Luma supports markdown-style typing shortcuts (like "- " for a bullet list) inside a rich-text editor, and lets you export notes and notebooks as .md files. It is not a plain-text markdown file vault like Obsidian — you don't manage raw .md files on disk or sync them yourself. If you want that specific setup, see the comparison below.
A precise look at markdown shortcuts and export, so you know exactly what you're getting before you switch tools.
Luma's editor recognizes these typing shortcuts as you write, converting them to formatted content instead of leaving literal characters on the page:
- or * at the start of a line → bullet list1. at the start of a line → numbered list[ ] → unchecked task item[x] → checked task itemOther formatting (bold, italic, headings, tables, code blocks, links) is available through the toolbar and standard keyboard shortcuts rather than raw markdown syntax like **bold**.
| Aspect | Luma | Plain-text vault (e.g. Obsidian) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage format | Rich text, hosted | Local .md files you own |
| Editing style | Rich-text with markdown shortcuts | Raw markdown syntax |
| Export | .md, .html, .zip of .md files | Already .md natively |
| Voice capture | Built in | Not built in |
| AI summaries/flashcards | Built in | Via plugins |
| Setup effort | Minimal | Higher — sync, plugins, folder structure |
Read the deeper dive in our markdown notes guide, which compares several markdown-focused apps.
No. Luma is a rich-text editor with markdown-style shortcuts — typing "- ", "1. ", or "[ ] " at the start of a line converts it into a bullet, numbered, or task list. It doesn't store notes as plain .md files on disk, and it isn't a local-first markdown vault. If you specifically want to own plain-text markdown files, Obsidian is a better fit.
Yes. Individual notes export as .md, and whole notebooks can export as a .md file, an HTML file, or a .zip archive of individual markdown files (Premium notebook export).
Luma supports common typing shortcuts for lists (bullets, numbered lists, task checkboxes), not the full CommonMark syntax for things like bold/italic via asterisks — those are applied through the toolbar or standard rich-text keyboard shortcuts instead.
You can paste markdown-formatted text into a note and Luma will render it as formatted content. There isn't a bulk folder-import feature for .md files at this time.
Because most people don't want to manage folders of .md files and sync tools — they want a note to just work across devices with search, tags, and AI built in. Luma trades raw file ownership for a simpler, hosted experience.