Obsidian vs Shortwave (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 $7/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Obsidian
4.6 against 4.4
Same job?
Yes
Both are Productivity tools

Side by side

Compared on	Obsidian	Shortwave
Our rating	4.6Better	4.4
Starts at	$4/moBetter	$7/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Productivity	Productivity
Plans	PersonalFree Sync$4/mo	From $7/mo
Key features	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	AI-native email client built from scratch AI-powered search and thread summarization Built by former Google engineers Free tier for standard use Operating since 2020
Pros	Genuine file-format portability and long-term data ownership Massive, actively developed community plugin ecosystem Fully functional offline without a cloud account requirement	Genuinely rebuilt email experience, not a plugin on a traditional client Strong technical pedigree from experienced former Google engineers Free tier available for standard use
Cons	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	More features require a paid plan Switching email clients entirely is a bigger commitment than adding a plugin Smaller ecosystem than established mainstream email clients
Company	Dynalist Inc., founded 2020	Shortwave Communications, 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 Obsidian better than Shortwave?

In our reviews Obsidian scores 4.6 and Shortwave scores 4.4. The better pick depends on the job. Obsidian: Notes stored as plain local Markdown files, not a proprietary database. Shortwave: An AI-native email client built by former Google engineers.

Which is cheaper, Obsidian or Shortwave?

Obsidian has the lower starting price: from $4/mo for Obsidian and from $7/mo for Shortwave.

Do Obsidian and Shortwave have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

More comparisons

Obsidian compared with

All Obsidian alternatives

Shortwave compared with

All Shortwave alternatives