MiaoYan

Active

Country: China (CN)
Developer: tw93
Pricing: Freemium (free DMG downloads; ¥88 on Mac App Store)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: macOS

Indexes

Note-Taking

Overview

MiaoYan is a lightweight, native Markdown note-taking app for macOS that stores notes as plain Markdown files locally for privacy.¹²³⁴ It features a three-column layout with folders, note list, and editor, supporting syntax highlighting, dark mode, and advanced Markdown elements like LaTeX, Mermaid, PlantUML, and Markmap.²³⁴ Designed for programmers and writers seeking a fast, distraction-free environment without accounts or tracking.⁴⁵

Key Features

Local-first storage - Notes saved as plain Markdown files on device, no cloud or accounts required.
Three-column layout - Folders, file list, and editor in minimalist design with dark mode.
Syntax highlighting - Real-time preview with bidirectional scroll sync.
Presentation/PPT modes - Convert Markdown to slide-style views.
Diagram support - LaTeX math, Mermaid, PlantUML, Markmap rendering.
Image upload - Drag-and-drop with uPic, PicGo, Picsee hosting integration.
TodoList - Use [ ] and [x] syntax, editable in preview.
Auto-typesetting - Automatic document formatting and internal links.
Keyboard shortcuts - Fast editing with native Swift performance.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free DMG	Free	Full features via GitHub releases.
Mac App Store	¥88.00	One-time purchase with App Store updates and family sharing.

Platforms & Requirements

Runs on macOS 11.5 or later (some sources note macOS 11).¹³⁵ Native Swift app, lightweight at 16.3 MB, no support for other platforms like iOS, Windows, or web.⁵

Integrations & Ecosystem

uPic image hosting
PicGo image hosting
Picsee image hosting
iCloud Drive storage
Command-line interface
Markdown file import/export

Alternatives

App	Difference
Typora	Electron-based cross-platform editor with live preview, less native macOS feel.
Obsidian	Plugin-heavy knowledge base with graph view, more complex than MiaoYan's simple notes.
Bear	iCloud-synced Markdown app with iOS support, proprietary format unlike MiaoYan's plain files.
Notion	All-in-one workspace with databases, heavier and cloud-dependent vs local-first.

Reputation

MiaoYan is praised for its native Swift performance, privacy-focused local storage, and engineer-friendly features like diagram support and image hosting.³⁴⁶ Users appreciate the lightweight design and speed over Electron apps, with positive mentions for Chinese/English typography.²⁴ Some note it's Mac-only, limiting cross-platform use, and App Store version requires payment despite free alternatives.⁵

Sources (9)