Obsidian vs Reflect Notes: 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 Obsidian and Reflect Notes side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Obsidian leads on lower entry price and 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:
Obsidian
Private and flexible note-taking
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Reflect Notes
Fast, encrypted note-taking app with AI and networked notes
Best for you if:
- • You want E2E encryption
| At a Glance | Obsidian | Reflect Notes |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Sync plan | From $10/mo, billed monthly Personal plan |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Note-Taking Productivity |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 12 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | 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 | n/a |
Choose Obsidian or Reflect Notes?
Choose Obsidian if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want local-first privacy
- You want extensible plugins
- Budget matters ($4/user/mo, billed monthly vs $10/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in productivity, not note-taking
Choose Reflect Notes if
- You want E2E encryption
- You want AI integration
- You work in note-taking, not productivity
In-Depth Analysis
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
Reflect Notes
Fast, encrypted note-taking app with AI and networked notes
Reflect Notes' single 'Personal' tier at $10/month is on the higher end for a note-taking app, especially considering many competitors offer robust free tiers or lower-priced premium options.
Strengths
- Pro: E2E encryption
- Pro: AI integration
- Pro: Beautiful design
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Limited export
Key features
Plans and prices: Obsidian vs Reflect Notes
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian |
| obsidian.md/pricing read Oct 26, 2026 |
| Reflect Notes |
| reflect.app read Oct 6, 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 Obsidian pricing and Reflect Notes pricing.
Key Takeaways
Obsidian
- Lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly vs $10/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
Reflect Notes
- Choose if you want fast, encrypted note-taking app with AI and networked notes
What the data shows
On the data below, Obsidian leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Obsidian has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 12 reviews); Reflect Notes has none we can show.
- Obsidian has the lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly (Sync) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Personal) for Reflect Notes.
- 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 Obsidian and Reflect Notes compare in 2026?
On the data below, Obsidian leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Obsidian has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 12 reviews); Reflect Notes has none we can show. Obsidian has the lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly (Sync) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Personal) for Reflect Notes. Only Obsidian has a free plan.
What are Obsidian and Reflect Notes used for?
Obsidian: Private and flexible note-taking. Reflect Notes: Fast, encrypted note-taking app with AI and networked notes.
What does Obsidian cost vs Reflect Notes?
Obsidian's cheapest paid plan is Sync at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Reflect Notes's cheapest paid plan is Personal at $10/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.
What's the main difference between Obsidian and Reflect Notes?
Obsidian's main strength: local-first privacy. Reflect Notes's main strength: E2E encryption.