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Documentation · head to head

Nuclino vs Obsidian

Nuclino logo

Nuclino

Documentation

Fast team wiki with list, board and graph views of the same content

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Obsidian logo

Obsidian

Research

A powerful knowledge base on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nuclino there is no publishing layer, so a public help centre or versioned product documentation cannot live here and has to be maintained in a second tool.; Obsidian sync is a paid add-on at $4 per month billed annually rather than part of the app
  • They diverge on capability: Nuclino covers Item graph, Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nuclino and Obsidian actually diverge.

Attributes where Nuclino and Obsidian differ
AttributeNuclinoObsidian
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CategoryDocumentationResearch
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Nuclino

  • Item graph
  • Multiple collection views
  • Real time editing
  • Instant search
  • Version history
  • EU hosting

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.

Nuclino

  • A small company that wants internal process notes searchable without running a wiki platformnot Obsidian
  • Teams that need to see how internal documents relate to each other rather than filing them in foldersnot Obsidian
  • Organisations that must keep internal knowledge hosted inside the European Unionnot Obsidian
  • Replacing scattered shared documents where search, not layout, is the actual problemnot Obsidian

Obsidian

  • Local-first markdown note taking with no account requirednot Nuclino
  • Linking notes into a personal knowledge graphnot Nuclino
  • Syncing a vault across devices with end-to-end encryption on the paid add-onnot Nuclino
  • Publishing a public site from a vaultnot Nuclino
  • Extending the editor with community pluginsnot Nuclino

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nuclino

  • There is no publishing layer, so a public help centre or versioned product documentation cannot live here and has to be maintained in a second tool.
  • The free plan is capped at roughly fifty items, which a real team passes within weeks, making it a trial rather than a usable tier.
  • Per user pricing means occasional readers who open a document twice a month cost the same as the writers who maintain it.
  • The editor is intentionally limited, with no databases, relations or page-level templates, so structured content such as a request register needs a different product.
  • Export options are limited to Markdown and PDF per item, so moving a large workspace elsewhere is a bulk conversion job rather than a supported migration.

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

Nuclino

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Around 50 items in total
    • Limited storage
    • Core editing and search
  • Starter$6/month
    • Per user per month
    • Unlimited items and version history
    • Larger file uploads
  • Business$12/month
    • Per user per month
    • Single sign-on and admin controls
    • Private workspaces and audit features

Obsidian

Free
  • Obsidian Sync$4/month
    • Sync notes across devices
  • Obsidian Publish$8/month
    • Turn notes into a website

Which should you pick?

Choose Nuclino if

  • You need item graph.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want multiple collection views.
Nuclino review

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.
Obsidian review

Questions people ask

Is Nuclino or Obsidian better?
Neither clearly leads. Nuclino 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, Nuclino or Obsidian?
Nuclino starts at Free and Obsidian at Free.
Does Nuclino or Obsidian run on more platforms?
Nuclino runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Obsidian runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Nuclino for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Nuclino best used for?
Nuclino is most often used for a small company that wants internal process notes searchable without running a wiki platform, teams that need to see how internal documents relate to each other rather than filing them in folders, organisations that must keep internal knowledge hosted inside the european union, replacing scattered shared documents where search, not layout, is the actual problem. Of those, a small company that wants internal process notes searchable without running a wiki platform and teams that need to see how internal documents relate to each other rather than filing them in folders are not what Obsidian is typically brought in for.
What can Nuclino do that Obsidian cannot?
Nuclino covers Item graph, Multiple collection views, Real time editing, Instant search. Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking, Graph view visualization, Markdown support, Local file storage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nuclino: Can Nuclino publish a public documentation site?

No. Individual items can be shared by link, but there is no branded, versioned public site.

Obsidian: 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.

Source
Nuclino: Where is the data stored?

In the European Union, by a company registered in Germany, which is usually the reason procurement shortlists it.

Obsidian: 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.

Source
Nuclino: Does it handle translated content?

No. There is no locale model, so translations would be separate items kept in sync by hand.

Obsidian: 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.

Source
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