Software Alternatives & Startups

Obsidian VS phpIPAM

Compare Obsidian VS phpIPAM 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
phpIPAM

phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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 phpIPAM. While we know about 1527 links to Obsidian, we've tracked only 19 mentions of phpIPAM.

social mentions
1,527 vs 19
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 66

Base details

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

Obsidian
phpIPAM
Website obsidian.md phpipam.net
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
phpIPAM 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.
  • Open Source
    phpIPAM is an open source IP address management (IPAM) software, which means that it's freely available and can be modified to suit specific needs without any licensing fees.
  • Web-Based Interface
    The tool provides a user-friendly, web-based interface that enables easy access and management of IP addresses from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Feature-Rich
    phpIPAM comes with a comprehensive set of features, including VLAN management, subnet management, and device tracking, which are essential for effective network management.
  • Integrations
    phpIPAM supports various integrations with other systems, such as DNS servers and DHCP servers, to provide a more cohesive and automated network management experience.
  • Active Community Support
    There is an active community around phpIPAM that contributes to its development and provides support, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.
  • Scalability
    The software is designed to scale well, making it suitable for both small and large networks without significant performance degradation.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Installation
    Setting up phpIPAM may require some technical know-how, particularly in configuring web servers, databases, and ensuring all dependencies are met.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    As an open source project, phpIPAM might not offer the same level of professional support and documentation as some commercial IPAM solutions.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface of phpIPAM may not be as polished or intuitive as some other commercial alternatives, which can affect user experience.
  • Update Management
    Managing updates and ensuring compatibility with existing systems can require careful planning and can sometimes lead to disruptions.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those without a background in network management, may find the learning curve steep, requiring time to fully grasp all the available features.

Analysis

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

Obsidian
phpIPAM

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

  • phpIPAM is generally considered a good solution for IP address management, especially for organizations looking for an open-source and cost-effective tool. It effectively balances functionality, usability, and flexibility, making it suitable for a variety of network environments.

Why this product is good

  • Features
    It offers a comprehensive set of features such as IP address management, VLAN management, devices, racks, and circuit management, which are essential for network administrators.
  • Usability
    phpIPAM provides a user-friendly interface for managing and tracking IP addresses. Its web-based interface makes it accessible across different platforms.
  • Integration
    phpIPAM can integrate with other tools and services, such as DHCP servers, DNS servers, and cloud platforms, enhancing its functionality within a network environment.
  • Open source
    As an open-source project, phpIPAM allows for customization and extension by users, ensuring it can be tailored to specific organizational needs.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators in small to medium-sized enterprises
  • Organizations that need a cost-effective IP address management solution
  • IT professionals seeking an open-source tool with customization capabilities
  • Teams requiring a web-based IPAM solution that integrates with existing network infrastructure

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Obsidian 1 video + Add
phpIPAM 3 videos + Add

OBSIDIAN: Getting Started, Facts & Pricing

IPAM Server mit phpIPAM - IP adress management

More videos

  • - Foreman Integration with phpIPAM
  • - Apresentação PHPiPAM para provedores!

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
phpIPAM
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 phpIPAM. 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
phpIPAM no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Obsidian 1527 mentions
phpIPAM 19 mentions
  • Take Your AI's Questions Out of the Terminal
    This is a decision page. Claude Code wrote it after reading a project's notes, and it shows the detail a chat question leaves out. I answer it in Obsidian. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • 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 / 15 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

View more

  • Recommended free on-prem IPAM with integrated DNS solution?
    PHPIPAM does that, plus hardware inventory and racks (you assign the IP to a pice of hardware then put it on a rack and get rack diagram). It does also vLANs, VRF, circuits... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Looking for IPAM tools
    Given he info you provided, I would say phpipam. It is web base and very light on resources. I don't know if this counts in your portability requirement. https://phpipam.net/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What is everyone using for IPAM (IP Management) for their home networks/labs ?
    Other than that, we use PHP IPAM at work. https://phpipam.net It’s fine. Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Obsidian and phpIPAM

When comparing Obsidian and phpIPAM, 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 phpIPAM:

  • NetBox

    NetBox is an open source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers.

    Compare NetBox to Obsidian or phpIPAM:

  • Logseq

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

    Compare Logseq to Obsidian or phpIPAM:

  • ManageEngine OpUtils

    ManageEngine OpUtils is an IP address and Switch port management software that includes a comprehensive set of 30+ tools that helps network engineers monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot their IT resources.

    Compare ManageEngine OpUtils to Obsidian or phpIPAM:

  • 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 phpIPAM:

  • SolarWinds IPAM

    Find out about getting started with IP Address Manager, including the latest release notes and documentation as well as training and helpful articles on how to best run SolarWinds IP Address Manager (IPAM).

    Compare SolarWinds IPAM to Obsidian or phpIPAM: