Evernote
Obsidian
| Feature | Evernote | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10.83/mo | Free / from $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | note-takers, researchers, professionals | researchers, writers, developers, knowledge-workers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2020 |
| Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ocr | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown | ✗ | ✓ |
| Backlinks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Graph View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Themes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Canvas | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Evernote Pros
- Great web clipper
- OCR for images
- Cross-platform
- Long track record
✗ Evernote Cons
- Expensive
- Feels outdated
- Very limited free plan (50 notes)
- Performance issues
✓ 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
Evernote is best for note-takers and researchers who need great web clipper. Obsidian is ideal for researchers and writers looking for 100% offline. Both tools offer free plans, so try each to see which fits your workflow.