Writer Computer vs Obsidian
Both apps keep your notes as plain markdown files in a folder on your disk, and Writer Computer opens an Obsidian vault as it is. Obsidian is a full knowledge-base platform: apps for every major platform, plugins, backlinks, graph view, Canvas, and paid Sync and Publish. Writer Computer is a small, free, open-source editor for macOS that reads the same files, with wikilinks, Mermaid diagrams and math built in, and no plugins.
| Writer Computer | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free; Sync from $4 and Publish from $8 a month, billed annually |
| Source code | Open source | Closed source |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Your notes | Markdown files in any folder you choose | Markdown files in a folder (a vault) |
| Sync | None built in | Obsidian Sync (paid), or third-party sync |
| Mermaid diagrams | Built in, every Mermaid diagram type | Built in |
| LaTeX math | Built in (KaTeX) | Built in (MathJax) |
| [[Wikilinks]] | Yes, with autocomplete | Yes, with backlinks and graph view |
| Search across notes | File names only | Full text, with a core Search plugin |
| Export | None | PDF (desktop) |
| Plugins and themes | No plugins; light and dark themes | Core and community plugins, community themes |
| Mobile apps | None | iOS and Android |
| macOS download | 6.1 MB (v0.8.0) | 234.8 MB (v1.14.5) |
| Account | Not needed | Only for Sync, Publish and purchases |
| Usage data | Off unless you turn it on | None collected, per its privacy policy |
Obsidian details as of October 28, 2026, from pricing, download, help, privacy policy, v1.14.5 release. Writer Computer details are for v0.8.0.
Choose Obsidian if
- You need your notes on an iPhone, iPad or Android phone, or on Windows or Linux.
- You want sync from the same company (Obsidian Sync) or to publish notes as a website (Obsidian Publish).
- You rely on backlinks, graph view, Canvas, full-text search across the vault, or community plugins.
- You export notes to PDF.
Choose Writer Computer if
- You write on a Mac and want an editor for your markdown folder rather than a platform around it.
- You want open-source software you can read and build yourself. Obsidian is closed source.
- A small app matters to you: the Writer Computer download is about 6 MB, Obsidian's about 235 MB.
- Your notes use wikilinks, frontmatter, Mermaid and math, and you don't depend on plugins.
Using both on one vault
You don't have to pick one. Open the vault's folder in Writer Computer (how) and it edits the same files, leaves the .obsidian folder alone and picks up changes Obsidian makes.
Some Obsidian syntax works differently or not at all in Writer Computer, and Obsidian compatibility lists it all. The ones you're most likely to notice:
- Callouts show as ordinary blockquotes, and note embeds (
![[Note]]) aren't shown. [[Note#Heading]]opens the note but doesn't jump to the heading.- Obsidian renders math with MathJax and Writer Computer with KaTeX. Most formulas look the same; MathJax extensions such as mhchem's
\cedon't work in Writer Computer. - Anything a plugin adds, such as Dataview queries, stays as plain text.