Software Alternatives & Startups

Nextcloud VS Obsidian

Compare Nextcloud VS Obsidian and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Nextcloud logo Nextcloud

With Nextcloud enterprises host their own secure cloud solution for storage, collaboration & communication from any device, anywhere.

Obsidian logo 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.
  • Nextcloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • Obsidian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-01

Nextcloud features and specs

  • Open Source
    Nextcloud is open source, meaning the source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This promotes transparency and community contributions.
  • Privacy and Control
    Users have complete control over their data since Nextcloud can be self-hosted. This mitigates privacy concerns associated with third-party cloud services.
  • Extensibility
    Nextcloud offers a wide range of apps and plugins that can extend its functionality, such as calendar, contacts, office, and media apps.
  • Collaboration Tools
    Nextcloud includes integrated solutions for file sharing, collaborative editing, and communication, which are useful for both personal and enterprise use.
  • Security Features
    Nextcloud provides robust security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security updates.

Possible disadvantages of Nextcloud

  • Setup Complexity
    Setting up and maintaining a Nextcloud instance can be technically challenging, especially for users without a background in server management.
  • Performance Issues
    Depending on the hardware and configuration, Nextcloud might experience performance issues, particularly under heavy load or with extensive use of additional apps.
  • Resource Intensive
    Nextcloud can be resource-intensive in terms of CPU, memory, and storage, especially when additional features and apps are enabled.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility with other installed software can be cumbersome, requiring regular updates and maintenance.
  • Limited Official Support
    While there is a strong community, official support can be limited or costly, which may be a disadvantage for enterprise environments requiring reliable assistance.

Obsidian features and specs

  • 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 of Obsidian

  • 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 of Obsidian

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.

Nextcloud videos

Here are 5 Reasons I ❤️ Nextcloud | TLG

More videos:

  • Review - Pros and Cons of NextCloud
  • Review - Nextcloud is AWESOME... but?

Obsidian videos

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nextcloud and Obsidian)
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0
Knowledge Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Nextcloud and Obsidian

Nextcloud Reviews

Top 10 Best Enterprise Instant Messaging Software [2026]
Nextcloud Talk is one of the best self-hosted on-premises audio/video and chat communication services. It provides a cutting-edge on-premises content collaboration platform with real-time voice, video chat, and groupware on mobile, desktop, and the web.
Source: www.contus.com
12 Best Self-hosted Chat Platforms For Team Communication
Below is a curated list of the 12 best self-hosted messaging apps like MirrorFly, Mattermost, Zulio, Nextcloud, and Rocket.chat that offer unique collaboration features and lets you take full control of your data.
Best Cloud Storage Services for Linux
Another general tip is – if you can, self-host your data. Use Nextcloud and/or Cryptomator. You will have the most control over your data this way. You’ll also have the most features, tools, extensions, integrations, etc. with Nextcloud. You won’t be limited to some features based on the plan you’re paying for. However, there’s a learning curve for this. You’ll need to know...
Source: linuxstans.com
20+ Picasa Alternatives And Best Similar Apps Like Picasa 2022
Nextcloud is far more than a photo hosting application and the best Picasa alternative, but its photo management stands out thanks to phone apps you can use for opt-in synchronization. Instead of sending your pictures to Google Photos or Apple cloud storage, you can send them to your Nextcloud install.
6 cPanel Alternatives
Nextcloud was forked from ownCloud in 2016. They share mostly the same native features and workflow. However, Nextcloud is more popular for a few notable reasons.

Obsidian Reviews

  1. The kind of software that may change your life

    Perhaps you know someone who swears by Obsidian, it may seem like a cult of overly devoted people for how passionate they are, but it's not without reason

    I've been using Obsidian for over 3 years, at a point in my life when I felt I had to handle too much information and I felt like grasping water not being able to remember everything I wanted, language learning, programming, accounting, university, daily tasks. A friend recommended it to me next to Notion (of which he is a passionate cultist priest) and I reluctantly picked it and fell in love almost immediately.

    Obsidian seems very simple, like a notepad with folder interface, similar to Sublime Text, but the ability to link files together in a Wiki style allows you to organize ideas in any way you want, one file may lead to a dozen or more ideas that are related

    If you want to do something specific, Obsidian has a plethora of community created plugins that expand the functionality, in my case, I use obsidian to organize my classes both as a teacher and as a student, using local databases, calendars, dictionaries, slides, vector graphic drawings, excel-like tables, Anki connection, podcasts, and more

    Competitors: Notion, Evernote
    Pros:    Awesome community|Custom plugins|Local hosting|Beautiful themes|Highly customizable|Cloud storage|Becomes more useful over time|Markdown support
    Cons:    Seems complicated/complex at first|Takes time to set up your personal workspace|Overwhelming for first time user
  2. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    My personal knowledge-base of choice

    I've been using Obsidian for more than a year. It's been great. I think it offer a great balance of control, flexibility and extensibility. What is more, you own your own data, that's been a must-have feature for me. I just can't imagine putting all my knowledge into something that I don't have control over.

    I think two of the most popular alternatives that people consider are Logseq and Roam Research. Although Logseq is a bit different, it's considered compatible with Obsidian. Supposedly, you can use them with a shared database (files. Both use simple text files for storage). I tried that once, a few months ago. It worked, yet it messed up a bit my Obsidian files ¯_(ツ)_/¯.

    Competitors: Logseq, Roam Research

The 6 best note-taking apps in 2024
One thing to note: Notion bills itself as an Evernote competitor for personal users. It can be—but it's too much for most people, and its offline functionality isn't the best. If you love the idea of Notion, go right ahead and try the free Personal Plan, but for me, it's really best as a team notes app or an AI-powered notes app. Something like Obsidian (which we'll look at...
Source: zapier.com
The best note-taking apps for collecting your thoughts and data
This app is the kind of thing that, if you’re into it, will have you exploring its various ins, outs, and add-ons for days and weeks on end. Obsidian uses the Markdown format for its notes (which means they can be used on a variety of other apps). Your notes and other media are kept locally in a Vault (in other words, a main folder). There are ways to sync between devices...
The 5 Best Open Source Miro Alternatives in 2024
However, it's important to note that Obsidian's whiteboard functionality is not as robust as dedicated collaboration tools. While it lacks real-time basic collaboration features, Obsidian compensates with its vibrant plugin ecosystem, empowering users to customize their experience.
Source: affine.pro
The best encrypted note taking apps
For a consumer coming from Evernote, Notion, OneNote, or a similar product, we would advise trying Obsidian along another product on this list as it has the largest learning curve. However, if you are an expert with markdown, experts, linking, and graph views, Obsidian could be an excellent choice. Like many other configuration options, Obsidian leaves end-to-end encryption...
Source: www.skiff.com
Supercharge Your Productivity: Three Recommended Tools for Thought
One of my AP Productivity: Cohort mentors has a powerful system pairing Obsidian with OmniFocus. In OmniFocus, he builds his project and task structures, and in Obsidian he develops and organizes the project support materials as well as other relevant information. Because it’s easy to link to an Obsidian note or an OmniFocus project, he can seamlessly navigate back and forth...
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Obsidian should be more popular than Nextcloud. It has been mentiond 1523 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Nextcloud mentions (304)

  • My personal journey learning about prompt-injections and how that influences my use of AI (agents)
    So what about having a stricter separation between data and instructions? Let's look at that using, for example, the Nextcloud AI assistant. Nextcloud-Hub is a self-hosted file storage platform with collaboration tools. It has also an AI Assistant App and guess what, it can summarize text (and much more). I've set it all up with the OpenAI API using the gpt-5-chat-latest model. When I click on any file and... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Nextcloud vs ownCloud: Which File Server to Use?
    Nextcloud and ownCloud share a common ancestor. In 2016, Nextcloud's founder (Frank Karlitschek, who also founded ownCloud) forked ownCloud to create Nextcloud, taking most of the developer community with him. Since then, the projects have diverged significantly. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: What's your favorite self-hosted application?
    Previously Nextcloud [1], currently bewCloud [2]. Full disclosure: I created bewCloud as a simpler, faster, and modern alternative to Nextcloud. They've allowed me to get my Files (including Photos), Calendars, Contacts, and RSS feeds off of Big Tech. [1] https://nextcloud.com [2] https://bewcloud.com. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Apple has locked my Apple ID, and I have no recourse. A plea for help
    I run a nextcloud [1] instance and use it for contacts, calendars, and reminders 1. https://nextcloud.com. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Europe just dropped a cloud rulebook (and it’s actually good)
    This is the same energy behind projects like Gaia-X, Nextcloud, and the open-source revival happening across the continent. It’s not nostalgia for on-prem servers it’s a philosophy: control what you depend on. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

Obsidian mentions (1523)

  • 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 plugins, and if that is what you need the question of what its editor is called does not matter much. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • I Built a Self-Evolving Knowledge Base — Here's the Architecture
    The stack is all open source: Obsidian, GBrain, Horizon, PGLite, and a couple of small Python scripts for the state machine and quality gates. None of the interesting parts are proprietary — the interesting part is the discipline. - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • A Second Brain Your AI Agent Can Read
    Obsidian is a note-taking app that stores everything as Plain markdown files. It lets you organize and structure your notes in a Flexible way, and because the files are plain text on disk, anything that can Read a directory can read your notes, including an AI agent. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Bringing Notes, WeChat Reading, and Zhihu into Obsidian: My LLM-Wiki Knowledge Hub
    Install Obsidian: Download the client from obsidian.md and create a local Vault — just a local folder. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: New clean macOS install. Must-have apps? Best browser?
    Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) Honestly its not huge and most are probably obvious, but those are what I immediately install on my machines. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

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

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

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

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

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.