Atlas is built around being a better, modern interpretation of Scrivener with iCloud sync, so no fumbling with Dropbox or keeping track of a bunch of files. Better text merging, no more randomly duplicated documents. Visual and writing separation with improved interoperability using Markdown. A modern interface. And so much more.
Open a Project in multiple places without worry of losing a thing. Using iCloud, Atlas treats your documents carefully with a unified history from each device, and instead of dumping all of your content into duplicate recovery folders or duplicating entire projects, works with you to ensure nothing is ever lost.
A bespoke editor that’s easier to use than any WYSIWYG text editor. Content transforms during export, so the editor can be set up to best encourage your creativity, and unlike pure markdown editors, no need to flip between an editor and viewer to see your rendered content like tables and images. Atlas’s editing experience is designed to feel good to write in.
The Web Clipper pulls webpages into Atlas as clean, readable Markdown with article text extracted, images pulled out, the navigation and ads left behind, and lets you choose where it lands and what to keep.
More than a board, Canvases in Atlas are infinite spaces to lay out work on: place cards, labels, images, sketches, draw connections between them, and even edit documents directly. They can be maps, family trees, or anything else you think of.
| Feature | Atlas | Scrivener |
|---|---|---|
| One-time purchase option | Lifetime Availability Sales |
|
| Live Markdown editing | WYSIWYG | |
| Editor Theme Customizer | — | |
| Wiki-style links & backlinks | Native, auto-updating |
— |
| Apple Pencil sketching | — | |
| Custom Metadata | Convertable to MD Frontmatter |
|
| Infinite canvas with connections | Corkboard |
|
| Built-In Web Clipper | — | |
| iPhone & iPad app | Sold separately |
|
| Windows Support | — | |
| Cross-device sync | Seamless through iCloud |
Manual Push/Pull via Dropbox |
| Easy Sync Conflict Resolution | — | |
| Concurrent Project Editing | — | |
| Document History | Detailed with Comparisons & Integrated Between Devices |
Simple List |
| Import/Export Open, portable formats | Markdown + JSON Canvas |
Proprietary .scriv |
| Publishing / Exporting | Flexible Export Tool |
Compiling Function |
| Dynamic Export Styling | — | |
| Shortcut & Intents Support | — |
Atlas has been built from day one to improve on the industry standards that Scrivener has set by refining and expanding its feature set. It is also built for the modern day and updated to meet the part. We are biased, but without a doubt, if you use Scrivener, you will be pleasantly surprised with the familiarity yet fresh take Atlas presents.
Of course you can! But you’ll be seeing this warning to the right at least once, if not often, depending on how you work:
Meanwhile in Atlas, you can open even the same document and make edits simultaneously between devices, and they will seamlessly merge when possible. Where they can’t, Atlas will help you compare, edit, and ensure copies are snapped into the document’s history so nothing is ever lost.
The Scrivener Opened In Multiple Places Error
Atlas stores your content on device, and when iCloud is enabled, synced through your private iCloud container, which can only be accessed by you. On the filesystem, Atlas’s content is found in ~/Library/Group Containers/group.dev.contagious.atlas/. Keep in mind: files edited directly outside of Atlas won’t be updated through iCloud until the next time opened in Atlas.
While Atlas holds your documents in its own space, it can seamlessly import and export Markdown documents, including Metadata-to-Frontmatter conversion. However, the Export tool is a much more capable compiler, able to produce full MD, ePub, or PDF documents with swappable styling and customizable in various ways across the available formats. Even more, Atlas also supports importing and exporting canvases via Canvas format for maximum compatibility.
