Apple Notes vs Obsidian
Apple Notes: The free notes app built into every Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced with iCloud. Obsidian: Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing.
| Apple Notes | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, included with Apple devices | Free for personal use |
| Free option | Notes is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Syncing uses your iCloud storage, and iCloud+ storage plans start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB | Free without limits for personal use, no sign-up required |
| License | Proprietary, included with Apple devices | Proprietary, free for personal use |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Web (icloud.com) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Notes stored as | iCloud or on-device notes, with Markdown import, export and Copy as Markdown on the Mac | Plain Markdown files on your device |
Choose Apple Notes if
- you use only Apple devices and want something that just works
- you want quick notes, lists, sketches and audio with no extra cost
- you only need Markdown occasionally, through export or Copy as Markdown
Strengths
- Already installed on every Apple device, nothing to set up
- Drawings, audio recording with live transcripts, inline math, and attachments (per the Apple Notes User Guide)
- On the Mac you can import Markdown, export a note as Markdown, and use Edit > Copy as Markdown
- Optional end-to-end encryption for Notes with Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
Limits
- No native app for Windows, Linux or Android; other devices use icloud.com in a browser
- Notes live in Apple's library, not as a folder of Markdown files, so other editors cannot open them directly
- No plugin system or linked-note graph
Pricing details
- Notes itself costs nothing. It ships with macOS, iOS and iPadOS and works on the web at icloud.com
- iCloud+ storage plans listed on apple.com/icloud: 50 GB $0.99, 200 GB $2.99, 2 TB $9.99, 6 TB $29.99, 12 TB $59.99 per month
Choose Obsidian if
- you want your notes to stay as plain Markdown files you control
- you like extending your editor with community plugins
- you work alone or share notes by file rather than by live workspace
Strengths
- Your notes are ordinary Markdown files in a folder, so any other editor can open them
- Large plugin and theme ecosystem
- Backlinks and graph view for linked notes
- End-to-end encrypted sync (AES-256) if you pay for it
Limits
- The app itself is not open source
- Sync and Publish are paid add-ons
- No real-time multi-user editing like a shared workspace tool
Pricing details
- Sync: $4 per user per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly
- Publish: $8 per site per month billed annually, or $10 billed monthly
- Commercial license: $50 per user per year, optional (the vendor says commercial use does not require it)
- Catalyst: $25 one-time optional license
Apple Notes
The free notes app built into every Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced with iCloud.
Proprietary
- Price: Free, included with Apple devices
- Platforms: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Web (icloud.com)
- Storage: iCloud or on-device notes, with Markdown import, export and Copy as Markdown on the Mac
Obsidian
Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing.
Proprietary
- Price: Free for personal use
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Storage: Plain Markdown files on your device
Details come from each vendor's own website and were checked on 2026-11-15. Confirm current prices on the vendor page.