencode structured tools — read_section, write_section, reveal — to co-edit the file live, with section-level conflict protection so your unsaved edits survive. There's nothing in a locked Apple Notes database for an agent to open that way. Different jobs: Apple Notes for your life; OpenMarkdown for the file you and your agent build together.
When to pick Apple Notes instead
.md file on disk that your coding agent can co-edit — a plan, a spec, a shared scratchpad — which a note living in Apple's database can't be.More: all comparisons · FAQ · guide
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