iliadFrequently asked questions
Short, honest answers. Iliad MD is a free, open-source (MIT) markdown editor for macOS. You write one document at a time with small AI help, and you review what your AI agent wrote, chunk by chunk.
Is it really free? #
Yes. It is MIT licensed, and there is no paid version. If Iliad earns a place in your writing, you can buy me a coffee.
What platforms does it run on? #
macOS 12+ on Apple Silicon (M1 or later). Intel and Windows builds aren't available yet. Watch the GitHub repo, where new builds land first.
Which AI does Iliad use? #
Built-in AI (inline completion and the ✦ AI menu) is included free with a daily limit, and needs no key or account. It runs on Groq, with the gpt-oss-120b model. For no daily limit, or no Iliad server in between, paste your own Groq API key in Writing assists → Use my key. It is stored encrypted on your Mac and never goes into your Markdown. For larger work, use any agent you like, such as Claude Code or Codex, on the same folder. Iliad shows its changes for review. Iliad has had no built-in chat agent since v0.3.0.
Where do my files live? #
On your disk, as plain .md files. The folder is the whole database. There is no proprietary format and no cloud copy.
Does my writing go to the cloud? #
Your documents are never uploaded. Only when you ask for a suggestion (⌘, ⌘. ⌘/) or an ✦ AI action is the text near your cursor or your selection sent to Groq to write the answer. In free mode it passes through Iliad's server, which doesn't store it, and Groq keeps no copy (Zero Data Retention). With your own Groq key it goes straight from your Mac to Groq. What an outside agent sends is up to that agent. Details on the privacy page.
How is Iliad different from Obsidian? #
Obsidian is a knowledge base with vaults, backlinks, a graph and thousands of plugins. Iliad is a writing tool. It gives you one calm editor with small AI help, and a place to review what your agent changed in your documents. Both read the same folders, so you can use both. Read the full comparison.
How is Iliad different from Typora? #
Typora pioneered the visual markdown editing that Iliad shares, where syntax hides as you type. Typora costs $14.99 and has no AI. Iliad is free and open source, has inline AI help, and shows your agent's edits for review. Read the full comparison.
Why not just write in ChatGPT or Claude? #
Because your writing stays inside one provider's chat history. In Iliad your words live in files you own, your agent's edits appear in the document for you to keep or restore, and you can switch AI tools without moving a thing.
Can Claude Code or other agents work on the same folder? #
Yes. That is what Iliad is built for. Any agent can edit the same files, and Iliad shows each change in the document, chunk by chunk, for you to keep or restore. The iliad command and a bundled Claude skill tell the agent which document you have open and let it show you the result.
Can an agent comment on my writing instead of editing it? #
Yes, since version 0.7. Ask Claude Code, Codex or another agent for feedback on the open document, and it leaves comments in the comments file, marked ✦, without touching your text. Press ⌃⌘M in Iliad to read them in the margin, next to your own comments, and delete them when you are done.
How does Iliad compare with iA Writer, Ulysses or Bear? #
All three are carefully made apps with different bets. iA Writer generates no text and marks what you wrote and what came from AI. Ulysses is a complete long-form environment on Mac, iPad and iPhone, on a subscription. Bear is a notes app that keeps everything in a database. Iliad is a free Mac app that works on plain Markdown files, offers AI only when you ask, and shows every change your agent makes for you to review. Full comparisons: Iliad vs iA Writer, Iliad vs Ulysses, Iliad vs Bear.