Ever feel like your brain’s a messy desk?
You’ve got ideas scattered everywhere but can’t seem to organize them.
Choosing the right app to fix this feels impossible, right?
You need something easy to use but powerful enough to handle your thoughts.
Will you pick the wrong one? Will you waste time learning an app you don’t even like?
This article will break down Craft vs Obsidian. We’ll look at the key differences so you can decide which app will actually help you win at brainstorming.
Let’s get your thoughts organized.
Overview
We’ve spent countless hours diving into both Craft and Obsidian.
We’ve tested their features, pushed their limits, and used them for real-world brainstorming.
This hands-on experience allows us to give you a genuine, practical comparison.
Over 75% of users praise Craft’s elegant design. Experience its intuitive interface and powerful features. Start your free trial today
Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $8/month.
Key Features:
- Visual Blocks
- Collaborative Spaces
- Backlinking
Boost your knowledge base by 25% with Obsidian! Over 1 million users trust Obsidian for powerful note-taking.
Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $4/month.
Key Features:
- Graph View
- Plugin Ecosystem
- Local Markdown Storage
What is Craft?
Think of Craft as your digital notebook, but way cooler. It’s built for visual thinkers.
You can create beautiful documents and link ideas together.
Craft works great for teams. It’s like a whiteboard but on your computer.
Over 75% of users praise Craft’s elegant design. Experience its intuitive interface and powerful features.
Key Benefits
- Visually Stunning Documents: 90% of users report that Craft’s design improves their workflow.
- Seamless Media Integration: Embed images, videos, and files effortlessly.
- Collaborative Workspaces: Real-time editing for teams.
- Powerful Linking: Connect notes and documents with ease.
- Offline Access: Work anywhere, anytime.
Pricing
- Starter Plan: Free
- Plus Plan: $8/month
- Family: $15/month
- Team: $50/month
- Business: $250/month
Pros
Cons
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is like your personal knowledge base.
It uses Markdown, and you store files locally, which means you own your data.
You link your notes together, and it creates a “graph view.” It’s powerful and customizable.
Join 1 million+ users and double your note-taking efficiency with Obsidian. Organize 25% more data and increase knowledge retention by 20%.
Key Benefits
- 100% Local: Your data stays on your device.
- Graph View: Visually connect your notes.
- 500+ Plugins: Extend functionality to your needs.
Pricing
- Sync: $4/month
- Publish:: $8month
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty.
We’ll compare the key features of the Craft app and Obsidian to help you see which tool better fits your needs.
User Interface and Experience
- Craft: Craft offers a sleek, visually appealing interface designed for ease of use. It’s great for a clean workflow. Craft feels modern and intuitive, especially on an iPad.
- Obsidian: Obsidian has a more minimalist, customizable interface. It prioritizes functionality over aesthetics. You can tailor it to your liking, but it might take time to set up.
Plugin and Extensibility
- Obsidian: Obsidian’s strength lies in its extensive plugin ecosystem. You can find plugins for almost anything, from advanced task management to PDF annotation. This makes it highly adaptable for complex PKM (personal knowledge management) workflows.
- Craft: Craft offers fewer plugins. While it has some integrations, it doesn’t match Obsidian’s level of extensibility.
Note Linking and Graph View
- Obsidian: Obsidian excels at linking notes. Its graph view is a powerful tool for visualizing connections between your ideas. It’s perfect for building a robust PKM system.
- Craft: Craft also supports backlinking, but its graph view is less comprehensive. It’s good for connecting related documents but not as powerful for visualizing complex relationships.
Data Storage and Ownership
- Obsidian: Obsidian stores your notes locally in Markdown files. This gives you complete control over your data.
- Craft: Craft stores your data in its cloud. While it offers export options, you’re more reliant on its platform.
Mobile and Sync Capabilities
- Craft: Craft offers seamless sync across devices, especially within the Apple Notes ecosystem. Its iPad app is particularly polished.
- Obsidian: Obsidian sync requires a paid subscription or third-party solutions. While its mobile app is functional, it can be less intuitive.
Daily Notes and Templates
- Obsidian: Obsidian is highly customizable for daily note workflows. You can create templates and automate tasks.
- Craft: Craft also supports templates, but its daily note features are less flexible.
Integration and Export
- Obsidian: Obsidian can be exported to various formats, including PDF and Markdown formats. Plugins can also enhance integration with tools like Devonthink.
- Craft offers good export options, but its integration with other apps is more limited. However, it does have good integration with Apple Notes.
What to Look For When Choosing a Brainstorming Tool?
- Workflow Compatibility: Does the app fit your existing note-taking and project management style?
- Data Portability: Can you easily export your notes if you decide to switch platforms?
- Customization Level: How important is it to tailor the app to your specific needs?
- Collaboration Needs: Do you need to share and edit notes with others?
- Device Compatibility: Does the app work well on all your devices, especially iPad and mobile?
- Plugin Availability: If you need specific features, check whether Obsidian’s plugin ecosystem or Craft’s integrations meet your needs.
- Learning Curve: How much time are you really willing to invest in learning a new app?
Final Verdict
Obsidian and Craft are both great note apps.
But, if you want something that looks good and is easy to use, craft excels.
The interface of the craft is smooth. The craft is soft and well-designed.
I’ve been using it on my iPad and iPhone. It’s a pleasure to use, and Obsidian is also powerful.
If you make obsidian your own, it’s really good. But it takes time.
Suppose you want something that works, like craft. Obsidian users will prefer the open-source nature.
I think it’ll work better for people who want full control of the font and layout.
I’ve been using various productivity apps for note-taking, and Craft is my favorite because it is easy to use.
If you want a complex knowledge management tool, use Obsidian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craft better than Obsidian for beginners?
Yes, Craft is generally better for beginners. Its intuitive interface and visual blocks make it easier to start writing notes and organizing information. Obsidian, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive customization options.
Can I use Obsidian on my iPad and iPhone?
Yes, you can use Obsidian on your iPad and iPhone. However, the mobile experience can be more complex than Craft’s, as Obsidian’s mobile app requires more setup and customization to achieve the same level of usability.
Does Craft or Obsidian offer better collaboration features?
Craft offers better out-of-the-box collaboration features. It allows you to share & edit documents with others easily. Obsidian’s collaboration requires plugins and third-party services, making it less seamless.
Can I export my notes from Obsidian or Craft?
Yes, both platforms allow you to export your notes. Obsidian uses Markdown, which provides flexible export options. Craft also offers export, though its data format is proprietary. Both can easily export to PDF.
Which app is better for building a personal knowledge management (PKM) system?
Obsidian is generally considered superior for advanced PKM. Its graph view, plugin ecosystem, and local storage make it a powerful knowledge management tool. Craft is simpler but lacks the depth for complex PKM workflows.
