Zettlr vs Obsidian: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
What are Zettlr and Obsidian?
Zettlr is a Markdown editor that lets you write in plain text while providing rich features for organizing and publishing your work. Unlike traditional word processors, it separates content from formatting, allowing you to focus on writing without distractions. The app supports linking between notes, tagging, and tracking your writing progress.
It includes built-in support for citations through Zotero and other reference managers, making it ideal for academic writing. You can work with multiple documents in tabs or split windows, and export your work to various formats using Pandoc. All your notes remain as simple text files on your computer, meaning you never lose access to them. The interface is clean and customizable to fit your writing style.
Obsidian is a note-taking app that works with plain text files stored directly on your device. You can write notes, link them together, and see how your ideas connect through a visual graph. Unlike cloud-based tools, everything stays private on your computer.
The app uses simple text files with basic formatting, which means your notes remain readable even without Obsidian. You can link any note to another, creating connections that help you discover patterns in your thinking. This makes it great for building knowledge over time.
There is a free version with all core features and optional paid services for cloud syncing and web publishing. The app works on computers, phones, and tablets.
Features of Zettlr and Obsidian
Free and open-source Markdown editor
Multi-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Zettelkasten note-linking system
Zotero and reference manager integration
Export to PDF, Word, HTML formats
Multiple document tabs and split view
Writing statistics and goal tracking
Pomodoro timer built-in
Graph view for note connections
Distraction-free writing mode
Local file storage only
Stores notes locally on your device with full privacy
Links notes together to build knowledge networks
Visual graph shows connections between ideas
Canvas for unlimited brainstorming space
Thousands of free community plugins available
Works offline without internet connection
Plain text files you own forever
Mobile apps for phones and tablets
Supports basic text formatting
Free to use with optional paid services
Use Cases of Zettlr and Obsidian
Pricing of Zettlr and Obsidian
Zettlr is completely free to use with no hidden costs or subscription plans. As an open-source project, it is supported by the community through voluntary donations rather than paid licenses.
There are no premium tiers, paid features, or upgrade costs. Every feature is available to all users immediately after installation. This includes all the advanced capabilities like citation management, export options, and the Zettelkasten features.
The project is maintained by volunteers and funded through donations from users who find value in the software. If you want to support development, you can make a voluntary donation through their website, but this is entirely optional. The full application remains free forever for personal, academic, and commercial use under the open-source license.
Obsidian is completely free for personal use with all core features included. You get unlimited notes, full plugin access, and complete control over your data at no cost.
For users who want to sync notes across devices, Obsidian Sync offers two plans. The Standard plan costs $4 per month when paid yearly (or $5 monthly) and includes one synced vault with 1GB storage. The Plus plan costs $8 per month yearly (or $10 monthly) with 10GB storage and unlimited vaults.
Obsidian Publish lets you share notes on the web for $8 per month yearly (or $10 monthly) per site, with custom themes and no technical knowledge needed.
The optional Commercial License costs $50 per user yearly for business use, though it became optional in 2025. For one-time supporters, the Catalyst license at $25 gives early access to beta versions and community perks.
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