Obsidian vs Standard Notes
Complete comparison guide to help you choose the right productivity tool for your needs.
The Winner
Too Close to Call
Both Obsidian and Standard Notes are excellent choices. Your decision should be based on specific feature needs and use case.
Quick Comparison
| Criteria |  Obsidian |  Standard Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free tier Best | Free tier |
| User Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 Best |
| Review Count | 58 Best | 14 |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
| Best For | Privacy-focused knowledge workers | Privacy-first encrypted note-taking |
Feature Breakdown
Feature Comparison
Obsidian Standard Notes Obsidian
- Complete data ownership
- Free forever for core features
- Massive plugin ecosystem
- Powerful knowledge linking
- Steep learning curve
- Markdown knowledge required
- Limited built-in collaboration
Standard Notes
- Military-Grade Encryption
- Truly Free Tier
- Open-Source Transparency
- Complete Offline Access
- No Real-Time Collaboration
- Basic Interface Design
- Limited Free Features
Obsidian Overview
Obsidian is a free, local-first note-taking app with powerful bidirectional linking and graph visualization. Best for individuals who value data ownership and want to build a personal knowledge management system without subscriptions.
Best For:
- Privacy-focused knowledge workers
- Knowledge workers building personal knowledge management systems
- Writers and researchers needing interconnected notes
- Users comfortable with markdown and technical customization
- Those seeking offline-first note-taking without subscriptions
- Students and academics on budget (free forever)
Standard Notes Overview
Standard Notes is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes app built for users who refuse to compromise on privacy. With zero-knowledge architecture and four independent security audits, it ensures only you can read your notes. The free tier includes unlimited devices and E2E encryption, while paid plans ($7.50-$10/mo) add markdown editing, 100GB storage, and team sharing.
Best For:
- Privacy-first encrypted note-taking
- Legal, healthcare, and finance sectors requiring GDPR compliance
- Journalists, activists, and researchers handling sensitive information
- Remote teams needing secure shared notes (Professional plan)
- Users who value open-source and audited security
- Cross-platform users needing offline access with encryption
Our Verdict
Both Obsidian and Standard Notes are excellent choices for their respective strengths. Obsidian is ideal for Privacy-focused knowledge workers, while Standard Notes shines at Privacy-first encrypted note-taking. Your final choice should depend on your specific requirements and budget.