Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS Notes Taking

Compare Obsidian VS Notes Taking 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 Taking

Notes Taking app contains features to enable you to take your note-taking experience to a whole new level by getting complete control of your digital notes.

Rating
0 reviews

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
99% vs 1%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 58

Base details

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

Obsidian
Notes Taking
Website obsidian.md educationcorner.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
Notes Taking 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.
  • Improved Focus
    Taking notes helps students concentrate during lectures by keeping them engaged with the material and minimizing distractions.
  • Enhanced Retention
    By actively summarizing and processing information, note-taking can lead to better retention and understanding of the subject matter.
  • Resource for Review
    Notes provide a personalized resource that can be reviewed and used as a study aid when preparing for exams or completing assignments.
  • Organized Information
    Notes allow students to organize information in a structured manner, making it easier to follow complex topics or lectures.
  • Development of Critical Thinking
    Taking notes involves identifying key points and relationships, which fosters critical thinking and analytical skills.

Possible disadvantages

  • Divided Attention
    Focusing on taking notes might cause students to split their attention, potentially missing important aspects of the lecture.
  • Incomplete Notes
    Students may not be able to keep up with the pace of the lecture, leading to incomplete notes that lack vital information.
  • Over-reliance on Notes
    Students might depend too heavily on their notes and not engage fully with more comprehensive study materials.
  • Physical Strain
    Extended periods of writing or typing can lead to physical discomfort or strain on the hands and wrists.
  • Effect on Listening
    The act of writing can interfere with listening comprehension, especially if the note-taker focuses more on writing and less on understanding.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
Notes Taking

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 Taking yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
Notes Taking 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
Notes Taking
99% 99%
1% 1%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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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
Notes Taking 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
Notes Taking 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 / 14 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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Tracking Notes Taking since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Obsidian and Notes Taking

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