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Obsidian vs Notes: catalog facts
Obsidian	Notes
Free Free for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and…	Freemium Free and open source; a Pro version for $14.99 adds editing inside task boards.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension	Windows, macOS, Linux
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	Local-first storage Instant search across notes
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	Task boards are read-only without the paid Pro version No mobile apps mentioned
Downloadable app, Browser extension	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: MPL-2.0
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

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