Kompas vs Obsidian: Which is Better in 2026?
A comprehensive comparison of Kompas and Obsidian covering features, pricing, use cases, and which tool is the right choice for your needs.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Kompas if:
- →You need local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier or open source under mit, macos (apple silicon and intel) and windows x64 builds
Choose Obsidian if:
- →You want more affordable paid plans (from $25/mo)
- →You need a broader feature set (8 features vs 5)
- →You need local-first markdown notes (you own your data) or bidirectional note linking
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Kompas vs Obsidian: At a Glance
Pricing Comparison: Kompas vs Obsidian
Understanding the pricing differences between Kompas and Obsidian is crucial for making the right choice. Here's how their plans compare side by side.
Kompas Pricing
Obsidian Pricing
💡 Pricing takeaway: Both Kompas and Obsidian offer free tiers, making it easy to try before you buy. Compare the specific plans to find the best value for your use case.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here's how every feature from Kompas and Obsidian stacks up.
What Makes Each Tool Unique
🔵 Unique to Kompas
Features available in Kompas but not in Obsidian:
- ✓Local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier
- ✓Open source under MIT, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows x64 builds
- ✓Bring your own OpenAI/Anthropic key, Claude Code or Codex subscription, or local Ollama models
- ✓Pro Cloud adds cross-device sync and built-in frontier models with no key management
- ✓Localised into seven languages
🟣 Unique to Obsidian
Features available in Obsidian but not in Kompas:
- ✓Local-first markdown notes (you own your data)
- ✓Bidirectional note linking
- ✓Visual knowledge graph
- ✓1,700+ community plugins (AI, task managers, databases, etc.)
- ✓Obsidian Sync for encrypted cross-device sync
- ✓Obsidian Publish for creating public wikis/sites
- ✓Canvas for visual thinking
- ✓Mobile apps (iOS and Android)
Use Case Recommendations
Best for: Kompas
Kompas is a local-first desktop app for turning scattered inputs — things you have read, conversations you have had, half-formed ideas you jotted down — into finished work. The framing on the site is deliberately not 'AI writes for you': it gathers material in one place, connects it, and helps you produce output that still reads as yours. It ships for macOS on both Apple Silicon and Intel, and for Windows on x64, and the desktop build is open source under MIT. That build is genuinely free, and the way it gets its intelligence is bring-your-own: connect an OpenAI or Anthropic API key, point it at a Claude Code or Codex subscription you already pay for, or run local models through Ollama. Nothing leaves the device unless you send it somewhere. The paid path, Pro Cloud, exists to remove that setup rather than to unlock features — it adds cross-device sync between your desktops, frontier models built in with no API keys to manage, and an included AI allowance with stated limits and optional top-ups. The site is localised into Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish and Portuguese alongside English, which is a reasonable signal of who is actually using it.
Ideal use cases:
- •Teams or individuals who need local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier
- •Teams or individuals who need open source under mit, macos (apple silicon and intel) and windows x64 builds
- •Teams or individuals who need bring your own openai/anthropic key, claude code or codex subscription, or local ollama models
- •Teams or individuals who need pro cloud adds cross-device sync and built-in frontier models with no key management
- •Anyone focused on local-first workflows
- •Anyone focused on open-source workflows
Best for: Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base and note-taking app that works on top of a local folder of Markdown files. Known for its bidirectional linking and graph view, it helps users build a 'second brain' by connecting ideas visually. With 1,700+ community plugins and zero vendor lock-in (local files), Obsidian has become the gold standard for personal knowledge management among power users.
Ideal use cases:
- •Teams or individuals who need local-first markdown notes (you own your data)
- •Teams or individuals who need bidirectional note linking
- •Teams or individuals who need visual knowledge graph
- •Teams or individuals who need 1,700+ community plugins (ai, task managers, databases, etc.)
- •Anyone focused on note taking workflows
- •Anyone focused on pkm workflows
⚡ Other Productivity Tools to Consider
Kompas and Obsidian aren't the only options. Here are other popular tools in the same space:
Otter.ai
AI meeting transcription and automated notes
Mem
Self-organizing AI notes and knowledge base
Taskade
AI workspace for tasks, notes, and collaboration
Reclaim AI
AI calendar that auto-schedules tasks and focus time
Motion
AI project manager that auto-plans your day
Reflect
Fast, encrypted notes with AI and backlinks
Is one of these your tool?
This page ranks for "Kompas vs Obsidian" — buyers comparing the two land here, and ChatGPT and Perplexity cite it. Claim your listing for $19 one-time — no subscription, nothing to cancel — and get a Featured badge, top placement in your category, and a permanent dofollow backlink. Prefer it ongoing? Monthly is one click away on the next page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kompas better than Obsidian?
It depends on your needs. Kompas offers 5 key features including Local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier and Open source under MIT, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows x64 builds, while Obsidian provides 8 features including Local-first markdown notes (you own your data) and Bidirectional note linking. Kompas uses a freemium model with a free tier, while Obsidian is freemium with free access available. Choose based on which features and pricing model align with your requirements.
Is Kompas cheaper than Obsidian?
Kompas doesn't have standard paid plans, while Obsidian starts at $25/month. Both tools offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing. Always check the official websites for the most current pricing.
Can I use Kompas and Obsidian together?
Yes, many users combine Kompas and Obsidian in their workflow. Kompas excels at local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier, while Obsidian shines with local-first markdown notes (you own your data). Using both allows you to leverage the strengths of each tool, though this means managing two subscriptions — though free tiers can help manage costs.
What's the main difference between Kompas and Obsidian?
While both are productivity tools, Kompas emphasizes local-first — ideas stay on your device on the free tier, whereas Obsidian is known for local-first markdown notes (you own your data). The best choice depends on your specific workflow and feature priorities.
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