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Denote vs Obsidian: catalog facts
Denote	Obsidian
Free Free and available from GNU ELPA.	Free Free for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and…
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension
Plain-text notes with predictable file names No database or lock-in	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
Requires Emacs and some familiarity with it No mobile app	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 not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026

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