Obsidian vs Apple Notes
type: Article
description: Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management system for complex note-taking with local storage and linking capabilities, while Apple Notes is a lightweight, cloud-synced note app built into iOS/macOS for quick capture and basic organization. Obsidian requires learning and setup; Apple Notes works instantly but lacks advanced features.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-26T14:01:25.828Z
date created: 2026-06-26T14:01:25.828Z
date modified: 2026-06-26T14:01:25.892Z
content reference time: 2026-06-26T14:01:25.892Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Obsidian
about: Apple Notes
abstract: Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management system for complex note-taking with local storage and linking capabilities, while Apple Notes is a lightweight, cloud-synced note app built into iOS/macOS for quick capture and basic organization. Obsidian requires learning and setup; Apple Notes works instantly but lacks advanced features.
text: Note Linking & Backlinks. Local vs Cloud Storage. Setup & Learning Curve. Plugin/Extension Support. Cross-Platform Availability. Free vs Paid Cost. Collaboration Features
conclusion text: Choose Obsidian if you're building a research database, writing long-form content, managing complex projects, or need cross-platform access and data ownership. Choose Apple Notes if you want frictionless quick capture, real-time family sharing, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration without setup overhead.
additional property: Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local device | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (sync $8-10/mo optional) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~1M+ | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (free) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Minimal (plugin-dependent) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Offline Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Complete (100%) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Database Relation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Basic (via plugins only) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (Ease Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 8/10 (gentle) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Native AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (plugin-based only) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ (community plugins) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Community Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~2.5M (estimated) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Sync Service Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $96 | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 100% | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Built-in Task Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins only | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 30-45 | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Limited (HTTP API beta) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Funding Raised
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Bootstrapped (private) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: One-Time / Lifetime Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $89 | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Monthly Team Subscription (5 users)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (not designed for teams) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Offline Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Full (100% offline functionality) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No native support | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional Linking Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 9 (advanced graph visualization) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Setup Time (minutes to usable state)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5-15 (markdown basics) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 7 (Obsidian Mobile, good) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Data Export / Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Markdown + Attachments (fully portable) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Active User Base (approximate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 3+ million active users | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local Markdown files | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Note format
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Plain Markdown | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Native Markdown (always portable) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (free but proprietary) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (single-player by default) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Sync
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync ($4/mo) or iCloud/Dropbox | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Mobile App
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Outliner / block linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Outliner plugin | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional links
  type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Yes (via links) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Graph / network view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes — link graph | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Database / table view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Dataview plugin | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes (community + core) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Kanban / tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Spaced repetition
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Spaced Repetition plugin | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1,500+ community plugins | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: AI integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins (Copilot, Smart Connections) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Price (personal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Price (sync)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync $4/mo | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Price (team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: N/A (no team plan) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (with optional $50 Sync) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5 (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | Apple Notes: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 50+ official + 100+ community | Apple Notes: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/obsidian
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/obsidian
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/apple-notes
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/apple-notes
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/obsidian-vs-apple-notes
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/obsidian-vs-apple-notes
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/apple-notes-vs-bear
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/logseq-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian-vs-logseq
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/evernote-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bear-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/roam-research-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-confluence
teaches: How to choose between Obsidian and Apple Notes
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Obsidian
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Local-first markdown editor with bidirectional linking, plugins, and complete data ownership.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Obsidian
subject of: Obsidian vs Apple Notes
image: ImageObject
  caption: Obsidian

Apple Notes
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: AN
language: en-US
description: Lightweight native note app with instant cloud sync across Apple devices and real-time collaboration features.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Apple Notes
subject of: Obsidian vs Apple Notes
image: ImageObject
  caption: Apple Notes

Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Obsidian vs Apple Notes. Contains 85 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Privacy
variable measured: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Offline Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Platform Support
variable measured: Database Relation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Learning Curve (Ease Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Native AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Integration
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Community Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Sync Service Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Built-in Task Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Installation
variable measured: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Funding Raised
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Business
variable measured: One-Time / Lifetime Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Team Subscription (5 users)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Offline Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Bidirectional Linking Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Feature
variable measured: Setup Time (minutes to usable state)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Mobile App Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Data Export / Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Lock-In Risk
variable measured: Active User Base (approximate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: Note format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture & data
variable measured: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ownership
variable measured: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Licensing
variable measured: Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration & sync
variable measured: Sync
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration & sync
variable measured: Mobile App
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Outliner / block linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Bidirectional links
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Graph / network view
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Database / table view
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Kanban / tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Spaced repetition
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Notes & linking
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: AI integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Price (personal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Price (sync)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Price (team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Time to First Note (Setup)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Data Format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Ownership
variable measured: Mobile App Feature Completeness
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Mobile
variable measured: Maximum Note Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Base Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Community Plugins Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Storage Format
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Portability
variable measured: Users (Estimated)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Graph View Visualization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Single User)
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration Users
variable measured: Data Storage Location
variable measured: Mobile App Support
variable measured: Free Trial Period
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost
variable measured: Annual Cost (Standard Use)
variable measured: Estimated Monthly Active Users
variable measured: Platforms Supported
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-apple-notes

Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Obsidian vs Apple Notes.
has defined term: Privacy
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Platform Support
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: AI Integration
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Installation
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Business
has defined term: Core Feature
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Lock-In Risk
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Architecture & data
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Collaboration & sync
has defined term: Notes & linking
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Data Ownership
has defined term: Mobile
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Data Portability
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Data Control
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Quality
has defined term: Popularity

Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-support
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-integration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Installation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: installation
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Feature
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-feature
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Lock-In Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: lock-in-risk
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture & data
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture-&-data
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration & sync
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration-&-sync
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Notes & linking
type: DefinedTerm
term code: notes-&-linking
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-ownership
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Mobile
type: DefinedTerm
term code: mobile
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Portability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-portability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-control
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: quality
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Popularity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: popularity
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Apple Notes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-26T14:01:25.892Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: obsidian-vs-apple-notes
main entity: Can I use Obsidian on Android and Windows?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Obsidian is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. However, syncing between devices requires either the paid Obsidian Sync service ($11/month) or a third-party solution like iCloud, Dropbox, or Git. Apple Notes is Apple-only (iPhone, iPad, Mac).
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Obsidian really free, or is there a catch?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian core is free forever with no ads. You only pay if you want Obsidian Sync ($11/month for encrypted cloud sync), Obsidian Publish ($10/month to publish notes as websites), or commercial licensing. Local use with manual sync (Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive) stays free.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I collaborate with others in real-time on Obsidian notes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Not natively. Obsidian is designed for individual use. Real-time collaboration requires the paid Obsidian Sync service ($11/month) or workarounds like shared Dropbox folders (with sync delays). Apple Notes has native real-time collaboration on shared notes at no cost.
    language: en-US
main entity: Will Apple Notes work if I switch to Android or Windows?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No. Apple Notes only works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can view notes via iCloud.com in a web browser, but there is no native Android or Windows app. Obsidian works everywhere.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for research and long-form writing?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian is significantly better for research due to bidirectional linking, the ability to link notes together, and visualize connections in a graph. It's built for building knowledge bases. Apple Notes is better for quick capture and simple lists, not interconnected research projects.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Obsidian and Apple Notes
type: HowTo
description: Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management system for complex note-taking with local storage and linking capabilities, while Apple Notes is a lightweight, cloud-synced note app built into iOS/macOS for quick capture and basic organization. Obsidian requires learning and setup; Apple Notes works instantly but lacks advanced features.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Note Linking & Backlinks
step: Consider: Local vs Cloud Storage
step: Consider: Setup & Learning Curve
step: Consider: Plugin/Extension Support
step: Consider: Cross-Platform Availability
step: Consider: Free vs Paid Cost
step: Consider: Collaboration Features
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Obsidian if you're building a research database, writing long-form content, managing complex projects, or need cross-platform access and data ownership. Choose Apple Notes if you want frictionless quick capture, real-time family sharing, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration without setup overhead.

Consider: Note Linking & Backlinks
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Note Linking & Backlinks: Obsidian has Full bidirectional linking with graph visualization, while Apple Notes has Basic folder/checklist organization only.

Consider: Local vs Cloud Storage
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Local vs Cloud Storage: Obsidian has Local-first (encrypted, no account required), while Apple Notes has Cloud-only (iCloud sync).

Consider: Setup & Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Setup & Learning Curve: Obsidian has 30-60 minutes required, plugin ecosystem learning, while Apple Notes has Instant, zero learning curve.

Consider: Plugin/Extension Support
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Plugin/Extension Support: Obsidian has 900+ community plugins available, while Apple Notes has No plugin system.

Consider: Cross-Platform Availability
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Cross-Platform Availability: Obsidian has Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, while Apple Notes has Apple devices only (iPhone, iPad, Mac).

Consider: Free vs Paid Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Free vs Paid Cost: Obsidian has Free core, optional Obsidian Sync ($11/month), while Apple Notes has Free (iCloud requires Apple device).

Consider: Collaboration Features
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Collaboration Features: Obsidian has Limited (third-party via Sync add-on, $11/month), while Apple Notes has Real-time collaboration on shared notes.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Obsidian vs Apple Notes
review body: Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management system for complex note-taking with local storage and linking capabilities, while Apple Notes is a lightweight, cloud-synced note app built into iOS/macOS for quick capture and basic organization. Obsidian requires learning and setup; Apple Notes works instantly but lacks advanced features.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Obsidian vs Apple Notes

Time to First Note (Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 10-15 minutes | Apple Notes: N/A

Data Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Standard markdown (high portability) | Apple Notes: N/A

Mobile App Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 70% feature parity (plugins limited on mobile) | Apple Notes: N/A

Maximum Note Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Unlimited (device storage dependent) | Apple Notes: N/A

Base Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Free (Sync $8/month optional) | Apple Notes: N/A

Annual Cost (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0-96/year (depending on add-ons) | Apple Notes: N/A

Community Plugins Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 1,000+ plugins | Apple Notes: N/A

Storage Format
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Standard Markdown (.md files) | Apple Notes: N/A

Users (Estimated)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 5M+ downloads on mobile alone | Apple Notes: N/A

Graph View Visualization
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Built-in graph with plugin enhancements | Apple Notes: N/A

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0/month (free tier) | Apple Notes: N/A

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0/year (or $120 with Obsidian Sync) | Apple Notes: N/A

Real-time Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Limited to manual sharing; no native multi-user editing | Apple Notes: N/A

Data Storage Location
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Local device or user-chosen cloud storage | Apple Notes: N/A

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: iOS and Android available (limited features on free tier) | Apple Notes: N/A

Free Trial Period
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Unlimited (fully free tier) | Apple Notes: N/A

Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0–$10/month (optional sync subscription) | Apple Notes: N/A

Annual Cost (Standard Use)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0 (free core) or $120/year (with Sync) | Apple Notes: N/A

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 100% fully functional offline | Apple Notes: N/A

Estimated Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: ~1.5 million (2024 estimate) | Apple Notes: N/A

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 6 (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web) | Apple Notes: N/A

Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Complete local ownership; markdown files on your device | Apple Notes: N/A

Monthly Cost (Personal)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $0 (free) or $49 one-time | Apple Notes: N/A

Annual Cost (Personal, 5-year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: $49 one-time lifetime | Apple Notes: N/A

Application Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: <500ms | Apple Notes: N/A

Search Speed (10,000 notes)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 50-200ms | Apple Notes: N/A

Maximum Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: 1-2 (shared vault via third-party) | Apple Notes: N/A

Database Relations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Partial (Dataview plugin, limited querying) | Apple Notes: N/A

Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: Free

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: 4.5

Number of Reviews
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: 390

Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: Limited

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: iOS, macOS (2)

Document Scanning
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: Advanced with OCR

Call Recording & Transcription (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: Available (iPhone 12+)

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Apple Notes: Apple ecosystem only

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Obsidian — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Apple Notes — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Obsidian vs Apple Notes
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-apple-notes
object: Obsidian
object: Apple Notes

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Real-time Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Data Storage Location
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Ownership

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Free Trial Period
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Cost (Standard Use)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Estimated Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Control

Monthly Cost (Personal)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Cost (Personal, 5-year)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Application Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Search Speed (10,000 notes)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Maximum Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Database Relations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Quality

Number of Reviews
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Popularity

Markdown Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Platforms Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Document Scanning
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Call Recording & Transcription (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features