Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS Notes Plus

Compare Obsidian VS Notes Plus 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
Notes Plus

Notes Plus is a powerful note-taking tool that has enabled many people to go completely paperless.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Obsidian seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1526 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1,526 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
99% vs 1%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 35

Base details

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

Obsidian
Notes Plus
Website obsidian.md writeon.cool
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Obsidian 6 features
Notes Plus 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.
  • Handwriting Recognition
    Notes Plus offers robust handwriting recognition capabilities, allowing users to convert handwritten notes into typed text. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer writing with a stylus or their finger.
  • Audio Recording
    The app allows users to record audio while taking notes, making it an excellent tool for lectures or meetings where voice notes complement written content.
  • Multiple File Format Support
    Notes Plus supports importing and exporting a wide range of file formats, including PDF and images, providing versatility in how users can use and share their notes.
  • Gestural Control
    Users can benefit from intuitive gesture-based controls for tasks like erasing, undoing, and selecting, which can make the note-taking process faster and more efficient.
  • Customization Options
    The app provides a variety of customization options, such as different paper types, pen colors, and tool settings, allowing users to personalize their note-taking experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users might find the app complex due to the wide array of features and customization options, which can take some time to fully understand and utilize effectively.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues such as lag or crashes, particularly when handling large files or extensive note sets.
  • Price
    While offering a wide array of features, Notes Plus is a paid app, which may not be ideal for users looking for free note-taking solutions.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    The app is primarily available for iOS, which excludes users who rely on other operating systems like Android or Windows.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
Notes Plus

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 Notes Plus yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
Notes Plus 3 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

New Best Note Taking App for iPad Pro + Stylus | 2017 | Notes Plus is GoodNotes4 + Notability + Nebo

More videos

  • - Everything you need to know about Notes Plus (Part 1)| The Homepage of NotesPlus
  • - 10 Things You Didn't Know About Notes Plus | 2018 | Hidden Features

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
Notes Plus
99% 99%
1% 1%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Obsidian 5.0 · 2 reviews
Notes Plus no reviews yet

View more

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Obsidian 1526 mentions
Notes Plus 0 mentions
  • How can software developers stay motivated at work?
    For note-taking, I recommend Obsidian. It's lightweight, has a large community, and offers plenty of useful plugins. I use the Timekeep plugin myself, which helps me connect tasks with the time spent on them. - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • 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 2 months 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 / about 1 month ago

View more

Tracking Notes Plus since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Obsidian and Notes Plus

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