The MiaoYan Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MiaoYan in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
MiaoYan
The Insider’s Guide
Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from MiaoYan’s own pages.
Made by Tw93 (Tang Wei) · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from MiaoYan’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MiaoYan’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
MiaoYan is a native Markdown note-taking app for the Mac, written in Swift, that keeps notes as plain files in a folder you choose. It pairs a Markdown source editor with a live preview and adds wikilinks with backlinks, LaTeX, Mermaid diagrams, version history and a presentation mode. The open-source edition is free and now receives fixes only, while a paid App Store edition gets the new features and includes an iPhone and iPad app.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MiaoYan, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's Apple only, there's no WYSIWYG editing or plugin system, and sync depends on a cloud drive you set up.
- 1
Best for writing raw Markdown on a Mac with a live preview
MiaoYan is a Mac app for typing Markdown with a rendered preview beside it, saving notes as plain files in a folder you choose.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition).
- 3
There is a free plan
The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license through Homebrew or GitHub Releases. The README says it now receives fixes only, with new features going to the App Store edition.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
Split editor and preview
Markdown source and its rendered preview sit side by side, updating in real time with scrolling kept in step in both directions. The editor is deliberately not WYSIWYG.
- 6
Wikilinks, backlinks, LaTeX and Mermaid
Notes link to one another with wikilinks and show their backlinks. LaTeX formulas and Mermaid diagrams are supported alongside standard Markdown.
- 7
Plain files in a folder you choose
Notes are ordinary Markdown files in a local folder. The app does not collect note data or sign in to cloud accounts; iCloud Drive, Nutstore or Dropbox can sync the folder.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 50 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of MiaoYan you could make: notes, Markdown and linked notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
MiaoYan at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Tw93 (Tang Wei)
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for writing raw Markdown on a Mac with a live preview
MiaoYan is a Mac app for typing Markdown with a rendered preview beside it, saving notes as plain files in a folder you choose. The free open-source build gets fixes only now, and new features and the iPhone and iPad app come with the $14.99 App Store edition. It's Apple only, there's no WYSIWYG editing or plugin system, and sync depends on a cloud drive you set up.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The App Store edition is $14.99 once, and that one purchase covers Mac, iPhone and iPad with Family Sharing. Notes apps here sit around $6 a month in the middle, so it's under three months of a rival's subscription, paid once. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license, from Homebrew or GitHub, and one person could live on it. But the README says it gets fixes only now, with new features and the iPhone and iPad app going to the paid edition. |
| Features | C | Source and preview side by side with scrolling kept in step, wikilinks with backlinks, LaTeX, Mermaid, version history, a slides mode and a miao command for the terminal. The listing names the gaps: no WYSIWYG editing, no plugin system and no sync of its own. |
| Ease of use | C | You write raw Markdown and read the result in a separate pane, and a cloud drive has to carry the folder between devices. No account to make, at least. The App Store listing hasn't enough ratings to show a score, so there's none on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac on macOS 12.0 or later, iPhone and iPad on iOS 18.0 or later: one family of devices. No Windows, Linux, Android or web version, and it leans on an iCloud Drive, Nutstore or Dropbox folder for sync. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who MiaoYan is for
- Fits if you write Markdown source and want the rendered page right beside it
- Works for notes that already sit as plain files in iCloud Drive or Dropbox
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows, Linux or Android, as it's Mac, iPhone and iPad only
- Not for you if you want to edit the formatted page itself or add plugins, because there's no WYSIWYG mode or plugin system
- Tight if you're staying free, since the open-source build gets fixes only and the iPhone and iPad app is part of the $14.99 edition
- Watch out: there's no sync or account of its own, so a cloud-drive client has to keep the folder in step
- Watch out: the iPhone and iPad app needs iOS 18.0 or later, and the Mac app macOS 12.0 or later
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want to write Markdown source with a live preview beside it
- People who keep notes as plain files in iCloud Drive or another synced folder
- Presenting slides straight from a Markdown note
Worth knowing
- No Windows, Linux, Android or web version: the Mac app needs macOS 12.0 or later and the iPhone and iPad app needs iOS 18.0 or later.
- The free open-source build receives fixes only. New features and the iPhone and iPad app come with the $14.99 App Store edition.
- There is no WYSIWYG editing and no plugin system: you write Markdown source and read the result in a separate preview.
- The app has no sync service or account of its own, so a cloud-drive client has to keep the notes folder in step across devices.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
MiaoYan has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition).
The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license, from Homebrew or GitHub, and one person could live on it.
Open-source edition
$0
The MIT-licensed Mac app from Homebrew or GitHub Releases, for macOS 12.0 or later. It now receives fixes only.
App Store edition
$14.99
one-time purchase (US App Store)
One purchase covers the Mac, iPhone and iPad apps, with automatic updates and Family Sharing. New features land in this edition.
The free plan
The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license through Homebrew or GitHub Releases. The README says it now receives fixes only, with new features going to the App Store edition.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $14.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $19.99 | $14.05 | 6% less |
| India | ₹ 1,499 | $15.50 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 999.00 | $15.90 | 6% more |
| Australia | $22.99 | $16.05 | 7% more |
| South Africa | R299.99 | $18.14 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £14.99 | $19.82 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 99,90 | $19.96 | 33% more |
| Germany | 17,99 € | $20.16 | 34% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, one-time purchase, notes, Markdown, linked notes, presentations.
The listing names the gaps: no WYSIWYG editing, no plugin system and no sync of its own.
- Split editor and preview
- Markdown source and its rendered preview sit side by side, updating in real time with scrolling kept in step in both directions. The editor is deliberately not WYSIWYG.
- Wikilinks, backlinks, LaTeX and Mermaid
- Notes link to one another with wikilinks and show their backlinks. LaTeX formulas and Mermaid diagrams are supported alongside standard Markdown.
- Plain files in a folder you choose
- Notes are ordinary Markdown files in a local folder. The app does not collect note data or sign in to cloud accounts; iCloud Drive, Nutstore or Dropbox can sync the folder.
- Presentation mode
- A note can be presented as slides in PPT mode, with --- lines separating one slide from the next.
- Command-line tool
- The miao command opens, creates, searches, lists and prints notes from the terminal, and is installed separately with a script from the repository.
- iPhone and iPad app
- The App Store edition includes an iPhone and iPad app that reads and edits the same Markdown folder through iCloud Drive, with folders, note previews and search.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud Drive
- Nutstore
- Dropbox
MiaoYan is made by Tw93 (Tang Wei).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
50/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
MiaoYan's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 62 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. MiaoYan’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of MiaoYan you could make: notes, Markdown and linked notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $14.99, paid once. MiaoYan is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A slide editor.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. MiaoYan’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
FSNotes, Obsidian, The Archive, Bear and NotePlus
The 5 tools MiaoYan is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
FSNotes
Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone.
- MiaoYan also covers linked notes and presentations.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
The Archive
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Plain-text note-taking app for Mac built around Zettelkasten.
- MiaoYan has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MiaoYan lists an iOS app.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- MiaoYan can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
NotePlus
Free plan · from $29 one-time
Native Markdown notes app with kanban boards and AI chat.
- Only NotePlus lists a Windows app.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- MiaoYan also covers presentations.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is MiaoYan free?
MiaoYan has a free plan. The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license through Homebrew or GitHub Releases.
How much does MiaoYan cost?
MiaoYan lists 2 plans. Open-source edition: $0.
What platforms does MiaoYan work on?
MiaoYan is available on macOS and iOS.
Does MiaoYan have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MiaoYan is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does MiaoYan have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. MiaoYan is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is MiaoYan open source?
Yes. MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
What does MiaoYan integrate with?
MiaoYan's listing names iCloud Drive, Nutstore and Dropbox. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes MiaoYan?
MiaoYan is made by Tw93 (Tang Wei).
What are the alternatives to MiaoYan?
The closest alternatives to MiaoYan in our directory are FSNotes, Obsidian, The Archive, Bear and NotePlus.
How does MiaoYan compare with other note-taking apps?
MiaoYan's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of MiaoYan?
The plain part of MiaoYan you could make: notes, Markdown and linked notes.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MiaoYan’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MiaoYan's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-24.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Tw93 (Tang Wei). Prices change, so check miaoyan.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- MiaoYan, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/miaoyan
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "MiaoYan: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/miaoyan
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/miaoyan/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after MiaoYan, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what MiaoYan’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. MiaoYan is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Tw93 (Tang Wei). Prices and plans change: check miaoyan.app before you buy.