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Obsidian VS KeepOn

Compare Obsidian VS KeepOn 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
Alternatives Is it good?
KeepOn

Keep your screen on smartly and easily with Quick Settings.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
PrivacyNotes
Zero-knowledge encrypted notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords in one app. Your keys never leave your device. One-time price, no subscription. Hosted in Switzerland. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Obsidian seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1525 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1,525 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 40

Base details

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

Obsidian
KeepOn
Website obsidian.md github.com
Pricing
Official pricing
—
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in
Knowledge Management Knowledge Base Markdown Editor Markdown Viewer Personal Notes Note Taking Notes Writing Tools Personal Productivity +6
Prototyping Note Taking Design Tools Utilities +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Obsidian 6 features
KeepOn 4 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.
  • Open Source
    KeepOn is open source, which promotes transparency, allows for community contributions, and provides the flexibility to modify the software to meet specific needs.
  • Community Support
    Being hosted on GitHub, KeepOn benefits from a community of developers who can contribute to its development, address issues, and provide user support.
  • Transparency
    The open nature of the project allows users to examine the code for security and functionality, enhancing trust in the software.
  • Cost-effective
    As a free and open-source software, KeepOn eliminates licensing costs associated with proprietary software.

Possible disadvantages

  • Maintenance and Updates
    Open-source projects like KeepOn may face irregular updates and maintenance due to reliance on volunteer contributions.
  • Potentially Limited Features
    Compared to commercial software, KeepOn might lack some advanced features or integrations that could be found in a paid alternative.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with open-source platforms or without technical expertise may find it challenging to install and customize KeepOn.
  • Support Limitations
    While community support exists, KeepOn may not have dedicated customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing immediate assistance.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
KeepOn

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.

No analysis of KeepOn yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
KeepOn 3 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

IN DEPTH REVIEW OF MY KEEPON

More videos

  • - My Keepon review
  • - My Keepon Dances Dancing Review FUNNY 2011

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
KeepOn
100% 100%
Note Taking
0% 0%
0% 0%
Utilities
100% 100%
100% 100%
Knowledge Management
0% 0%
0% 0%
Windows Tools
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Obsidian and KeepOn. 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
KeepOn no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of KeepOn yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Obsidian 1525 mentions
KeepOn 0 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 / 27 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

Tracking KeepOn since Jan 2022.

Alternatives to Obsidian and KeepOn

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