AFFiNE vs Obsidian (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Obsidian
From $4/mo against from $8/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Obsidian
4.2 against 4.6
Same job?
Yes
Both are Productivity tools

Side by side

Compared on	AFFiNE	Obsidian
Our rating	4.2	4.6Better
Starts at	$8/mo	$4/moBetter
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Productivity	Productivity
Plans	FreeFree Pro$8/mo	PersonalFree Sync$4/mo
Key features	Combined documents, whiteboard, and database in one workspace Fully open-source with self-hosting available Freeform canvas alongside structured document editing Free tier for standard use Operating since 2022	Notes stored as local, plain Markdown text files Extensive community plugin ecosystem Full functionality without requiring a cloud account Free tier for complete personal use Operating since 2020
Pros	Genuine open-source alternative to closed note-taking platforms Self-hosting option for full data control Combines whiteboard and document editing in one tool	Genuine file-format portability and long-term data ownership Massive, actively developed community plugin ecosystem Fully functional offline without a cloud account requirement
Cons	Smaller ecosystem and community than Notion's much larger user base Self-hosting requires technical setup for those who want it Newer platform still maturing relative to established competitors	Plugin-heavy customization has a real setup learning curve Sync and publishing features require a paid plan Less out-of-the-box polish than more opinionated, less customizable competitors
Company	Toeverything, founded 2022	Dynalist Inc., founded 2020

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260703. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is AFFiNE better than Obsidian?

In our reviews AFFiNE scores 4.2 and Obsidian scores 4.6. The better pick depends on the job. AFFiNE: An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined. Obsidian: Notes stored as plain local Markdown files, not a proprietary database.

Which is cheaper, AFFiNE or Obsidian?

Obsidian has the lower starting price: from $8/mo for AFFiNE and from $4/mo for Obsidian.

Do AFFiNE and Obsidian have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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