Obsidian vs Zettlr
Obsidian: Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing. Zettlr: Open source Markdown editor aimed at academic writing, citations and note linking.
| Obsidian | Zettlr | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for personal use | Free |
| Free option | Free without limits for personal use, no sign-up required | Free to download and use |
| License | Proprietary, free for personal use | Open source (GPL-3.0) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Notes stored as | Plain Markdown files on your device | Markdown files on disk |
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 Zettlr if
- you write papers, theses or articles with citations
- you want a free, open source Markdown editor
- you work on desktop only
Strengths
- Citation and reference manager support for academic work
- Open source with a public codebase
- Plain Markdown files in folders
Limits
- Desktop only, no iOS or Android app
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Obsidian
Pricing details
- See zettlr.com for any optional support options
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
Zettlr
Open source Markdown editor aimed at academic writing, citations and note linking.
Open source
- Price: Free
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Storage: Markdown files on disk
Details come from each vendor's own website and were checked on 2026-10-18. Confirm current prices on the vendor page.