Obsidian
Craft logo

All the power.
None of the setup.

Looking for an Obsidian alternative? Beautiful native apps, seamless sync, and powerful features – all without the plugin complexity.

Try Craft Free

The Bottom Line: Craft vs Obsidian in 2026

Craft

Zero setup required - install and start writing in under 60 seconds
Free sync across all devices included (Obsidian Sync starts at $4/user/month, billed annually)
Native Swift apps with better battery life than Electron-based Obsidian
One-click web publishing built-in - no plugins needed
AI assistant included; limits vary by plan (no plugin configuration required)

Obsidian

You want a customizable, local-first Markdown workspace
You need local-only Markdown files with full file system control
You need Linux support or workflows built around local files
You need specific community plugins that only exist for Obsidian

Craft works instantly out of the box with free sync included - no plugins, no configuration. Obsidian works without plugins too, with optional extensions for custom workflows. Optional Sync starts at $4/user/month billed annually ($5 with monthly billing). If you want linked documents with built-in publishing and collaboration, Craft keeps the setup simple.

Craft vs Obsidian: Feature Comparison 2026

See how Craft and Obsidian compare across key features

Feature
Craft
Obsidian
Native Apps
Yes (Swift/UIKit)
Electron-based
Sync Included
Free with all plans
Optional Sync: $4/user/mo annually or $5 monthly
Web Publishing
One-click, included free
Optional Publish: $8/site/mo annually or $10 monthly
Total Cost (Sync + Publish)
Free plan available; see current Plus pricing
$12/mo billed annually; $15 monthly (Sync + Publish)
AI Assistant
Included; limits vary by plan
Community AI plugins and external integrations
Setup Time
30 seconds
Hours (plugins, themes, sync)
Local File Storage
Cloud-first (export available)
Local .md files you own
Plugins/Extensions
Features built-in
1000+ community plugins
Real-time Collaboration
Built-in live editing
Shared vaults with Sync; no live same-note co-editing
Learning Curve
Minimal - works immediately
Start with core features; customize with optional plugins

Why users switch to Craft

A

Anonymous review

“ I've tried almost every software on the market — Obsidian, Notion, Ulysses, Anytype, Capacities. Craft is definitely the most beautiful. The mobile app is in another league.”
App Store Award
App Store Award
Mac App of the Year
Apple Design Awards
Apple Design Awards
Finalist
Webby
Webby
Awarded three times in various categories
German Design Award
German Design Award
Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX

What matters most

Craft gets it right

Native experience

True native apps for Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android, and Vision Pro – not Electron. Feels like it belongs on your device.

Cloud sync

Automatic, seamless sync included free. No setup, no third-party services needed.

Sharing & Publishing

One-click publishing to beautiful web pages. No separate paid service required.

Ease of use

Works beautifully out of the box. No plugins to research, install, or maintain.

AI Assistant

Built-in AI writing assistant included; limits vary by plan. No third-party plugins needed.

API, MCP & Automations

Connect with Claude, ChatGPT, Apple Shortcuts, and build custom workflows

Why users switch to Craft

M

Mikailkraft

“ Craft gets rid of all the noise from Notion while not becoming as barebones as Obsidian. It’s a perfect balance of features – and it’s done seamlessly. Synching is immediate, and the app feels right at home on my Mac and my iPad.”

Compare the cost

PlanObsidian
Free plan or trialFree — 1,500 blocks, 1 GB storageFree core app for personal and commercial use
Individual$6.4/month, billed annuallyOptional Sync: $4/user/month billed annually, or $5 monthly
Family$12.0/month, billed annually; up to 6 peopleNo dedicated family plan; shared vaults require separate Sync subscriptions
Team$5/month, billed annually per member; minimum 3 membersShared vaults with Sync subscriptions; distinct from live co-editing
Web PublishingIncluded; advanced controls vary by planPublish: $8/site/month billed annually, or $10 monthly
Sync + PublishIncludedSync + Publish: from $12/month billed annually; optional services
AI Assistant FeatureIncluded; limits vary by planCommunity plugins and external AI providers; availability and costs vary

Craft prices reflect your region and available offers. Competitor $ prices are USD unless stated otherwise; billing periods are shown with each price. Taxes, offers and plan limits may differ. Check Obsidian pricing

Learn more

Switch From Obsidian To Craft

Locate your Vault

Find your Obsidian vault folder on your computer - it's where all your .md files are stored.

Drag & Drop to your Craft

Open Craft’s Obsidian importer and upload your vault folder. Choose the destination Space and start the import.

Start Crafting

Craft imports Markdown notes, in-vault attachments, folder structure, and links between notes. Check any plugin-specific content after import.

Learn more about importing from Obsidian →

Write your next doc in Craft

Start for free. No credit card required.

Continue on webDownload on the App Store

Common Questions

For many users, yes – especially if you want a polished, native experience without the complexity. Craft offers the beautiful writing environment and linking capabilities you love, but with seamless cloud sync, native apps, and powerful features built-in. You'll spend less time configuring plugins and more time actually writing and creating.

We understand data ownership matters. Craft stores your data securely in the cloud with full export capabilities – Markdown, PDF, Word, or direct transfer to apps like Bear and Ulysses. While Craft doesn't use local .md files, your data is never locked in. You can export your entire workspace anytime.

Obsidian is free. Optional Sync starts at $4/user/month and Publish at $8/site/month when billed annually; monthly billing starts at $5 and $10 respectively. Craft has a free plan with sync and publishing, plus paid plans with higher limits. See current Craft pricing for your region and billing period. AI assistant: Included; limits vary by plan.

Real-time collaboration with your team. One-click web publishing. AI assistant built-in. Share beautiful documents with anyone instantly – no plugins to install, no themes to configure, no sync issues to debug. Just write.

This is where Craft truly shines. Craft's apps are fully native, fast, and feature-complete on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Many Obsidian users cite mobile as their biggest frustration – slow loading, sync issues, plugins not working. With Craft, you get the same seamless experience across all your devices, no matter which platform you use.

Yes. Craft provides full offline access – create, edit, organize, and search documents without internet. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect. Unlike Obsidian, you don't need to configure sync or manage file conflicts.

Yes. Open Craft’s dedicated Obsidian importer and upload your vault folder. Markdown notes, attachments stored inside the vault, folder structure, and links between notes are imported. Plugin-specific features may need adjustment.

Yes. Craft supports bi-directional linking between documents. Link any block or document to another, and see connections in the backlinks panel. It's simpler than Obsidian's graph view but covers most use cases.

No. Craft includes all essential features built-in: sync, publishing, AI, tables, code blocks, templates, and more. No plugin hunting, no compatibility issues, no maintenance. Everything just works out of the box.

Craft supports live collaborative editing, comments, and shared spaces. Obsidian Sync supports shared vaults, with a Sync subscription required for each collaborator, but does not provide the same live same-note co-editing experience.

Craft's publishing is simpler and included in its free plan. One-click publishing creates beautiful web pages instantly. Obsidian Publish starts at $8/site/month billed annually, or $10 with monthly billing. Craft pages look polished without theme configuration.

Craft has native Apple Pencil support for drawings on iPad, so you can combine sketches and typed content. Obsidian can support drawing workflows through community plugins such as Excalidraw rather than a comparable built-in Pencil drawing block.

Yes, and it's built-in. Craft AI assistant: Included; limits vary by plan — no plugins to install or configure. Write, edit, summarize, and organize with AI help. Choose cloud AI or on-device models for privacy.

If you value your time, yes. Craft eliminates hours of plugin configuration, sync troubleshooting, and mobile frustrations. The native experience, included sync, and real-time collaboration make Craft worth the investment.

Yes. Craft offers a free Education plan for students with eligibility verification and annual renewal. No plugin setup needed – just start writing. The clean interface helps with focus. Seamless sync means your notes are always available for study.

Craft is better for writers who want to focus on writing, not configuration. Native performance, beautiful typography, distraction-free mode, and one-click publishing. Obsidian is better for those who enjoy customization and local files.

Craft sync is faster (sub-second) and included free. Obsidian Sync costs $4/month extra and can have conflict issues. Craft's sync just works – no configuration, no file conflicts, no troubleshooting.

Open Craft’s dedicated Obsidian importer and upload your vault folder. Links between notes are preserved as Craft document links. Keep attachments inside the vault, and review plugin-specific syntax and content after import.

Why users switch to Craft

J

Jeffb129

“ Craft is way more functional than Apple or Google Notes while being much easier to use than Notion”