Marked 3 vs Obsidian: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Marked 3 and Obsidian side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Obsidian leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Marked 3
Real-time Markdown preview, proofreading, and export for Mac
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive real-time Markdown preview with extensive features
Obsidian
Private and flexible note-taking
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Marked 3 | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $4.17/mo, billed yearly Yearly plan | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Sync plan |
Category | Documentation Writing Apps | Productivity Note-Taking |
Rating | 2.8/5 G2 2.8 10 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 12 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Sync ($4-5/month) is almost mandatory for multi-device users. While you can use free alternatives (iCloud, Google Drive, Git), they introduce sync conflicts that Obsidian Sync solves with end-to-end encryption and proper conflict resolution. Most serious users end up paying for Sync |
Choose Marked 3 or Obsidian?
Choose Marked 3 if
- You want comprehensive real-time Markdown preview with extensive features
- You want deep integration with various text editors and writing applications
- You work in documentation, not productivity
Choose Obsidian if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want local-first privacy
- You want extensible plugins
- You work in productivity, not documentation
In-Depth Analysis
Marked 3
Real-time Markdown preview, proofreading, and export for Mac
Marked 3's pricing is quite generous, especially with the introductory rates.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive real-time Markdown preview with extensive features.
- Pro: Deep integration with various text editors and writing applications.
- Pro: Powerful export capabilities including DOCX with change tracking and EPUB.
- Pro: Advanced proofreading and style tools enhance document quality.
- Pro: Highly customizable with themes, custom CSS, and custom processors.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires macOS 11 or newer, limiting older Mac users.
- Con: No free tier, only a free trial is available.
Key features
Obsidian
Private and flexible note-taking
Obsidian core app is genuinely free with no feature gating, every note-taking and knowledge management feature works without paying.
Watch out
Sync ($4-5/month) is almost mandatory for multi-device users. While you can use free alternatives (iCloud, Google Drive, Git), they introduce sync conflicts that Obsidian Sync solves with end-to-end encryption and proper conflict resolution. Most serious users end up paying for Sync
Strengths
- Pro: Local-first privacy
- Pro: Extensible plugins
- Pro: Graph view
Weaknesses
- Con: Sync costs extra
- Con: Steep learning curve
Key features
Plans and prices: Marked 3 vs Obsidian
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marked 3 |
| markedapp.com/pricing read Oct 14, 2026 |
| Obsidian |
| obsidian.md/pricing read Oct 15, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Marked 3 pricing and Obsidian pricing.
Key Takeaways
Marked 3
- Choose if you want real-time Markdown preview, proofreading, and export for Mac
Obsidian
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Obsidian leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (2.8/5 from 10 reviews for Marked 3, 4.5/5 from 12 reviews for Obsidian; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Marked 3 $4.17/mo, billed yearly; Obsidian $4/user/mo, billed monthly.
- Only Obsidian has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
What Users Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Marked 3 and Obsidian compare in 2026?
On the data below, Obsidian leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (2.8/5 from 10 reviews for Marked 3, 4.5/5 from 12 reviews for Obsidian; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Marked 3 $4.17/mo, billed yearly; Obsidian $4/user/mo, billed monthly. Only Obsidian has a free plan.
What are Marked 3 and Obsidian used for?
Marked 3: Real-time Markdown preview, proofreading, and export for Mac. Obsidian: Private and flexible note-taking.
What does Marked 3 cost vs Obsidian?
Marked 3's cheapest paid plan is Yearly at $4.17/mo, billed yearly. Obsidian's cheapest paid plan is Sync at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 15, 2026.
What's the main difference between Marked 3 and Obsidian?
Marked 3's main strength: comprehensive real-time Markdown preview with extensive features. Obsidian's main strength: local-first privacy.