Obsidian vs Confluence
type: Article
description: Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based note-taking app for individual knowledge management, while Confluence is a cloud-based team collaboration wiki designed for organizational documentation and shared workspaces. Obsidian prioritizes privacy and offline access; Confluence prioritizes team collaboration and centralized knowledge.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-26T17:07:36.560Z
date created: 2026-06-26T17:07:36.560Z
date modified: 2026-06-26T17:07:36.705Z
content reference time: 2026-06-26T17:07:36.705Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Obsidian
about: Confluence
abstract: Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based note-taking app for individual knowledge management, while Confluence is a cloud-based team collaboration wiki designed for organizational documentation and shared workspaces. Obsidian prioritizes privacy and offline access; Confluence prioritizes team collaboration and centralized knowledge.
text: Deployment Model. Primary Use Case. Monthly Cost (Single User). Real-time Team Collaboration Features. Data Privacy & Ownership. Learning Curve. Integration Ecosystem
conclusion text: Choose Obsidian if you're an individual, researcher, student, or privacy-conscious professional who values local ownership, offline access, and customization for personal knowledge management. Choose Confluence if you're part of a team that needs centralized documentation, real-time collaboration, permission management, and integration with enterprise tools like Jira and Slack.
additional property: Storage Location
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local device | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (sync $8-10/mo optional) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~1M+ | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (free) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Minimal (plugin-dependent) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Offline Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Complete (100%) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Database Relation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Basic (via plugins only) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (Ease Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 8/10 (gentle) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Native AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (plugin-based only) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ (community plugins) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Community Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1000+ | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: ~2.5M (estimated) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Sync Service Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $96 | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Offline Functionality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 100% | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Built-in Task Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins only | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 30-45 | Confluence: N/A
additional property: API Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Limited (HTTP API beta) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Funding Raised
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Bootstrapped (private) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: One-Time / Lifetime Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $89 | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Monthly Team Subscription (5 users)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: $0 (not designed for teams) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Offline Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Full (100% offline functionality) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No native support | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional Linking Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 9 (advanced graph visualization) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Setup Time (minutes to usable state)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5-15 (markdown basics) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 7 (Obsidian Mobile, good) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Data Export / Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Markdown + Attachments (fully portable) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Active User Base (approximate)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 3+ million active users | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Local Markdown files | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Note format
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Plain Markdown | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Native Markdown (always portable) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (free but proprietary) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: No (single-player by default) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Sync
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync ($4/mo) or iCloud/Dropbox | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Mobile App
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Outliner / block linking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Outliner plugin | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Bidirectional links
  type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Yes (via links) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Graph / network view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes — link graph | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Database / table view
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Dataview plugin | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Yes (community + core) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Kanban / tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Spaced repetition
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via Spaced Repetition plugin | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 1,500+ community plugins | Confluence: N/A
additional property: AI integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Via plugins (Copilot, Smart Connections) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Price (personal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Price (sync)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Obsidian Sync $4/mo | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Price (team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: N/A (no team plan) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: Free (with optional $50 Sync) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Supported Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 5 (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | Confluence: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Obsidian: 50+ official + 100+ community | Confluence: 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/confluence
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/confluence
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/obsidian-vs-confluence
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/obsidian-vs-confluence
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/notion-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/confluence-vs-notion
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/logseq-vs-obsidian
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/confluence-vs-coda
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/confluence-vs-gitbook
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/confluence-vs-jira
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/confluence-vs-slab
teaches: How to choose between Obsidian and Confluence
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Obsidian vs Confluence — 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 Confluence
image: ImageObject
  caption: Obsidian

Confluence
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Enterprise team collaboration and documentation platform by Atlassian.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Confluence
subject of: Obsidian vs Confluence
image: ImageObject
  caption: Confluence

Obsidian vs Confluence — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Obsidian vs Confluence. Contains 144 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: Development Model
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: Capability
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-confluence

Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Obsidian vs Confluence.
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: Development Model
has defined term: Collaboration & sync
has defined term: Notes & linking
has defined term: Capability
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: Compatibility
has defined term: Data Control
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Core Features
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Editing
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Core Purpose
has defined term: Project Management
has defined term: Agile Features
has defined term: Content Management
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Technical Specs
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Design Resources
has defined term: Architecture

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Development Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-model
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Core Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Editing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: editing
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Purpose
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-purpose
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Project Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: project-management
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Agile Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: agile-features
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-management
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical Specs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical-specs
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design-resources
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Obsidian vs Confluence — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-26T17:07:36.705Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: obsidian-vs-confluence
main entity: Can Obsidian and Confluence work together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Teams often use Obsidian for personal research and drafting, then publish refined content to Confluence for team distribution. Community plugins (like Obsidian Web Clipper) can pull from Confluence, and API tools can sync content between them, though this requires manual setup.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Obsidian suitable for teams?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian is designed for individual use, though small teams can work around this by sharing folders via Git or cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive). However, this introduces merge conflicts and lacks real-time collaboration. For teams, Confluence is purpose-built and easier.
    language: en-US
main entity: How do Obsidian and Confluence handle data privacy differently?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian stores data locally on your device by default—you own your files and can choose encryption. Confluence data lives on Atlassian's servers; you trust Atlassian's security but have no direct control. GDPR-compliant deployments exist for both, but Obsidian offers more control.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for knowledge management—personal research?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Obsidian excels for personal knowledge management due to its bidirectional linking, graph view, and open-ended customization. Confluence is oriented toward team documentation and structured wikis. For solo researchers, Obsidian's flexibility and privacy make it superior.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the total cost difference for a 50-person organization?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: For 50 users over 1 year: Obsidian costs ~$655 (licenses + Sync), while Confluence costs $3,000-6,000 at $5-10 per user/month. Obsidian is 78-90% cheaper, but Confluence includes real-time collaboration, governance, and integrations that justify cost for enterprises.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Obsidian and Confluence
type: HowTo
description: Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based note-taking app for individual knowledge management, while Confluence is a cloud-based team collaboration wiki designed for organizational documentation and shared workspaces. Obsidian prioritizes privacy and offline access; Confluence prioritizes team collaboration and centralized knowledge.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Deployment Model
step: Consider: Primary Use Case
step: Consider: Monthly Cost (Single User)
step: Consider: Real-time Team Collaboration Features
step: Consider: Data Privacy & Ownership
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Integration Ecosystem
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Obsidian if you're an individual, researcher, student, or privacy-conscious professional who values local ownership, offline access, and customization for personal knowledge management. Choose Confluence if you're part of a team that needs centralized documentation, real-time collaboration, permission management, and integration with enterprise tools like Jira and Slack.

Consider: Deployment Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Deployment Model: Obsidian has Local-first, client-side storage with optional sync, while Confluence has Cloud-hosted SaaS with centralized servers.

Consider: Primary Use Case
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Primary Use Case: Obsidian has Personal knowledge management and note-taking, while Confluence has Enterprise team documentation and collaboration.

Consider: Monthly Cost (Single User)
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Monthly Cost (Single User): Obsidian has $0 (free) or $10.99/month (Obsidian Sync), while Confluence has $5-10 per user/month (team plans start at $5).

Consider: Real-time Team Collaboration Features
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Real-time Team Collaboration Features: Obsidian has Limited (no native real-time co-editing), while Confluence has Advanced (real-time editing, comments, @mentions, permissions).

Consider: Data Privacy & Ownership
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Data Privacy & Ownership: Obsidian has Full local control, encrypted end-to-end sync option, open vault format, while Confluence has Data stored on Atlassian servers, subject to enterprise policies.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Learning Curve: Obsidian has Moderate (markdown, wikilinks, YAML frontmatter required), while Confluence has Low (intuitive WYSIWYG editor, similar to Google Docs).

Consider: Integration Ecosystem
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Integration Ecosystem: Obsidian has 1000+ community plugins and themes available, while Confluence has 500+ native integrations with Atlassian and enterprise tools.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Obsidian vs Confluence
review body: Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based note-taking app for individual knowledge management, while Confluence is a cloud-based team collaboration wiki designed for organizational documentation and shared workspaces. Obsidian prioritizes privacy and offline access; Confluence prioritizes team collaboration and centralized knowledge.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Obsidian vs Confluence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: iOS and Android available (limited features on free tier) | Confluence: iOS and Android native

Free Trial Period
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: Unlimited (fully free tier) | Confluence: 30 days cloud (unlimited self-hosted)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free Plan Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Yes, limited free plan

Starter Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $10.44 (Standard tier)

Premium Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $22.50+ (Premium tier)

Enterprise Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $54,000+ (Data Center, 1,000 users)

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 5/10 (structured)

Enterprise Governance
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 9/10 (advanced)

Jira Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 10/10 (native)

Approval Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 9/10 (advanced)

Native Spreadsheet/Table Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Limited (no native support)

Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 150+ native integrations

Free Tier Document Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Limited (outdated free tier)

Built-in Task Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: No (requires Jira)

Enterprise Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR

Real-Time Collaborative Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Supported

Starting Price (Monthly, Per User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $5.50

Permission Control Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 3 levels (space, page, content)

Active Whiteboard Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 10+ (Standard plan 2026)

Git Integration Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Plugin-based (limited)

Content Preview Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Standard inline preview

AI Assistance Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Basic content suggestions

Atlassian Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 20+ (Jira, Bitbucket, Confluence Cloud)

Learning Curve (1-5 scale, lower is better)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 4 (steep, complex UI)

Primary Function
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Documentation & Knowledge Management

Agile Board Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Not native (requires Jira integration)

Sprint Planning Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: None

Documentation & Wiki Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Comprehensive with flexible page layouts and macros

Knowledge Base Search
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Advanced full-text search across all documentation

Mobile App Macro Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Improved inline macro rendering in 2026 update

Minimum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Any size (1+)

Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Seamless bidirectional linking with Jira and Atlassian tools

Starting Price (Per User/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $5

Maximum Users Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Unlimited

Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 250GB base

Native Office Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Limited (via plugins)

Marketplace Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 1000+

Implementation Time (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 2-4

Enterprise Compliance Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Standard (SOC2, GDPR)

User Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 65-75%

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $5.75/user/month

Cost for 50-Person Team (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $17,250 (at $5.75/user)

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 1,000+ (Atlassian Marketplace)

AI Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Add-on (paid extra)

Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 4-8 weeks for enterprise

Maximum File Upload Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 250 MB per file (Cloud)

Permission Granularity Levels
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 4 levels (page, space, column, project)

Starting Price (Monthly, USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $10

Implementation Time to Live
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 14-21 days

Maximum Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Unlimited

Built-in Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 200+

Slack Integration Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Bidirectional with app

API Complexity Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 150+ REST endpoints

Starting Price (Per User/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $5.50

Native Spreadsheet Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: No, requires integrations

Jira Integration Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Native bi-directional sync

Available Integrations/Packs
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 1000+ add-ons

Template Library Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 200+

Deployment Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Cloud, Server, and Data Center

Free Plan Seats
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Up to 10 users

Automation Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Limited automation rules

Starting Price per User/Month (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: $5.75/user

Free Tier Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 10 users for 1 space

Self-Hosting Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Yes (Data Center, Server)

Jira Integration Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Native, two-way sync

Database Relational Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Basic (limited relations, no rollups)

API Rate Limit (Requests/Minute)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: Unlimited for Cloud, varies for Server

Page Load Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 2.1s (typical page with macros)

Marketplace Extensions/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Obsidian: N/A | Confluence: 1000+ apps (Atlassian Marketplace)

SpeakableSpecification
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css selector: #verdict
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Obsidian — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Confluence — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Obsidian vs Confluence
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/obsidian-vs-confluence
object: Obsidian
object: Confluence

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: Platform Support

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

Free Plan Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Starter Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Premium Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Enterprise Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Enterprise Governance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Jira Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Approval Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Spreadsheet/Table Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Features

Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Tier Document Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Built-in Task Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Enterprise Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Real-Time Collaborative Editing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Starting Price (Monthly, Per User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Permission Control Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Active Whiteboard Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Git Integration Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Features

Content Preview Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Editing

AI Assistance Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

Atlassian Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Learning Curve (1-5 scale, lower is better)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Primary Function
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Core Purpose

Agile Board Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Project Management

Sprint Planning Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Agile Features

Documentation & Wiki Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content Management

Knowledge Base Search
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content Management

Mobile App Macro Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Mobile

Minimum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Starting Price (Per User/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Users Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Native Office Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Marketplace Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Implementation Time (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Enterprise Compliance Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

User Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Cost for 50-Person Team (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

AI Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Maximum File Upload Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical Specs

Permission Granularity Levels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Starting Price (Monthly, USD)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Implementation Time to Live
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Maximum Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Built-in Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Slack Integration Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

API Complexity Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Starting Price (Per User/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native Spreadsheet Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Jira Integration Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Available Integrations/Packs
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Template Library Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design Resources

Deployment Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Free Plan Seats
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Automation Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price per User/Month (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Self-Hosting Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Jira Integration Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Database Relational Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Rate Limit (Requests/Minute)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Features

Page Load Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Marketplace Extensions/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem