---
title: "Mimir vs. Obsidian"
description: "Mimir vs. Obsidian: an outliner that works as it is, or a Markdown editor you shape with plugins. Price, sync, and which to choose."
---

Obsidian is a Markdown editor that works on a folder of plain text files
on your device. It links notes with `[[brackets]]` like Mimir does, but it
starts from documents rather than bullets, and you shape it with settings,
themes, and plugins.

Checked on 2026-10-11.

## Which to choose

Choose Mimir if you want an outliner and a daily journal that work the
moment you open the app, with no plugins to pick and keep working, and
no settings screen. For sync, you paste a license key, then enter eight
words on each other device, with no folder or service to connect. Cloud
Sync is bought once and encrypts your notes on your device before it
sends them.

Choose Obsidian if you want Markdown files you can open in any editor,
thousands of plugins and themes, a graph view, or Windows, Linux, and
Android. Sync is $4 a month with Obsidian Sync, or free through iCloud
or another tool you set up yourself. Expect to spend time setting it up.

If you enjoy shaping your tools, Obsidian gives you the most room.
Mimir is already shaped.

## At a glance

| | Mimir | Obsidian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platforms | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Where notes live | One database file on your device | A folder of Markdown files on your device |
| Price | Free. Cloud Sync is a one-time purchase. | Free. Sync is $4 a month, billed yearly. |
| Status | Active | Active |

## Where Obsidian is heading

Obsidian ships often. Version 1.14, on 2026-10-05, added a kanban view
for its database feature, opening single Markdown files from anywhere,
and Quick Capture on iOS 26.

## Price

The app is free, including for work, with no account needed. The paid
extras are:

| Extra | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Sync, encrypted end to end, with version history and shared vaults | $4 a month, billed yearly |
| Publish | $8 a month per site, billed yearly |
| Catalyst, for early beta access | $25 once |
| Commercial license, optional | $50 per person per year |

You can also sync the folder of files with iCloud or another sync tool at
no cost.

Mimir is free on every device. Syncing between devices is the one paid
feature, a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.

## What they share

- `[[Wikilinks]]`, and a list of what links to each note.
- A note for each day, with Obsidian's Daily notes option turned on.
- Notes stored on your own device, usable offline, with no account.

## Where they differ

- An Obsidian note is a document. Outlining is something you
  add with plugins. Mimir is an outliner from the start: everything you write is a
  bullet, and the journal is the home page.
- Obsidian has thousands of community plugins and themes,
  a graph view, a canvas, and database views. Mimir has no plugins or
  settings screen.
- Obsidian's notes are Markdown files you can open in any
  editor. Mimir keeps everything in one database file and
  [exports](/exporting-your-notes) to Markdown on a Mac.
- Obsidian runs on Windows, Linux, and Android. Mimir runs
  on Mac, iPhone, and iPad today.

## What people say

People choose Obsidian for owning their files, for privacy, and for its
plugins. The common complaints are a learning curve and the time spent
setting it up and keeping plugins working.

**On iPhone and iPad**, Obsidian has 4.5 out of 5 stars from about 2,800
ratings on the US App Store. Complaints focus on text selection, freezes,
and vaults kept in iCloud loading slowly. On the Obsidian forum, iPhone
users time a cold start at one to three seconds.

## Sources

- [Obsidian pricing](https://obsidian.md/pricing)
- [Obsidian changelog](https://obsidian.md/changelog/)
- [Obsidian on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obsidian-connected-notes/id1557175442)
- [Obsidian forum: iOS startup time](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/workspace-taking-a-long-time-to-load-on-startup/110289)
- [ProdApps review](https://productivity-apps.com/apps/obsidian)