Microsoft OneNote vs Obsidian

Struggling to choose between Microsoft OneNote and Obsidian? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Microsoft OneNote is a Office & Productivity solution with tags like notetaking, organization, collaboration, cloud-sync.

It boasts features such as Note taking, Document organization, Collaboration, Cross-device syncing, Multimedia embedding, Searchable notes, Templates, Version history and pros including Free and included with Microsoft 365, Intuitive interface, Powerful organization features, Real-time collaboration, Available across devices, Integrates with other Microsoft products.

On the other hand, Obsidian is a Office & Productivity product tagged with knowledge-management, note-taking, markdown.

Its standout features include Local-first design, Markdown notes, Graph view, Backlinks, Plugins, Mobile apps, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Very customizable, Great for building a personal knowledge base, Strong community support.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote

Note-taking made seamless with Microsoft OneNote. Organize your thoughts, ideas, and tasks in a digital notebook that syncs across devices. Collaborate in real-time, capture multimedia notes, and stay productive wherever you go.

Categories:
notetaking organization collaboration cloud-sync

Microsoft OneNote Features

  1. Note taking
  2. Document organization
  3. Collaboration
  4. Cross-device syncing
  5. Multimedia embedding
  6. Searchable notes
  7. Templates
  8. Version history

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Free and included with Microsoft 365

Intuitive interface

Powerful organization features

Real-time collaboration

Available across devices

Integrates with other Microsoft products

Cons

Formatting options limited compared to Word

No offline access without Microsoft 365 subscription

Limited customization options

Can be slow with large notebooks

No Linux version


Obsidian

Obsidian

Obsidian, a powerful note-taking and knowledge management tool. Forge connections between ideas, create a personal knowledge base, and enhance productivity with this markdown-based, local-first application.

Categories:
knowledge-management note-taking markdown

Obsidian Features

  1. Local-first design
  2. Markdown notes
  3. Graph view
  4. Backlinks
  5. Plugins
  6. Mobile apps

Pricing

  • Freemium

Pros

Free and open source

Very customizable

Great for building a personal knowledge base

Strong community support

Cons

Can feel overwhelming at first

Mobile apps cost extra

No collaboration features