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Obsidian vs TheBrain: catalog facts
Obsidian	TheBrain
Free Free for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and…	Free The desktop app is free according to the developer's site.
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	Ideas can link to many contexts without duplication Long-developed product with a large user base
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	Network-style interface takes time to learn Not open source
Downloadable app, Browser extension	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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