# MiaoYan

A quiet, local-first Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone, and iPad that writes to plain files.

HTML: https://softbests.com/software/miaoyan
Markdown: https://softbests.com/software/miaoyan.md
Website: https://miaoyan.app

- Category: [Notes & Markdown](https://softbests.com/category/notes-markdown)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Platforms: macOS, iOS
- Underrated

## Best for

Writers who keep Markdown files in a folder they control and want a native Apple editor instead of a web app.

## Why it deserves attention

MiaoYan keeps a three-column layout for folders, notes, and writing, with plain Markdown, a typeset preview, split view, presentation mode, dark mode, and syntax highlighting, while notes stay in a folder you choose so iCloud Drive or another sync client can handle devices. It is written in Swift, MIT-licensed and free on the Mac with about 8,700 GitHub stars; the iPhone and iPad app use the same iCloud folder and come from one App Store purchase. It is Apple-only, the mobile apps are paid, and it deliberately skips database-style features like backlinks, so it suits writers more than power users building a knowledge graph.

## Can replace

- [Typora](https://softbests.com/software/typora)
- [iA Writer](https://softbests.com/software/ia-writer)

## Related and alternatives

- [Obsidian](https://softbests.com/software/obsidian)
- [Bear](https://softbests.com/software/bear)