Software Alternatives & Startups

DEVONthink VS Obsidian

Compare DEVONthink VS Obsidian and see what are their differences

DEVONthink

DEVONtechnologies develops DEVONthink, DEVONagent, and other Mac and iOS apps for document and information management and web research.

Rating
0 reviews
Obsidian

A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Rating
5.0 · 2 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Obsidian seems to be a lot more popular than DEVONthink. While we know about 1525 links to Obsidian, we've tracked only 1 mention of DEVONthink.

social mentions
1 vs 1,525
Note Taking popularity
4% vs 96%
alternatives listed
214 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

DEVONthink
Obsidian
Website devontechnologies.com obsidian.md
Pricing —
Company — Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

DEVONthink 6 features
Obsidian 6 features
  • Organization
    DEVONthink offers powerful organization features, including tagging, hierarchal groups, and custom metadata, which make it easier to manage large datasets.
  • Search Capabilities
    The software has advanced search capabilities that use AI to provide highly relevant search results, making information retrieval fast and efficient.
  • File Format Support
    DEVONthink supports a wide range of file formats including PDFs, emails, and web archives, allowing users to store various types of data in a single repository.
  • Automation
    It offers robust automation options, including smart rules, scripts, and workflows, which can streamline repetitive tasks and improve productivity.
  • Data Security
    With built-in encryption and the ability to store data locally, DEVONthink ensures that user data remains secure and private.
  • Syncing
    DEVONthink offers secure syncing across multiple devices using their own sync technology, or through third-party services like iCloud and Dropbox.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    The software can be complex and has a steep learning curve, which may require significant time investment to utilize its full potential effectively.
  • Cost
    DEVONthink is relatively expensive compared to some other note-taking or data management applications, which might not be justified for casual users.
  • Mac-Only
    The software is currently only available for macOS and iOS, limiting accessibility for users who are on other platforms like Windows or Linux.
  • Limited Collaboration
    While it has solid individual use features, the collaboration tools are limited compared to other platforms that focus on team-based work.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running DEVONthink can be resource-intensive, especially when dealing with large datasets, which might affect the performance of older or less powerful machines.
  • Local-first
    Obsidian stores your notes locally on your device, giving you full control over your data and enhancing privacy.
  • Markdown Support
    Obsidian uses Markdown, making it easy to format text and compatible with many other text editors and tools.
  • Bidirectional Linking
    You can create bidirectional links between notes, which helps in building a knowledge graph and navigating related information more easily.
  • Customizability
    Obsidian is highly customizable with community plugins, themes, and various settings to fit different workflows.
  • Graph View
    Provides a visual graph view of your notes and their connections, aiding in understanding relationships and discovering insights.
  • Offline Access
    Since the notes are stored locally, you can access and edit them without an internet connection.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    Obsidian can be complex and overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive features and customizable nature.
  • Sync Limitations
    While local-first is great for privacy, it requires additional steps or third-party solutions for syncing across devices.
  • No True Real-time Collaboration
    Obsidian lacks native real-time collaboration features, making it less suitable for collaborative work compared to cloud-based solutions.
  • Limited Mobile Features
    The mobile version of Obsidian, while functional, is not as robust as the desktop application, potentially hindering productivity on the go.
  • Dependence on Plugins
    Many advanced features require the use of third-party plugins, which could lead to compatibility issues and reliance on community support.
  • Performance on Large Vaults
    Performance might degrade with a very large number of notes or complex graphs, impacting usability.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

DEVONthink
Obsidian

Overall verdict

  • Overall, DEVONthink is considered a high-quality application for individuals and professionals who need comprehensive data management and organization solutions. Its deep feature set and flexibility make it worth considering for anyone serious about information management.

Why this product is good

  • DEVONthink is a robust personal information manager created by DEVONtechnologies. It is favored for its powerful document organization, indexing, and search capabilities. Users appreciate its ability to handle a wide range of file types, its advanced AI-based tools for data analysis, and its flexibility in customizing workflows. Additionally, DEVONthink offers strong security features, such as end-to-end encryption, which is crucial for users who prioritize data privacy.

Recommended for

  • Researchers who need to organize large volumes of documents and data.
  • Writers looking for a versatile platform to manage notes and drafts.
  • Professionals and academics requiring a secure place to store sensitive files.
  • Individuals interested in improving their digital organization and productivity.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Obsidian.md is an excellent tool for users looking for a versatile and powerful note-taking application. Its unique features such as backlinking, markdown support, and robust customization options make it a favorite among knowledge management enthusiasts.

Why this product is good

  • Obsidian.md is considered good by many users because it is a powerful knowledge management and note-taking application that leverages Markdown for document formatting. It allows for bi-directional linking between notes, which helps in creating a network of interconnected ideas, often described as a 'second brain.' Its ability to support plugins, themes, and robust graph visualization also adds to its appeal. Additionally, it stores notes locally, ensuring privacy and data ownership, while being cross-platform compatible across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Recommended for

  • Knowledge workers who need a powerful tool to organize and connect their thoughts.
  • Students who are looking to create a structured and visually interconnected note system.
  • Writers and researchers who benefit from linking related ideas and maintaining detailed notes.
  • Tech-savvy users or developers who appreciate the local storage and open ecosystem for plugins and customization.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

DEVONthink 3 videos + Add
Obsidian 1 video + Add

DEVONthink To Go for iOS: Review

More videos

  • - MacVoices #19227: Joe Kissell Takes Control of DEVONthink 3
  • - Devonthink Tutorial part 1

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
DEVONthink
Obsidian
4% 4%
96% 96%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using DEVONthink and Obsidian. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

DEVONthink no reviews yet
Obsidian 5.0 · 2 reviews
  • Top 15 Best Evernote Alternatives You Can Use
    beebom.com · Jul 2020

    If you are one of those few people who has surpassed the limits of Evernote, and even it cannot fulfill all your needs, DEVONthink 3 is just for you. In fact, calling DEVONthink a note-taking app will be undermining...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

DEVONthink 1 mention
Obsidian 1525 mentions
  • Hermes Agent Use Cases: 5 Free Things You Can Set Up Today (2026)
    The setup that makes the output noticeably sharper is a memory layer. Connecting a plain-text notes app like Obsidian (free for personal use) gives the agent durable context: what your project is about, who it is for, and what you have... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • I Built SelfContext So I Could Stop Re-explaining Myself to AI
    The vault is compatible with Obsidian because the files are just Markdown, YAML frontmatter, and standard relative links. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • Which Markdown editor to choose
    Inline preview, usually called WYSIWYG. Obsidian's Live Preview mode hides the syntax except where the cursor is. Obsidian is a far better personal knowledge base than anything else on this page, with backlinks, a graph and years of... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago

View more

Alternatives to DEVONthink and Obsidian

When comparing DEVONthink and Obsidian, you can also consider the following products.

  • CherryTree

    A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

    Compare CherryTree to DEVONthink or Obsidian:

  • Notion

    All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

    Compare Notion to DEVONthink or Obsidian:

  • Cryptee

    Cryptee is a safety and privacy focused, encrypted and cross-platform personal data storage service. You can write personal documents, notes, journals, store photos and all sorts of other files.

    Compare Cryptee to DEVONthink or Obsidian:

  • Logseq

    Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

    Compare Logseq to DEVONthink or Obsidian:

  • Zim Wiki

    Zim is a graphical text editor used to maintain a collection of wiki pages. Each page can contain links to other pages, simple formatting and images.

    Compare Zim Wiki to DEVONthink or Obsidian:

  • Joplin

    Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

    Compare Joplin to DEVONthink or Obsidian: