Obsidian vs Google Keep
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Obsidian is the better app overall, scoring 9.3 to 8.3. Obsidian wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Google Keep on 0, with 1 tied.
Writers, students and researchers building up their notes for years
Android users and families who want quick shared lists and simple notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Obsidian | Google Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #2 of 17 | #15 of 17 |
| Developer | Dynalist Inc. | |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Obsidian better than Google Keep?
Obsidian is the better app overall, scoring 9.3 to 8.3. Obsidian wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Google Keep on 0, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Obsidian or Google Keep?
Obsidian: Free app; Sync from $4/month and Publish from $8/month, billed yearly. Google Keep: Free; uses your Google account's 15 GB of free storage. On value for money, Obsidian scores higher.
Do Obsidian and Google Keep work on the same devices?
Only Obsidian runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Only Google Keep runs on Web.
Which is more private, Obsidian or Google Keep?
Obsidian scores higher on privacy (9.7/10). The App Store label says no data is collected, and there are no ads or tracking. Notes are local files on your device, and the optional Sync service is end-to-end encrypted by default.
Strengths and weaknesses
Obsidian
- Notes are files on your device that stay yours forever
- Fast, works fully offline, and no account needed
- Free for personal and work use
- Hard to learn, with lots of setup choices
- Official sync and publishing cost extra
Obsidian keeps your notes as plain text files (Markdown) on your own device. You own them outright, and they work offline. Backlinks, graph view, Canvas and Bases turn a folder of notes into a web of linked ideas. Bases now has table, list and kanban views. Community plugins cover almost anything else. The app is free for any use. The catch: it takes time to learn, and official sync costs extra.
Full Obsidian review
Google Keep
- Free, with no ads
- Works on Android, iPhone and any web browser
- Shared shopping lists update in real time
- No folders or tables, and only basic formatting
- Notes aren't end-to-end encrypted
- Keep Live is Android-only and needs a paid Google AI plan
Google Keep is the sticky-note wall of notes apps. Jot a thought, tick off a shopping list, snap a photo or record a voice memo, and it syncs to Android, iPhone and the web in seconds. Shared lists update live for everyone, and reminders pop up at the right time or place. It's free with no ads. Formatting is basic, there are no folders, and your notes aren't end-to-end encrypted.
Full Google Keep review
