Comparison of Obsidian, OneNote, and Evernote
As you might have seen, I am really into note-taking and note-taking apps. I wrote an article on the most hyped note-taking apps right now. Even though all of them are great apps, they are fairly new, and I hesitate to move my entire workflow into a new app because I depend so much on them. A note-taking app changing its direction or going bankrupt would totally destroy my workflow and peace of mind. That’s why today, I am going to list a few note-taking apps you should consider when creating your second brain or note-taking system.
Obsidian
Best Used For:
- Personal knowledge management
- Creating and exploring networks of connected notes
- Local storage and privacy
- Customization through plugins and themes
Strengths:
- Markdown-based plain text notes
- Local storage with full data control
- Backlinks and Graph View for visualizing note connections
- Extensive customization options
OneNote
Best Used For:
- Organizing richly formatted notes and multimedia content
- Integration with Microsoft Office Suite
- Collaboration with others
- Structured, hierarchical note organization
Strengths:
- Rich text formatting, tables, images, and drawings
- Cloud storage and synchronization across devices via OneDrive
- Notebook, section, and page structure for organization
- Strong integration with other Microsoft services
Evernote
Best Used For:
- Comprehensive note-taking with extensive media support
- Web clipping and collecting information from various sources
- Cross-platform access and synchronization
- Organizing notes with tags and notebooks
Strengths:
- Web clipping tool for saving articles, images, and PDFs
- Rich formatting options and multimedia support
- Powerful search functionality with text recognition in images and PDFs
- Tagging system for organizing notes
Overlaps and Comparative Strengths
Obsidian vs. OneNote
Overlap:
- Both can be used for note-taking and organizing information.
- Both offer some form of note linking and organization.
Which is Better:
- Obsidian is better for users who prefer local storage, Markdown, and creating a network of interconnected notes.
- OneNote is better for users who need rich text formatting, multimedia integration, and strong collaboration features.
Obsidian vs. Evernote
Overlap:
- Both can handle note-taking and organizing information with links between notes.
Which is Better:
- Obsidian is better for users who want local storage, Markdown, and backlinking for idea exploration.
- Evernote is better for users who need robust web clipping, multimedia support, and powerful search capabilities.
OneNote vs. Evernote
Overlap:
- Both support rich text formatting, multimedia integration, and cloud storage.
- Both offer cross-platform access and synchronization.
Which is Better:
- OneNote is better for users deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, requiring structured note organization and collaboration.
- Evernote is better for users who prioritize web clipping, a powerful tagging system, and comprehensive search capabilities.
Summary
- Obsidian: Best for personal knowledge management with local storage and interconnected notes.
- OneNote: Best for richly formatted notes, multimedia content, and Microsoft integration.
- Evernote: Best for comprehensive note-taking, web clipping, and powerful search functionality.
Each tool has its strengths and is suited to different use cases, with some overlap in note-taking capabilities. The best choice depends on individual needs and preferences regarding storage, formatting, integration, and organization.
 |  | Ron Singh Author / Digital Strategist    |
