Elegant, simple markdown apps
Started by MadaboutDana
on 10/29/2026
MadaboutDana
10/29/2026 8:24 am
Sometimes you come across apps that do their job exceptionally well without any fuss or fanfare.
Two of these are PureWrite and PureOpen, both available for Mac/iOS only. They are free.
You'll find PureWrite at https://puretext.bdtech.app/purewrite – it's a markdown writing app, albeit so minimalist that it's more like a markdown editor, albeit one that focuses on a specific workspace. It's also on the Mac App Store and the iOS App Store. The search function is excellent – workspace search is separate from in-file search, but highlights hits in the found files. The interface is, frankly, gorgeous (if you're into super-minimalism). The markdown is immediately turned into WYSIWYG text. You can also safely use it with an Obsidian or other vault/repository – it doesn't disrupt anything or add its own hidden files. It's also (perhaps unusually) right-left compatible.
You'll find PureOpen at https://puretext.bdtech.app/quickmd/
It's very similar to PureWrite, but can be used as a default markdown editor (it doesn't need workspaces): files are opened in tabs by default. Otherwise more or less identical to PureWrite, with the same minimalist, gorgeous interface and fluid handling of markdown.
Honestly very impressive apps, especially given that they're free.
For the curious, there's also PureKanban, which is slightly more complex and compatible with the well-known Kanban plugin for Obsidian. It's a bit fiddlier to set up, especially from scratch, but very neat, in that it has a dashboard that keeps track of multiple kanbans simultaneously, so it's ideal for project management. It's available at https://puretext.bdtech.app/purekanban/
All the above are written in Rust, so the footprint is minimal. They've replaced Typora for me, at least on the Mac. Writers who like unfussy / distraction-free screens will love them!
The developer has a number of other really interesting apps on his main website, https://www.bdtech.app/apps – well worth a visit.
Two of these are PureWrite and PureOpen, both available for Mac/iOS only. They are free.
You'll find PureWrite at https://puretext.bdtech.app/purewrite – it's a markdown writing app, albeit so minimalist that it's more like a markdown editor, albeit one that focuses on a specific workspace. It's also on the Mac App Store and the iOS App Store. The search function is excellent – workspace search is separate from in-file search, but highlights hits in the found files. The interface is, frankly, gorgeous (if you're into super-minimalism). The markdown is immediately turned into WYSIWYG text. You can also safely use it with an Obsidian or other vault/repository – it doesn't disrupt anything or add its own hidden files. It's also (perhaps unusually) right-left compatible.
You'll find PureOpen at https://puretext.bdtech.app/quickmd/
It's very similar to PureWrite, but can be used as a default markdown editor (it doesn't need workspaces): files are opened in tabs by default. Otherwise more or less identical to PureWrite, with the same minimalist, gorgeous interface and fluid handling of markdown.
Honestly very impressive apps, especially given that they're free.
For the curious, there's also PureKanban, which is slightly more complex and compatible with the well-known Kanban plugin for Obsidian. It's a bit fiddlier to set up, especially from scratch, but very neat, in that it has a dashboard that keeps track of multiple kanbans simultaneously, so it's ideal for project management. It's available at https://puretext.bdtech.app/purekanban/
All the above are written in Rust, so the footprint is minimal. They've replaced Typora for me, at least on the Mac. Writers who like unfussy / distraction-free screens will love them!
The developer has a number of other really interesting apps on his main website, https://www.bdtech.app/apps – well worth a visit.
Paul Korm
10/29/2026 9:36 am
Thank you for this, Bill.
There is also available on PureOpen PureCodex
https://puretext.bdtech.app/purecodex/
I'm a bit confused how this one is supposed to work, but it's a puzzle worth digging into.
There is also available on PureOpen PureCodex
https://puretext.bdtech.app/purecodex/
I'm a bit confused how this one is supposed to work, but it's a puzzle worth digging into.