Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS Keybase

Compare Obsidian VS Keybase 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.

Keybase

Keybase will be a public directory of publicly auditable public keys.

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 Keybase. While we know about 1532 links to Obsidian, we've tracked only 54 mentions of Keybase.

social mentions
1,532 vs 54
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 118

Base details

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

Obsidian
Keybase
Website obsidian.md keybase.io
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Obsidian 6 features
Keybase 6 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.
  • End-to-End Encryption
    Keybase provides end-to-end encryption for messages and files, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the data.
  • Cross-Platform
    Keybase is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it accessible from virtually any device.
  • Public Key Directory
    It serves as a public key directory, simplifying the process of finding and verifying colleagues and acquaintances for secure communication.
  • Integration with Social Media
    Users can verify their identities by linking their social media profiles, providing an additional layer of trust and authenticity.
  • Team Collaboration Features
    Keybase offers robust team collaboration features, including secure team messaging and file-sharing capabilities.
  • Open Source
    Keybase is open-source, which allows for community review and greater transparency about its security features.

Possible disadvantages

  • User Base
    The user base is relatively small compared to mainstream messaging apps, which may limit its usefulness for communication with non-tech-savvy individuals.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find Keybase complicated to set up and use, especially those who are not familiar with encryption and public key infrastructure.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance on older or low-specification devices.
  • Centralized Service
    Despite its security features, Keybase's reliance on a centralized service can be a point of failure or a target for attacks.
  • Dependency on Linked Services
    The identity verification process relies heavily on linking to external social media profiles, which may not be ideal for users who prefer to maintain strict separation of their online identities.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Keybase requires an internet connection for most of its functionalities, making it less useful in offline scenarios.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
Keybase

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

  • Keybase is generally considered a good platform for users who prioritize security and privacy. It has received positive feedback for its robust encryption protocols and ease of use when it comes to secure communication and file sharing.

Why this product is good

  • Keybase is known for providing secure messaging and file-sharing services with strong encryption. It's valued for its focus on privacy and its ability to integrate with various platforms like GitHub, Twitter, and more, verifying the identities of its users. This makes it a good choice for individuals and groups who require security and integrity in their communications.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who need secure and private messaging services.
  • Teams that want a reliable platform for encrypted communication.
  • Developers and tech-savvy users who appreciate integration with services like GitHub.
  • Anyone who values verifying identities through multiple social media and professional platforms.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
Keybase 3 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

Zoom Acquires Keybase: Should I keep Using It?

More videos

  • - Keybase for iOS: Review
  • - Introduction to Keybase.io | Tooling Tuesday!

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
Keybase
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 Keybase. 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
Keybase no reviews yet

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Obsidian 1532 mentions
Keybase 54 mentions

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Alternatives to Obsidian and Keybase

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

  • Notion

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

    Compare Notion to Obsidian or Keybase:

  • Element.io

    Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

    Compare Element.io to Obsidian or Keybase:

  • Logseq

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

    Compare Logseq to Obsidian or Keybase:

  • Telegram

    Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

    Compare Telegram to Obsidian or Keybase:

  • 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 Obsidian or Keybase:

  • Signal

    Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

    Compare Signal to Obsidian or Keybase: