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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Obsidian vs Evernote

Obsidian 4.5★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Obsidian
Evernote 4.4★ · Free + IAP 60

Obsidian is better for users who prioritize deep customization, local file control, and a strong community plugin ecosystem, while Evernote is better for those who need reliable cross-device syncing and a more traditional, organized note-taking experience, despite its recent price hikes.

Full reviews: Obsidian · Evernote

Obsidian offers unparalleled customization and local file control, making it a powerful tool for complex knowledge management, but its mobile app and syncing can be buggy. Evernote provides robust cross-device syncing and organization features, though recent significant price increases and persistent pop-ups have frustrated many long-term users.

Head to head

Features and Customization edge: ObsidianR2R11R15R20
Obsidian Obsidian is highly praised for its extensive customization via plugins, allowing users to adapt it for diverse uses like novel writing, finance tracking, and world-building R2R23R29. Users appreciate its markdown format, linking capabilities, and the ability to build applications within it R11R38R44. Many see it as a powerful 'second brain' with limitless freedom R15R20R29.
Evernote Evernote is valued for its comprehensive organization features, including folders, tags, and the ability to store documents, receipts, and photos . While it has added AI features, some users find them weak or even detrimental, making the app slower and less reliable . Its lack of .md file support is also a drawback for some .
Ease of Use and Performance tieR1R3R13R15
Obsidian Obsidian's mobile app is frequently criticized for being slow to load, buggy, and difficult to use, with issues like black screens, freezing, and plugins failing to load R1R3R13R15. Some users find the mobile interface not optimized for touch, with small buttons and awkward context menus .
Evernote Evernote generally offers a straightforward user experience, with quick syncing across devices . However, many users are frustrated by constant pop-ups, promotional messages, and forced customization questions that interrupt their workflow R67. Some also report issues with typing, cursor placement, and a buggy search engine .
Reliability and Syncing edge: EvernoteR2R3R4R11
Obsidian Obsidian's syncing is a major point of contention. While some users find Obsidian Sync (paid) or iCloud sync effective R2R11, many report significant issues with iCloud sync, including black screens and vaults not being found R3R4. Obsidian Sync itself can be unreliable, with mobile devices overriding desktop changes R12. The app also has limited sync options, not supporting services like OneDrive or self-hosted servers with self-signed certificates R28.
Evernote Evernote is generally praised for its reliable syncing across multiple devices . However, some users have reported issues with exporting PDFs and problems with the scan feature . There are also complaints about not being able to access old files after unsubscribing .
Price and Value edge: ObsidianR2R6R7R10
Obsidian Obsidian offers a free core app, with syncing being a paid feature that some users find expensive at $4/month R6R7R10R28. However, many users are happy to pay for sync to support the developers and the powerful features R2. The app's philosophy of local files means notes are future-proof even if the app loses support R44.
Evernote Evernote has faced widespread criticism for significant and repeated price increases, with some users reporting annual costs doubling or even tripling to $170-$260 R64. Many feel the price is too high for a note-taking app, especially given the perceived degradation of the free version and the lack of meaningful new features R64R73.
Support and Community edge: ObsidianR26R29R38R59
Obsidian Obsidian benefits from a strong community that contributes plugins, adding significant value and functionality R29R59. Users appreciate the developer team's design and function R26R38.
Evernote Evernote's support is a point of concern for some users, with reports of no responses to multiple requests and difficulties with multi-factor authentication . The app also has a history of forcing users to answer customization questions or view pop-ups, which can feel intrusive R67.
Pick Obsidian if

you need a highly customizable note-taking system with local file control and a rich plugin ecosystem, are comfortable with a steeper learning curve, and can tolerate some mobile app and syncing quirks R2R29R44.

Pick Evernote if

you prioritize reliable cross-device syncing for general note-taking, document organization, and quick capture, and are willing to pay a premium for a long-established service despite recent price hikes and intrusive pop-ups .

Evidence note: Obsidian's recent reviews are heavily skewed towards mobile app and syncing issues, which might not reflect the desktop experience. Evernote's recent reviews are overwhelmingly negative regarding price increases and intrusive free-tier experiences, but many long-term users still value its core functionality.

Frequently asked

Is Obsidian good for complex projects like writing a novel?
Yes, Obsidian is highly recommended by users for complex projects like planning and writing novels, managing work projects, and world-building, due to its powerful linking capabilities, markdown format, and extensive plugins R2R23R44.
How much does Evernote cost now?
Evernote's annual subscription has seen significant price increases, with many users reporting costs doubling or tripling to between $170 and $260 per year R64R74R82R88.
Does Obsidian offer free syncing?
No, Obsidian does not offer free syncing; users need to pay for Obsidian Sync, which costs around $4 per month, or rely on potentially glitchy iCloud sync R6R7R12R28.
Are there issues with Evernote's free version?
Yes, many users report that the free version of Evernote has been deliberately degraded, with constant pop-ups, promotional messages, and multiple screens that must be clicked through before accessing notes, making it frustrating and almost unusable R67R73R91R97.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Obsidian 5/5 · US My go-to for EVERYTHING: The title’s not a joke. Currently, I’m using obsidian to plan and write my novel (yes, inside obsidian!), manage long-term work projects, budget & track finances, and study blender. If it involves information, notes, data, studying, mood boards, you name it, there are plugins to shape this app into virtually anything. Sync is fairly cheap too, and I am happy to support the
  2. [R11] Obsidian 5/5 · US good design: use icloud as base, I can sync the PC and mobile side notes, very powerful by MD format
  3. [R15] Obsidian 3/5 · US Obsidian - amazing, app - subpar: I love Obsidian so much. The tool itself is incredibly powerful. However, I have CONSTANT issues with the app. My vault functions as my second brain but half the time when I open the iPhone app it is stuck on “loading plugins…” so the thought I just wanted to document has now been sidetracked and, in my effort to refresh and load, the thought is often lost because
  4. [R20] Obsidian 5/5 · US Inevitable: If you like to think - this is inevitably your brain.
  5. [R1] Obsidian 1/5 · US No search feature?!: Everything has always worked fine but the last few weeks the search feature is completely broken, displays no results, and attempting to use it will break the rest of the app too and make it impossible to use until i reopen it. Admittedly, I have hundreds of files, but they're only text files, I'm not sure what is causing this? Should I relocate my files to another vault or so
  6. [R3] Obsidian 3/5 · US The iCloud Sync is a little Glitchy: I downloaded this app on my phone and when I went to set up the sync, selecting iCloud as my option, after creating my vault, I got a black screen. There was nothing for me to select, it would not let me create a new note or anything, it was as if it crashed while trying to sync to iCloud or something. I closed out of the app, opened it back up, went through th
  7. [R13] Obsidian 1/5 · US Does not load even in new phone: Does not load. Black screen, just sits there. When it does load, very slow.
  8. [R4] Obsidian 1/5 · US Can’t locate my vault in iCloud: Good grief it should be super simple to tell it how to locate my vault that is in an iCloud subfolder.
  9. [R6] Obsidian 3/5 · US No free sync: Great app for world building the only issue is you can’t access vaults made on one device from another which sucks. I love this for world building but I don’t want to pay 4 dollars a month to sync the vaults once! It slows the entire process and makes me want to use another app
  10. [R7] Obsidian 1/5 · US Requires a subscription: Sends new users to their website to pay for a subscription so they don’t have to report in-app purchases
  11. [R10] Obsidian 1/5 · US keeps wanting me to pay: keeps wanting me to pay
  12. [R26] Obsidian 5/5 · US Life changing software: Obsidian has made me take notes everyday (for the past 2 years)and my mental health has improved significantly. The dev team has such an eye for design and function; all of your other apps will feel pale in comparison. My favorite features: highly customizable input mechanisms (toolbar for mobile, native vim mode, everything can be a shortcut), daily notes, links and back
  13. [R29] Obsidian 5/5 · US Best app: It’s really the best app out there. Yes out of all apps that exist in the world this one is the best. It provides limitless freedom, and the community driven plugins just add even more value. Use it for just about everything and anything for yourself.
  14. [R38] Obsidian 5/5 · US Best app: I think Obsidian MD is probably one of the best apps I’ve ever used. It’s allowed me to do so many things keep notes like keep my own data and build applications inside. It’s one of the things I recommend to as many people as I can. The small obsidian team delivers all the time.
  15. [R59] Obsidian 5/5 · US Notion for people who are actually tech-savvy: I used Notion for a while then discovered Obsidian. It's truly like night and day. While it takes longer to set up, Obsidian undoubtedly has many more features than Notion via plugins. You can take handwritten notes, insert images, make your own website, free calendar integration, etc. Syncing without the paid Obsidian Sync was a pain to set up but I
  16. [R23] Obsidian 5/5 · US World building: As an aspiring author, this has by far been the best tool I’ve come across when it comes to world building, developing my characters, and building links and connections between everything. Thank you so much for this app! :)
  17. [R44] Obsidian 5/5 · US The Best Future Proof Notes App: Files over app, even if this app stops receiving support your files will still exist, your notes can carry over to the next app of your choosing. So many philosophies for taking any kind of note from visual, to zettlekasten, to bases and tags, card view, ratting systems, not to mention SEARCH-ABILITY! if you ever forgot the name of a note or have to many files to
  18. [R64] Evernote 2/5 · US Farewell Evernote: I’ve been using this for 10-15 years and it’s been the lil note taker I love to complain about. I won’t be paying and subsiding their AI upgrades this time around. This is a YUGE price increase. Too expensive and other free tools will be fine to use.
  19. [R74] Evernote 4/5 · US No middle ground for solo reference & note users?: I've had Evernote for years, and I was more than happy to sign up for the paid version, originally. Then, the price went up to $170, and'sI grimaced but went ahead, now the price is going up to $250 a year. But there if a longtime user "up yours" choice. I use this for keeping my own records, my own notes, various reference materials and curiosit
  20. [R82] Evernote 1/5 · US Price gouging: This used to be a great app. As user for 15 years it has been my digital brain, just as it promised. But now they have more than doubled the fee two years in a row. It is now $260 per year and that is just mind boggling for my use. It’s unfortunate that they raised the price this much. I have now moved all my notes to another product.
  21. [R88] Evernote 1/5 · US Unreasonable rate hikes: It used to be a nice app. Now that it has been bought out several times, it’s riddled with AI and they want to charge me $250/yr. For a notes app 😂
  22. [R12] Obsidian 3/5 · US WHY?? Mobile overrides desktop: I have been using Obsidian sync (paid, no iCloud integration) for more than a year now and have done my own troubleshooting to no useful conclusion: WHY TF DOES SYNC PRIORITIZE MY MOBILE DEVICE STATE OF FILES OVER WHAT I'M DOING ON MY MAC??? I delete something via Mac Obsidian and- POOF!- it comes right back! I can't reliably edit on my computer and have the change
  23. [R28] Obsidian 1/5 · US just an ad for sync: you hardcoded the path so users have no sync choices despite what documentation says. disappointing. i have my files already and the app just doesn't work for iOS files.
  24. [R67] Evernote 2/5 · US Pop ups: I love this app It dose almost everything perfectly. But I use this app primarily for quick jotting down of my thoughts. I hate that I have lost many thoughts before because I have to dig through seven pop-ups before I can see my notes! that is ridiculous. I can’t tell you how many times in a quick moment where I need to write something down. I lose it because I’m interrupted while diggin
  25. [R73] Evernote 1/5 · US Garbage: Between dwindling down the free version to drive people to pay for items that should be there and more devices and crashing frequently, not that impressed anymore. Used the app for 5 yrs and it's gotten progressively worse, but many of the alternatives including one note are just worthless.
  26. [R91] Evernote 1/5 · US Unpaid so annoying: Constant pop ups trying to get me to sign up for paid. Very very irritating
  27. [R97] Evernote 1/5 · US Gradual Degradation of Free Version: This app used to be a good free notes app - now every time I open it I am prompted with multiple menus and sometimes even video advertisements trying to get me to upgrade to premium even though I am fine working within the limits of the free version. I’m tired of having to click through 4 screens to open the app.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store