I've been using Roam Research since about 2020. Is Obsidian better?
replies(1):
- All your data is just plain files on your file system. Automation and interop are great, including with tools like Claude Code.
- It’s local-first, so performance is good.
- It’s extensible. Write extensions in HTML, CSS, and JS.
- It’s free.
- Syncing files is straightforward. Use git, Syncthing, Google Drive, or pay for their cheap sync service which is quite good.
- Product development is thoughtful and well done.
- They’re explicitly not trying to lock you in or own your data. They define open specs and build on them when Markdown doesn’t cut it.
Things you might not like:
- Their collaboration story isn’t great yet. No collaborative editing.
- It’s an Electron app.
It's literally at least 100 times more expensive that Dropbox/OneDrive/Google Drive/iCloud sync
The price per GB isn’t as good as the services you mentioned, but their storage limits are fine for the primary use case — storing a lot of plain text notes.
I’ve also had no problems with it, in contrast with iCloud which has routinely gotten stuck for me.
And if price per GB is what you care most about, use something else. That’s one of the great things about Obsidian.