Head to head
Cimanote vs Obsidian
Obsidian is a workshop: infinitely configurable, plugin-powered, files on your disk. Cimanote is a finished product: open it, write, and let the AI do the wiring.
Try Cimanote freeChoose Obsidian (the local-first power tool) if…
- →You want local Markdown files you fully control, forever.
- →You enjoy building your system - plugins, themes, graph tweaks are the fun part.
- →You link notes by hand and like it that way.
Choose Cimanote (the AI-native notes app) if…
- You want sync, collaboration, and mobile that just work - no paid add-ons, no setup.
- You'd rather the connections build themselves: Cimanote's AI links entities, synthesizes pages, and flags gaps automatically.
- You share notes with people who will never install a vault.
- You want collaboration and AI synthesis included - not a vault to wire up first.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Cimanote | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Works instantly, zero setup | DIY vaults | |
| Sync included | Paid add-on | |
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| AI knowledge base | Automatic synthesis | Plugins + manual linking |
| Local Markdown files | Export anytime | |
| Mobile experience | Installable PWA | Separate app + sync setup |
| Web clipper | 5 modes, incl. Pick Element | Official, Markdown-based |
| Evernote import | One-click .enex | Official Importer plugin |
| Plugins & theming | ||
| Price | $6/mo, free 30-day trial | Free + Sync $4/mo (annual) |
The short version
Obsidian is unbeatable if the system is the hobby. Cimanote is for people who want the outcome - connected, searchable, synced knowledge - without building the machine.
Your Obsidian vault is Markdown - drag up to 200 files at once into Cimanote. See import & export →
Coming from Evernote? See why Cimanote is the Evernote alternative people switch to →
Common questions
Is Cimanote a good Obsidian alternative?
If you enjoy building your own system with plugins, themes and manual linking, Obsidian is hard to beat. Cimanote is for people who want the outcome, which is connected, searchable, synced knowledge, without assembling the machine first.
Does Cimanote include sync, or is it a paid add-on?
Sync is included. Obsidian Sync is a separate paid add-on at around $4 a month billed annually, while Cimanote syncs across every device on every plan.
Can I move my Obsidian vault into Cimanote?
Yes. An Obsidian vault is already Markdown, so you can drag up to 200 files in at once and titles, tags and dates map automatically.
Does Cimanote support plugins and custom themes?
No. Cimanote is a finished product rather than a toolkit, so there is nothing to configure and nothing to maintain when something breaks. If plugin tinkering is the appeal, stay on Obsidian.
Do I still own my notes if they are not files on my disk?
Any note exports to Markdown on any plan, including the free one. Bundling the whole library into one ZIP is a Pro feature. Obsidian keeps files local by default; Cimanote keeps the export path open instead, which is a weaker guarantee and worth knowing before you choose.