Obsidian vs Evernote
Obsidian: Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing. Evernote: Long-running note app with tasks, calendar and AI features, on tiered plans.
| Obsidian | Evernote | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for personal use | Free plan, paid tiers (Starter, Advanced, Flexible, Unlimited) |
| Free option | Free without limits for personal use, no sign-up required | Free: 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 synced device, 1 GB storage |
| License | Proprietary, free for personal use | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web, Windows, Mac |
| Notes stored as | Plain Markdown files on your device | Evernote cloud with offline notes |
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
Choose Evernote if
- you want one app for notes, tasks and calendar
- you collect lots of clipped web pages and emails
- you do not need Markdown as your storage format
Strengths
- Tasks, calendar and external calendar connections in the same app
- Web clipping and email-in for collecting material
- Apps for every major platform
Limits
- The free plan caps you at 50 notes and one synced device
- Proprietary and cloud based, with no plain Markdown file storage
- Not built around Markdown, so formatting comes from its own editor
Pricing details
- Starter: 1,000 notes, 3 synced devices, 5 GB. Advanced: unlimited notes and devices (subject to safeguard limits)
- Exact prices were not shown on the plan comparison page when checked, so see the vendor page
- Paid plans have a 7 day trial, and eligible students get 40% off a one-year Advanced plan
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
Evernote
Long-running note app with tasks, calendar and AI features, on tiered plans.
Proprietary
- Price: Free plan, paid tiers (Starter, Advanced, Flexible, Unlimited)
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, Windows, Mac
- Storage: Evernote cloud with offline notes
Details come from each vendor's own website and were checked on 2026-10-18. Confirm current prices on the vendor page.