Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS DeviantArt

Compare Obsidian VS DeviantArt and see what are their differences

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
DeviantArt

deviantART was created to entertain, inspire, and empower the artist in all of us.

Rating
0 reviews
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.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Obsidian seems to be a lot more popular than DeviantArt. While we know about 1525 links to Obsidian, we've tracked only 58 mentions of DeviantArt.

social mentions
1,525 vs 58
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Obsidian
DeviantArt
Website obsidian.md deviantart.com
Pricing
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Obsidian 6 features
DeviantArt 5 features
  • 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.
  • Large Art Community
    DeviantArt has a vast user base, allowing for diverse artwork and varied feedback from other artists and art enthusiasts.
  • Portfolio Management
    The platform allows artists to create a polished and organized portfolio to showcase their works professionally.
  • Wide Range of Genres
    There are numerous categories and sub-categories for art, photography, literature, and more, catering to various artistic tastes and styles.
  • Artist Support
    DeviantArt offers options like commissions, prints, and the core membership for artists to earn money from their work.
  • Engagement Features
    The site includes features such as comments, favorites, and groups that foster interaction and community building among users.

Possible disadvantages

  • Interface Clutter
    The website can sometimes feel cluttered and overwhelming, with numerous menus and sections that might be confusing to new users.
  • Commercialization of Art
    The platform's emphasis on commercialization can sometimes overshadow the appreciation of art for art’s sake.
  • Quality Control
    With the vast amount of content submitted daily, it can be difficult to maintain a high standard of quality across the platform.
  • Copyright Issues
    There have been instances of art theft, where users upload others' work without permission, raising concerns about copyright violations.
  • Paid Features
    Some advanced features and tools are locked behind a paywall, which can be prohibitive for emerging artists who are financially constrained.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
DeviantArt

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.

Overall verdict

  • DeviantArt can be a great platform for certain users, but it may not be suitable for everyone.

Why this product is good

  • Diverse Community: DeviantArt is one of the largest online social networks for artists and art enthusiasts, offering a vibrant community for sharing and discussing art.
  • Wide Range of Artworks: Users can explore a vast array of artworks, including traditional art, digital art, photography, and more.
  • Engagement Opportunities: Artists can receive feedback from the community, engage in contests, and collaborate with others.

Recommended for

  • Emerging and Established Artists: Those looking to exhibit their work and build an audience.
  • Art Enthusiasts: Individuals interested in discovering new art and engaging with artists directly.
  • Collaborative Art Projects: Artists aiming to collaborate or participate in community projects and challenges.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
DeviantArt 3 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

Deviantart Eclipse: A Review

More videos

  • - Deviantart Review - MarkOmo83 (paid video)
  • - I HATE deviantART (2018)

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
Obsidian
DeviantArt
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Obsidian and DeviantArt. 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.

Obsidian 5.0 · 2 reviews
DeviantArt no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Obsidian 1525 mentions
DeviantArt 58 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 / 25 days 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 / 8 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 / 25 days ago

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  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2024)
    DeviantArt | Senior Site Reliability Engineer/Senior DevOps Engineer/Senior Infrastructure Engineer | US/Canada - West Coast/Mountain Time (Fully REMOTE but must be in one of those time zones) or Tel Aviv Israel (ONSITE) | Full-Time |... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Decided to grab this series, first book came as a comic… problem?
    My favorite source of "envisioning material," though, is the work that Mika Blackfield has done on deviantart.com:. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Author Resources: A Non-Comprehensive Guide to Finding Non-AI Budget Cover Art
    Starving Artists: This is one of the options I encourage the most highly. Take the time to search out new, promising artists, ones without extensive careers. Their prices are lower- often immensely so! Finding good ones will be tricky,... Source: about 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Obsidian and DeviantArt

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