The digital note-taking industry has grown substantially in recent years, with Obsidian and Evernote leading the charge.
Both tools offer unique features for capturing and organizing notes, but they serve different audiences and purposes.
The main difference is that Obsidian is a local, markdown-based note-taking app that focuses on linking your ideas, while Evernote is a cloud-based service aimed at making note organization and accessibility easy across devices.
Obsidian vs Evernote: Key Features Comparison Chart
Let’s dive in and compare the 7 key features side by side:
Feature | Obsidian | Evernote | Verdict |
---|---|---|---|
Storage | Local storage; no cloud | Cloud storage, syncs across devices | Evernote |
Note Linking | Powerful, bi-directional linking of notes | Limited linking features | Obsidian |
Ease of Use | Steep learning curve | Intuitive, user-friendly | Evernote |
Customization | Highly customizable with plugins | Limited customization | Obsidian |
Offline Access | Full offline access | Limited offline access without premium | Obsidian |
Platform Support | Desktop-first, mobile app in beta | Fully-featured desktop, mobile, and web apps | Evernote |
Pricing | Free; one-time payment for Obsidian Sync | Subscription-based pricing | Obsidian for one-time cost, Evernote for cloud sync |
Personal Note on Why I Switched to Obsidian
I switched to Obsidian because it felt more like a personal workspace where I could fully control my notes. While Evernote is amazing for its seamless syncing and ease of use—especially if you’re juggling multiple devices—Obsidian’s ability to link notes and visualize my ideas in a graph format just clicked for me. Plus, it’s customizable and doesn’t force me into a rigid structure. Evernote’s subscription model and lack of deep customization didn’t suit my evolving workflow needs.
What is Obsidian and How Does It Work?
Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking and knowledge management app that stores all your notes locally on your device. Its key feature is the ability to link notes using backlinks, allowing you to create a “second brain” of interconnected ideas. You can visualize the relationships between notes using the graph view, which shows the links between different topics. Obsidian is highly customizable, with an array of plugins available for various needs, from task management to calendar integration.
Pros of Obsidian
- Bi-directional linking of notes.
- Local storage for privacy and control.
- Highly customizable with plugins.
- Graph view for visualizing connections between notes.
- Offline access to all notes.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- No native cloud sync (requires additional setup).
- Limited mobile app functionality.
What is Evernote and How Does It Work?
Evernote is a cloud-based note-taking app designed for capturing, organizing, and accessing notes from any device. It excels in providing an intuitive user experience, with a focus on ease of use. Evernote allows you to create notebooks, organize content with tags, and sync your notes across multiple platforms. Features like Web Clipper make it easy to save articles, images, and other content from the web directly into Evernote.
Pros of Evernote
- Cloud-based syncing across all devices.
- Intuitive interface that’s easy to learn.
- Web Clipper for saving content from the web.
- Powerful search capabilities (even inside PDFs and images).
- Collaboration tools for sharing notes.
Cons:
- Limited offline access in free version.
- Paid subscription required for full features.
- Limited customization options.
Obsidian vs Evernote: Side-by-Side Comparison
1. Storage and Syncing
Obsidian operates on local storage, which means that your notes are saved directly on your device, offering complete privacy and control. While Obsidian Sync is available as a paid add-on for syncing notes across multiple devices, users can also rely on third-party solutions like Dropbox or Google Drive for syncing. This manual setup gives more flexibility, but it may be cumbersome for users seeking a seamless experience.
Evernote, on the other hand, stores everything in the cloud by default, with automatic syncing across devices built-in. It’s simple and convenient, allowing users to access their notes instantly on any device, anytime. However, with this convenience comes some privacy concerns, as your data is hosted on Evernote’s servers.
Verdict: Evernote wins for users who prioritize seamless syncing without manual configuration, while Obsidian wins for those prioritizing privacy and flexibility in storage management.
2. Note Linking and Organization
Obsidian shines with its bi-directional linking system. Users can create connections between notes, similar to building a personal Wikipedia of linked ideas. This feature is especially useful for knowledge workers, researchers, or writers who need to create complex relationships between topics. The Graph View in Obsidian further visualizes these links, offering a bird’s-eye view of your notes’ structure and connections, something Evernote lacks entirely.
Evernote offers a more traditional approach to note organization, relying on notebooks and tags. While users can manually link notes in Evernote, the lack of an automatic linking system and graph visualization makes it less effective for managing complex knowledge webs. Evernote’s strength lies in its straightforward, intuitive interface for everyday organization.
Verdict: Obsidian wins for advanced users who need to connect and visualize their ideas. Evernote is better for basic, straightforward organization but lacks the depth of Obsidian’s linking features.
3. Ease of Use
Evernote is built for simplicity and ease of use. Its interface is intuitive, and users can start capturing notes, organizing with notebooks, and tagging content immediately. The learning curve is minimal, making it perfect for users who want a tool they can adopt without much training. Features like the Web Clipper also make it easy to save online content with a few clicks, simplifying note-taking from external sources.
Obsidian, however, has a steeper learning curve. Its markdown-based interface may be unfamiliar to some, and the process of setting up plugins or configuring the app for specific workflows can be overwhelming for new users. Despite this, Obsidian rewards its users with advanced capabilities once they invest the time to understand its features. For power users, this depth may outweigh the initial complexity.
Verdict: Evernote wins for ease of use and quick onboarding, while Obsidian appeals to more advanced users willing to invest time in learning the tool.
4. Customization
Obsidian is highly customizable. With a wide array of community plugins and themes, users can shape the app to meet their specific needs—whether it’s adding a task manager, calendar, or academic citation manager. The open-source nature of Obsidian also encourages developers to create new plugins, making it one of the most adaptable note-taking apps available. Users can completely revamp the UI, automate workflows, or build a knowledge management system tailored to their unique needs.
Evernote, by contrast, is far more rigid. While it does offer integrations with third-party apps like Google Drive or Slack, its core structure remains fixed. Users have limited options for customizing the interface or adding new functionality beyond the provided features. Evernote focuses more on delivering a consistent experience than on giving users room to personalize.
Verdict: Obsidian is the clear winner for customization and adaptability, while Evernote is ideal for users who want a more consistent, out-of-the-box experience.
5. Offline Access
Obsidian excels in offline access. Since it stores notes locally, users can access, edit, and create new notes without any internet connection. This makes it perfect for those who work in environments with limited connectivity or prefer to keep their data entirely offline.
Evernote offers offline access, but only with its paid Premium plan. While the free version allows note-taking online, accessing your content offline is limited unless you upgrade. This can be a major drawback for users who rely on consistent access to their notes across devices without paying for a premium tier.
Verdict: Obsidian is the clear winner for offline functionality, while Evernote offers this feature only for Premium users, making it less ideal for offline-focused users.
6. Platform Support
Evernote provides a fully-featured experience across multiple platforms, including desktop, mobile, and web. Users can switch between devices seamlessly, with their notes automatically syncing in real time. Whether you’re on iOS, Android, or a browser, Evernote delivers a consistent, feature-rich experience across platforms, making it highly versatile.
Obsidian, while available on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), is more limited on mobile. Its mobile app is still being refined, lacking the full feature set of the desktop version. While syncing is possible with Obsidian Sync or third-party services, the mobile experience isn’t as polished as Evernote’s, which could be a drawback for users who frequently rely on their phones or tablets for note-taking.
Verdict: Evernote wins for comprehensive platform support and a consistent cross-device experience. Obsidian lags slightly behind in this area, especially for mobile users.
7. Pricing
Obsidian is free for personal use, which includes all core features like note-taking, linking, and customization. Obsidian Sync is a paid feature at $8/month for syncing notes across devices, but this is optional, and users can set up their own syncing solutions for free using third-party services. For power users, the one-time costs are minimal compared to subscription-based pricing.
Evernote offers a free plan with limited features but requires users to upgrade to the Premium plan ($7.99/month) or Business plan ($14.99/user/month) to unlock full capabilities like offline access, more cloud storage, and advanced search features. Over time, the subscription fees can add up, especially for small teams or individual users.
Verdict: Obsidian is the winner for those seeking a cost-effective solution, particularly since many features are available for free. Evernote provides convenience but comes at a higher cost for premium features.
Use Cases for Obsidian
- Research and Knowledge Management: Ideal for researchers or writers who want to build interconnected ideas.
- Privacy-Conscious Users: Those who prefer local storage without relying on cloud services.
Use Cases for Evernote
- Collaborative Projects: Great for team projects that require sharing notes and easy access across devices.
- General Productivity: Perfect for anyone who needs to organize day-to-day tasks and notes efficiently across devices.
Obsidian vs. Evernote: Pricing Breakdown
Here’s a table breaking down the pricing and fees for Obsidian and Evernote:
Feature | Obsidian | Evernote |
---|---|---|
Free Plan | Yes (Core features, local storage only) | Yes (Limited features, 60MB/month upload limit) |
Paid Plan | Optional: $8/month for Obsidian Sync (personal use), $50/year for Publish | Personal Plan: $8/month (Unlimited devices, 10GB upload) Business Plan: $15/user/month (Admin controls, collaboration tools) |
Sync Across Devices | $8/month for Obsidian Sync | Free for 2 devices (more devices in paid plans) |
Advanced Features | Free with community plugins and themes | Requires paid plans for advanced features (offline access, increased uploads) |
Storage | Unlimited (based on local storage capacity) | Free: 60MB/month, Personal: 10GB/month, Business: 20GB/user |
Collaboration | Not native, requires third-party tools | Native collaboration tools available in Business Plan |
Offline Access | Yes (always available) | Available in paid plans only |
Obsidian Pricing
- Free for personal use.
- Paid services like Obsidian Sync ($8/month).
Evernote Pricing
- Free basic plan.
- Premium plan: $7.99/month.
- Business plan: $14.99/user/month.
What to Consider When Choosing Between Obsidian and Evernote
When choosing between Obsidian and Evernote, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Storage and Privacy: If privacy and data control are essential to you, Obsidian’s local storage is the clear choice. With Obsidian, you own and control your data, while Evernote stores everything in the cloud, which might be a concern for privacy-conscious users.
- Note Linking: If you’re looking for a tool that helps connect ideas through bi-directional linking, Obsidian is the more advanced option. Evernote, while excellent for organization, lacks the interconnected note structure that Obsidian provides.
- Ease of Use: For users who want a tool that’s simple to pick up and use, Evernote is better suited. Obsidian, while powerful, requires some technical understanding, especially when customizing through plugins.
- Offline vs. Online: If you often work in areas without internet access, Obsidian is your best bet, as it works completely offline. Evernote, on the other hand, limits offline functionality unless you upgrade to a premium plan.
- Cost: Obsidian is free for most features, with optional paid services like syncing. Evernote operates on a subscription model, which could get costly over time depending on your needs.
FAQs
Which tool is better for organizing notes?
Evernote offers a more structured approach with notebooks and tags, ideal for simple organization. Obsidian allows for greater flexibility with note linking and graph visualization, making it better for connecting complex ideas.
Is Obsidian free to use?
Yes, Obsidian is free for personal use. However, features like syncing across devices require Obsidian Sync, which is a paid service.
Can I access my notes offline?
Both tools offer offline access, but with Obsidian, all notes are stored locally, so offline access is always available. With Evernote, offline access is limited to paid plans.
Which is more user-friendly?
Evernote is generally easier to use, with a minimal learning curve. Obsidian is more complex, but customizable for power users.
Can I migrate my notes between these tools?
Yes, you can export your Evernote notes and import them into Obsidian, but some formatting may require adjustments during the process.
Is Obsidian Better than Evernote? Takeaway
Both tools have their strengths. Obsidian is the go-to for users looking for an advanced, customizable note-taking experience, while Evernote excels in ease of use and seamless syncing across devices.
If you’re privacy-conscious or love linking ideas, Obsidian is ideal. For everyday productivity and collaboration, Evernote is hard to beat.