iA WritervsObsidian
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
iA Writer
- Less accessible than competitors(5/10)
- Poor for long-form writing like books or screenplays(7/10)
- Weak library organization - no tree structure(6/10)
- No true WYSIWYG Markdown preview(4/10)
- Limited features compared to Ulysses or Scrivener(5/10)
Obsidian
- Plugin overload and management headaches(7/10)
- No real-time collaboration features(7/10)
- No web version - desktop app required(5/10)
- No native task management; databases only arrived with Bases(6/10)
- Plain interface lacks visual appeal(4/10)
- Search and index miss new notes in large vaults(5/10)
iA Writer
- Why is iA Writer so expensive? Separate purchase per platform(5/10)
- No free trial on iPhone and iPad(4/10)
- One-time purchase is not lifetime updates(4/10)
Obsidian
- Obsidian Sync costs $48-60/year just to use notes on your phone(6/10)
- Sync Standard's 1 GB and 5 MB file cap push users to Sync Plus(5/10)
iA Writer
- iA Writer for Android discontinued(8/10)
Obsidian
- Obsidian mobile app slow to open with large vaults(6/10)
iA Writer
- iA Writer not syncing with iCloud(7/10)
- Windows version says trial after buying(5/10)
Obsidian
- Free sync alternatives have corruption issues(7/10)
- Obsidian Sync restores deleted files and creates conflict copies(8/10)
- Obsidian stuck on 'Loading cache' or slow to start on desktop(6/10)
iA Writer
- Dropbox files not updating on iPhone and iPad(6/10)
- Google Drive folders can't be added on iPad(5/10)
- Images (Content Blocks) don't show in other Markdown apps(4/10)
Obsidian
No signals
iA Writer
No signals
Obsidian
- Steep learning curve intimidates new users(7/10)
Pricing Comparison
iA Writer
Users: 1 user
Storage: Your own cloud storage
Limits: Mac only (macOS 10.15+); 20% education discount only on direct purchase
Users: 1 user
Storage: Your own cloud storage
Limits: App Store only (iOS 15+); iA's pricing page lists $49.99 while the US App Store shows $19.99 (Oct 2026)
Users: 1 user
Storage: Your own cloud storage
Limits: 64-bit Windows 10 or later; no sales or Black Friday discounts
Obsidian
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited (local)
Limits: No built-in sync, no web version, you manage your own backups
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1 GB total, 5 MB per file
Limits: 5 MB file cap and 1 GB total are tight for PDFs, audio and images
Users: 1 user
Storage: 10 GB (upgradable to 100 GB), 200 MB per file
Limits: Per-user pricing; no real-time co-editing
Users: 1 site
Limits: One-way publishing, not collaborative editing
Users: 1 user
Limits: Supporter license; unlocks no extra features in stable builds
Users: Per user
Limits: Optional - not required for work use
Feature Comparison
| Feature | iA Writer | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Usability | ||
| Focus Mode Signature feature | ||
| Markdown support Core format | ||
| Web version No browser access | ||
| WYSIWYG Markdown Shows raw syntax | ||
| Security | ||
| Local-first storage Plain Markdown files you own | ||
| End-to-end encrypted sync Obsidian Sync only (from $4/mo billed annually) | ||
| Portability | ||
| Plain text Markdown No proprietary format | ||
| Organization | ||
| Bidirectional linking Core feature | ||
| Library organization Flat file structure only | ||
| Smart folders Not available | ||
| Document merging Not available | ||
| Research management Not available | ||
| Native database views Bases core plugin (since 1.9, 2025); Dataview still more flexible | ||
| Platform | ||
| Cross-platform Mac, iPhone/iPad, Windows (Android discontinued 2024) | ||
| Android app Removed from sale Sept 2024 | ||
| Visualization | ||
| Graph view Visualize note connections | ||
| Canvas/whiteboard Built-in canvas feature | ||
| Reliability | ||
| iCloud sync Apple devices | ||
| Dropbox sync Mac/Windows; iOS via Files app | ||
| Google Drive sync Mac/Windows folders; iPad only individual files | ||
| Offline access Full offline by default | ||
| Local backups Browse Backups | ||
| Customization | ||
| Community plugins Thousands available, quality varies | ||
| Custom themes Extensive theme marketplace | ||
| Writing | ||
| Style checker Realtime filler detection | ||
| Syntax highlighting Parts of speech coloring | ||
| Content Blocks (embed images/files) iA-specific syntax | ||
| Publishing | ||
| Publish to web Obsidian Publish ($8/mo annual, $10 monthly) | ||
| Mobile | ||
| Mobile apps iOS and Android, basic experience | ||
| Pricing | ||
| One-time purchase Per platform | ||
| Free personal use No feature restrictions | ||
| Free trial 7 days on Mac and Windows only | ||
| Export | ||
| Word export DOCX support | ||
| PDF export Available | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Templates Core and Templater plugin | ||
| Built-in task management Requires plugins | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Real-time collaboration Not available | ||
| Collaboration Not available | ||
| AI | ||
| AI features Requires third-party plugins | ||