Software · head to head
Craft Docs vs Obsidian
Craft Docs
Software
Beautiful document and note-taking app for Apple devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Obsidian
Software
A powerful knowledge base on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Craft Docs primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android; Obsidian sync is a paid add-on at $4 per month billed annually rather than part of the app
- They diverge on capability: Craft Docs covers Rich document editing, Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Craft Docs and Obsidian actually diverge.
| Attribute | Craft Docs | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Web | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2019 | 2020 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Craft Docs
- Rich document editing
- Beautiful templates
- Collaboration in real-time
- Comments and discussions
- iCloud sync
- Powerful search
- Dark and light themes
- File attachments
Only in Obsidian
- Bidirectional linking
- Graph view visualization
- Markdown support
- Local file storage
- Plugin ecosystem
- Custom CSS themes
- Templates
- Search and tags
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Craft Docs
- Productivitynot Obsidian
- Collaborationnot Obsidian
- Task managementnot Obsidian
- Organizationnot Obsidian
Obsidian
- Local-first markdown note taking with no account requirednot Craft Docs
- Linking notes into a personal knowledge graphnot Craft Docs
- Syncing a vault across devices with end-to-end encryption on the paid add-onnot Craft Docs
- Publishing a public site from a vaultnot Craft Docs
- Extending the editor with community pluginsnot Craft Docs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Craft Docs
- Primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android
- Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Notion or Obsidian
- Collaboration features less mature than dedicated team document platforms
- Requires learning Craft-specific formatting and structure
Obsidian
- Sync is a paid add-on at $4 per month billed annually rather than part of the app
- Publishing to the web is a further $8 per month per site
- Commercial use asks for a $50 per user per year licence, though the vendor states it is not required
- Collaboration is limited compared with a hosted notes tool, since the vault is local files first
Pricing, plan by plan
Craft Docs
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Craft Docs review.
Obsidian
Free- Obsidian Sync$4/month
- Sync notes across devices
- Obsidian Publish$8/month
- Turn notes into a website
Which should you pick?
Choose Craft Docs if
- You need rich document editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Web.
- You also want beautiful templates.
Choose Obsidian if
- You need bidirectional linking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want graph view visualization.
Questions people ask
- Is Craft Docs or Obsidian better?
- Neither clearly leads. Craft Docs starts at Free and Obsidian at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Craft Docs or Obsidian?
- Craft Docs starts at Free and Obsidian at Free.
- Does Craft Docs or Obsidian run on more platforms?
- Craft Docs runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Web. Obsidian runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Craft Docs for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Craft Docs best used for?
- Craft Docs is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what Obsidian is typically brought in for.
- What can Craft Docs do that Obsidian cannot?
- Craft Docs covers Rich document editing, Beautiful templates, Collaboration in real-time, Comments and discussions. Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking, Graph view visualization, Markdown support, Local file storage.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Craft Docs: What platforms does Craft Docs support?
Craft Docs is available on iOS, iPad, and Mac, with deep integration into Apple's ecosystem. A web version is also available.
SourceObsidian: Is Obsidian free?
Yes. The core Obsidian application is 100% free for personal and commercial use with no limitations. You can use unlimited vaults and every core feature without payment.
SourceCraft Docs: Can you collaborate on documents in Craft Docs?
Yes. Craft Docs supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously.
SourceObsidian: What file format does Obsidian use?
Obsidian stores every note as a plain Markdown file. Because it uses standard Markdown instead of a proprietary format, your notes remain portable and can be edited with many other Markdown editors.
SourceCraft Docs: Does Craft Docs have AI features?
Yes. Craft Docs includes AI-powered writing assistance and editing features.
SourceObsidian: Can I collaborate with others in Obsidian?
The core application does not include built-in team collaboration features. However, Obsidian offers optional add-ons and can be used with version control systems or cloud storage for collaboration.
SourceCraft Docs: Can you use Craft Docs offline?
Yes. Craft Docs allows offline editing with synchronization when connectivity is restored.
Source