Platform Availability
| Platform | Heptabase | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| macOS | ✓ | ✓ |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Heptabase | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Card-based Notes | ✓ | — |
| Code Highlighting | — | ✓ |
| Custom CSS | — | ✓ |
| Custom Themes | — | ✓ |
| Daily Notes | ✓ | ✓ |
| End-to-end Encryption | — | ✓ |
| Export Options | ✓ | — |
| Focus Mode | — | ✓ |
| Image Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Link Previews | ✓ | ✓ |
| Markdown | — | ✓ |
| Multiple Panes | — | ✓ |
| Offline Mode | — | ✓ |
| Publishing | — | ✓ |
| Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tag Browsing | — | ✓ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Templates | — | ✓ |
| Version History | — | ✓ |
| Visual Canvas | ✓ | — |
| Whiteboard | ✓ | — |
Pricing Comparison
Heptabase
Model: Paid
Monthly: $8.99
Free tier: No
$8.99/month or $83.88/year (7-day free trial)
Obsidian
Model: Freemium
Monthly: $0-12
Free tier: Yes
Free for personal use, Sync at $4/month, Publish at $8/month, Commercial license at $50/user/year
Pros and Cons
Heptabase
Pros
- ✓ Excellent for visual thinkers
- ✓ Great for learning
- ✓ PDF annotation
- ✓ Beautiful interface
Cons
- ⚠ No free tier
- ⚠ Relatively new
- ⚠ Limited integrations
Obsidian
Pros
- ✓ Fully offline
- ✓ Fast and lightweight
- ✓ Huge plugin ecosystem
- ✓ Data ownership
Cons
- ⚠ Steeper learning curve
- ⚠ Sync requires payment
- ⚠ Mobile app less powerful
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Obsidian if...
- You want a free tier
- You need offline access
- Privacy is a top priority
- You use Linux