Frequently Asked Questions
What is Atlas?
Atlas is a writing and project workspace for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It combines a markdown editor, spatial canvases, media management, and hierarchical organization into a single app for creative projects like novels, research, world-building, and long-form writing.
What platforms does Atlas run on?
Atlas is available on Mac (built with AppKit), iPad (built with UIKit and SwiftUI), and iPhone (built with UIKit and SwiftUI). Each platform has a purpose-built native interface. Atlas is not available on Windows, Android, or the web.
Is my data portable?
Yes. Documents are stored as markdown — a universal plain text format readable by any text editor. Canvases use the open JSON Canvas specification. Export is available in Markdown, Plain Text, HTML, ePub, RTF, and PDF. Full project import and export is supported.
Can I import or export entire projects?
Yes. Atlas supports full project import and export as .atlasproject bundles. This includes all documents, media, canvases, sketches, tags, and templates. See Projects for an overview, or Atlas Project Files for a full breakdown of the format.
How does sync work?
Atlas syncs via iCloud using Apple's CloudKit infrastructure. All project data — documents, tags, templates, canvases, version history, and themes — synchronizes automatically across your devices. Atlas does not operate a separate cloud service and does not have access to your content.
What is Atlas Preview?
Preview is the free mode Atlas uses whenever you don't have an active subscription, free trial, or Lifetime Pass. It includes one project and up to 25 documents, and there is nothing to sign up for.
Documents, canvases, web pages, and sketches count toward the 25. Folders and media (images, video, and files) don't count, and neither does the Sample Project. Trashed documents count until you permanently delete them, and archived projects still count toward the project limit.
Preview limits creating new things. When you reach a limit, Atlas won't create, duplicate, or import more, including from the Share extension, the Web Clipper, and Shortcuts, and it shows you the plans instead. Everything you've already made stays fully editable, and search, sync, and exporting keep working. Settings > Subscription (iPad and iPhone) or Preferences > Subscription (Mac) shows how many projects and documents you've used.
What happens when my subscription ends?
Atlas returns to Preview. Everything you've created stays editable, and you can still sync, search, and export your documents and projects. Preview only stops you from creating new projects and documents beyond its limits, so if you already have more than that, you keep all of it but can't add more until you subscribe or buy. Your data is never held hostage.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Atlas includes a 14-day free trial with full access to every feature, with nothing disabled or limited. After the trial, Atlas continues in Preview unless you subscribe, so your documents stay editable and you can always export your work.
Is there a one-time purchase option?
Yes — Atlas occasionally offers a Lifetime Pass: a single one-time purchase that unlocks every feature for good, with no ongoing subscription. Look for Purchase Lifetime on the subscription screen. If you already subscribe, you'll find Switch to Lifetime in Settings > Subscription (iPad/iPhone) or Preferences > Subscription (Mac) while the offer is available. It's offered on a limited basis, so it may not always be available.
I'm subscribed and also bought the Lifetime Pass — what happens?
Atlas lets you know you don't need both. If you have an active subscription and already own the Lifetime Pass, you'll see a one-time alert plus a You're Paying Twice! notice in Settings/Preferences with a link to manage your subscription. Your Lifetime Pass keeps Atlas unlocked either way, so you can safely cancel the subscription without losing access.
What does "Purchase Pending" mean?
Some purchases need approval first, such as when Ask to Buy is on for the account. Atlas shows Purchase Pending and unlocks automatically once the purchase is approved.
Can I use Atlas offline?
Yes. Atlas works fully offline for editing, organizing, and reading. Atlas caches external images to disk so they load instantly — and when you're offline. Changes sync automatically the next time you have an internet connection. See Working Offline for details on caching, sync behavior, and tips for working away from Wi-Fi.
Does Atlas keep version history?
Yes. Atlas automatically saves versions of your documents as you work. You can browse, compare, and restore previous versions at any time. See Version History for details.
Does Atlas support collaboration?
Not currently. Atlas is designed for individual creative work synchronized across your own devices. It does not support shared editing, comments from others, or team workspaces. If you would like to see this, please request it through our Feedback page.
Does Atlas support math equations?
Yes. Atlas supports LaTeX math equations — both inline expressions within text and standalone equation blocks. Type $$ to open the equation editor, where you can compose and preview your expression. Equations render live in the editor and export as images in HTML, ePub, and PDF. See Math Equations for the full guide.
What markdown syntax does Atlas support?
Atlas supports headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, highlights (::text::), blockquotes, ordered and unordered lists, code blocks, inline code, horizontal rules, images, links, annotations, footnotes, and equations. See Writing with Markdown for the full reference.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Visit contagious.dev/feedback/atlas to submit feedback.
What languages does Atlas support?
Atlas is available in English and Chinese (Simplified). Your device's language settings determine which language Atlas uses.