Apple Notes
Obsidian
| Feature | Apple Notes | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | Free / from $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, casual-note-takers, students, families | researchers, writers, developers, knowledge-workers |
| Founded | 2012 | 2020 |
| Rich Text | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scanning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Folders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Icloud Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown | ✗ | ✓ |
| Backlinks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Graph View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Themes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Canvas | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Apple Notes Pros
- Free with Apple devices
- Fast and reliable
- Good scanning
- Shared folders
✗ Apple Notes Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Limited organization
- No markdown
✓ Obsidian Pros
- 100% offline
- Local-first
- Plugin ecosystem
- Graph view
- Free for personal use
✗ Obsidian Cons
- No real-time collaboration
- Steep learning curve
- Mobile app is basic
The Verdict
Apple Notes is built for apple users and casual note takers, with a focus on rich-text and scanning. Obsidian targets researchers and writers and leads with markdown and backlinks.
Apple Notes uses custom enterprise pricing, while Obsidian starts at $4/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Obsidian edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Obsidian has a slight overall edge — but if free with apple devices matters most to you, Apple Notes may still be the right call.
