Compare software

Beaver NotesObsidian
Free

Free and open source under the MIT licence, supported by sponsors.

 Free

Free for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and…

macOS Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension
  • Notes stay on your device with no account
  • No telemetry or AI features
  • Notes are plain Markdown files in a folder you control, readable without the app
  • Linking, backlinks, tags, graph view and fast search across the vault
  • No built-in cloud sync; you arrange syncing yourself
  • Mobile app still in beta
  • The application is not open source, only the plugin ecosystem and the releases repository
  • Syncing between devices means paying for Obsidian Sync or wiring up your own sync tool
Downloadable app Downloadable app, Browser extension
Open source Closed source
License: MIT License not stated
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Works offline

Checked October 1, 2026

Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.