Own your knowledge
Plain Markdown files, linked into a knowledge base, with private on-device AI. Native on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Notes are plain .md files you own
- Native, not Electron
- AI that stays on your device
- Try it free for 7 days
Local-first, open format
Local-first
Your notes are plain .md files on your disk - the source of truth. No lock-in, ever.
Native
Real SwiftUI app, not Electron. Instant start and light at thousands of notes.
Private AI
On-device Apple Intelligence, on Mac and iOS. Confidential notes never leave your device.
Open format
Markdown + YAML front matter. Portable, diff-able, scriptable, future-proof.
Git history
Snapshots, diffs, and one-click restore, built in. Real provenance.
More than notes
Editor: Live, Wysiwyg, Reading & Split
Four modes on the Mac and iPad, with tables, code, LaTeX math and images rendered in place.
Locked, private notes
A password and Touch ID. Encrypted on disk and in iCloud, hidden from search until unlocked.
Links, backlinks & graph
[[wiki links]] to notes, headings or single blocks, with automatic backlinks and a graph of the whole vault.
Inspector: outline & local graph
Outline and local graph in a column beside the note.
Typed properties
Status, owner, due or custom keys as color-coded chips, stored as plain YAML.
Keyword + semantic search
Operators like tag: and path:, plus on-device search by meaning.
Tasks & agenda
Checklists and due dates roll up into one agenda: Overdue, Today, Upcoming, Someday.
Git version history
Snapshots, per-note history, side-by-side diffs and restore.
Open & portable
Import whole folders; export Markdown, HTML or a static site.
iCloud sync
Optional, across Mac, iPad and iPhone, with conflict resolution. Or keep a vault on one device.
Opt-Cmd-I opens the Inspector: an outline beside the note that follows the caret and jumps to any heading. All features
AI that stays local
Apple's on-device models. Nothing goes to a cloud, no per-seat AI fee.
- Summarize a note in a click
- Writing assist: continue, rewrite, fix grammar, make concise, expand
- Suggest tags and links from your own content
- Ask Vault: agentic Q&A across your notes, with citations
- Daily / weekly review digest of what changed
Your agents read it too
A built-in MCP server lets Claude Code, Claude Desktop and Cursor search, read and create notes. It runs locally; your notes never leave your Mac.
```mcp search_notes find notes by keyword or meaning read_note pull a note into the agent's context list_links follow backlinks and connections create_note let the agent capture into the vault ```Metis as an AI-agent knowledge base
Pricing
--- price: $19.99 # one-time, per major version devices: 3 # your Mac, iPad and iPhone trial: 7 days # every feature, no credit card subscription: false ---
Buy on the Mac or the App Store and sign in to unlock everywhere.
How Metis compares
A high-level look. See the head-to-head pages for the details.
| | Feature | | Metis | | Obsidian | | Notion | | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes are plain Markdown files | - | - | ||
| Native (not Electron) | - | - | ||
| Built-in private on-device AI | - | - | Writing tools | |
| Locked, encrypted notes | Plugin | - | ||
| Git version history + diffs | Plugin | Paid | - | |
| Backlinks & graph | - | - | ||
| Price | $19.99 · 3 devices | Free* | Freemium | Free |
* Obsidian is free for personal use; Sync, Publish, and commercial use are paid. Competitor details reflect early 2026.
Guides & use cases
Frequently asked questions
What is Metis?
Metis is a native, local-first Markdown knowledge base for macOS, iPhone, and iPad. Your notes are plain .md files in a folder you own, and Metis is a fast native view over them - with a live-preview editor, backlinks and a graph, typed properties, on-device AI, semantic search, and git history (Mac). One $19.99 purchase covers all three platforms.
How much does Metis cost?
Metis is a one-time $19.99 purchase, per major version - no subscription. Try every feature free for 7 days first (no credit card). One license covers your Mac, iPad, and iPhone (up to 3 devices); buy on the Mac or the App Store and sign in to unlock everywhere.
Is it an Obsidian alternative?
Yes - a native one. Metis shares Obsidian's local-first Markdown model but is built natively (not Electron) with private on-device AI and git history built in, no plugins required. You can even open your existing Obsidian vault.
Can I lock or encrypt private notes?
Yes. Lock any note with a password and Touch ID; locked notes are encrypted on disk and in iCloud, and stay out of search, Spotlight, and the link graph until you unlock them. Your password is the only key - it cannot be recovered, so choose one you will remember.
Where are my notes stored and is the AI private?
Notes are plain Markdown files on your own disk. The AI runs entirely on-device via Apple Intelligence, so nothing is uploaded. On-device AI needs macOS 26; the app itself runs on macOS 15+.
Can I move my notes in and out?
Always. Notes are standard Markdown + YAML, readable by Obsidian, iA Writer, git, or any editor. Import files or folders, export a note or the whole vault as Markdown or HTML (a linked static site), print or save a note as PDF or Rich Text on the Mac, and there is a Plain Markdown mode that edits a project folder in place.
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