Perchpad
Collaborative real-time Markdown editor backed by Git
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What is Perchpad?
Perchpad is a collaborative writing workspace built around plain files, real-time collaboration, and a lightweight AI assistant. It lets you organize projects, write in markdown, and keep everything in standard files on disk rather than in a proprietary format.
The product emphasizes calm, flexible work with features like live preview for markdown, editable CSV tables, autosave, version history, and git-native storage. Every workspace is a real git repository, so users can clone, push, pull, back up, or move their work with standard tools.
A central feature is the embedded bird assistant, which can read workspace files, help draft and organize content, answer questions, and generally act like a context-aware project companion. Perchpad also connects to Claude Desktop and Cursor through MCP, making it useful for AI-assisted writing workflows.
It is aimed at people and teams who want a modern writing environment for notes, docs, research, reading lists, and collaborative projects. The site also highlights role-based sharing, email-to-workspace intake, read-aloud playback, notifications, and support for teams that need live collaboration without file lock-in.
Perchpad pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
The website prominently describes Perchpad as a workspace where projects are stored as git repositories and says your files are fully yours, but it does not show any explicit pricing tiers, free plan details, or paid plan breakdown on the page content reviewed. No free-tier, subscription, seat-based, or usage-based pricing information is presented in the site text captured here.
Perchpad pros
- Plain files on disk
- No proprietary format lock-in
- Real git repository per workspace
- Standard git clone/push/pull support
- Markdown with live preview
- Editable CSV tables
- Auto-saves every minute
- Full version history
- Diff and change tracking
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Role-based team access
- Public file sharing links
- Email-to-workspace import
- Claude Desktop and Cursor integration
- MCP-compatible workflow
Perchpad cons
- No public pricing page details shown
- Excel support only listed as coming soon
- PDF support only listed as coming soon
- GitHub sync only listed as coming soon
- Webhooks only listed as coming soon
- Primary focus is writing, not general office suites
- Advanced formatting options are not highlighted
- No offline desktop app is described on the site
Frequently asked questions about Perchpad
What is Perchpad?
Perchpad is a collaborative writing workspace where users organize projects, write in markdown, collaborate in real time, and work with a built-in assistant that can read files, draft content, and help keep everything in order.
How does Perchpad store files?
Each project is stored as plain files on disk rather than in a proprietary database format. The site says workspaces are real git repositories, so files remain portable and can be cloned, pushed, pulled, downloaded, or backed up with standard tools.
Does Perchpad support version control?
Yes. The website says every workspace is a real git repo with auto-commits every 60 seconds, full version history, and the ability to use normal git commands like clone, push, and pull.
What kinds of files can I use?
The site specifically mentions markdown files with live preview and CSV files rendered as editable tables with sticky headers. It also says markdown supports syntax highlighting for code blocks.
Can teams collaborate in Perchpad?
Yes. Perchpad supports inviting collaborators with role-based access such as owners, editors, and viewers. It also supports live syncing so changes appear to everyone in real time.
How does the built-in assistant work?
The site describes a friendly AI assistant inside the workspace that can read your files, help draft content, organize thoughts, answer questions, and act as a companion that understands the full project context.
Can Perchpad connect to Claude or Cursor?
Yes. Perchpad includes an MCP server, and the site says it can connect through Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any compatible MCP client so users can manage projects from those tools.
What can I do with email integration?
Each workspace gets a unique email address. Sending content there can create files, update documents, or organize material inside the workspace, and the site says this can be configured with an AGENTS.md file.
Does Perchpad support reading and listening?
Yes. The site says you can create playlists of documents for reading and research, and it also includes a read-aloud feature that plays your writing in natural speech.
What features are coming soon?
The website lists GitHub sync to private repos, webhooks for file-change actions, Excel support for .xlsx import and editing, and PDF support for viewing and annotation as coming soon features.