Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS Monkeytype

Compare Obsidian VS Monkeytype 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
Monkeytype

Monkeytype is a minimalistic typing test, featuring many test modes, an account system to save your typing speed history and user configurable features like themes, a smooth caret and more.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Obsidian should be more popular than Monkeytype. It has been mentioned 1525 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1,525 vs 227
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 121

Base details

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

Obsidian
Monkeytype
Website obsidian.md monkeytype.com
Pricing
Open source
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Obsidian 6 features
Monkeytype 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.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Monkeytype offers a clean and simple interface that is easy to navigate, allowing users to focus on their typing practice without distractions.
  • Customizable Settings
    Users can customize various settings such as test length, themes, and text sources to tailor their typing practice to their preferences.
  • Real-time Analytics
    The platform provides real-time statistics on typing speed, accuracy, and error patterns, helping users track their progress effectively.
  • Variety of Test Modes
    Monkeytype offers multiple test modes including 10fastfingers, typeracer, custom paragraphs, and more to keep practice sessions diverse and engaging.
  • Portable Data
    Users can save their typing data and access it from any device, ensuring their progress is always up-to-date.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features in Free Version
    Some advanced features and customization options are only available in the premium version, potentially limiting the experience for free users.
  • Internet Dependency
    An active internet connection is required to save and access progress data, which can be inconvenient for users with unreliable connectivity.
  • No Offline Mode
    Unlike some other typing practice tools, Monkeytype does not offer an offline mode, meaning users cannot practice without an internet connection.
  • No Guided Lessons
    The platform does not provide structured typing lessons or learning paths, which may be a drawback for beginners looking for a step-by-step learning process.
  • Basic Typing Content
    The default text samples for typing practice can be repetitive and may not cater to users looking for more specialized or varied typing material.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
Monkeytype

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

  • Overall, Monkeytype is highly recommended for those looking to improve their typing skills. Its engaging and simple design, combined with robust functionality, creates an effective and enjoyable learning environment.

Why this product is good

  • Monkeytype is considered good by many users because of its minimalist interface, comprehensive customization options, and extensive language support. It focuses on providing a distraction-free typing experience with features like custom themes, various test modes, and detailed statistics to track progress. Additionally, it offers accessibility options that make it inclusive for a wide range of users.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking to improve their typing speed and accuracy.
  • People who enjoy customizable user experiences.
  • Users who want to practice typing in different languages.
  • Educators and typing coaches seeking a tool for teaching typing skills.
  • Anyone seeking a distraction-free typing test platform.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
Monkeytype 0 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

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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
Monkeytype
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 Monkeytype. 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
Monkeytype 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
Monkeytype 227 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

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  • Mouseless – keyboard-driven control of macOS/Linux/Windows
    I'm astonished by how far those aim trainer tools go haha, and how popular they are. I discovered Aimlabs[1] recently, which seems like the most popular one, and it has 6 000 people playing right now. For us keyboard geeks, there is... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • I got tired of re-screenshotting my app every time I made a change . So I built a workflow that does it for me.
    My app's theme engine (powered by Monkeytype) supports 190 themes. I'm working towards making the website available in all of them, which means every screenshot on every feature page needs a variant per theme. That's 50 screenshots... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards
    I'm in the same boat as OP. I've used keybr and https://monkeytype.com/, and while doing the exercises, I get pretty close to the speed and accuracy I had using a standard keyboard and qwerty, but I get much worse on both fronts when... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago

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Alternatives to Obsidian and Monkeytype

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