Obsidian vs showmd: 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 showmd side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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 local-first privacy
showmd
The most readable way to preview any .md file on macOS, enhancing Quick Look with rich rendering.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Obsidian requires payment)
| At a Glance | Obsidian | showmd |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Sync plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Documentation Writing Apps |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 12 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
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 showmd?
Choose Obsidian if
- You want local-first privacy
- You want extensible plugins
- You work in productivity, not documentation
Choose showmd if
- You want a fully free tool (Obsidian requires payment)
- You want significantly improves Markdown preview readability on macOS
- You want supports advanced Markdown features like LaTeX and Mermaid diagrams
- You work in documentation, 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
showmd
The most readable way to preview any .md file on macOS, enhancing Quick Look with rich rendering.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly improves Markdown preview readability on macOS
- Pro: Supports advanced Markdown features like LaTeX and Mermaid diagrams
- Pro: Integrates seamlessly with macOS Quick Look for instant access
- Pro: Open-source, free, and privacy-focused with no data collection
- Pro: Lightweight and fast, designed purely for viewing
Weaknesses
- Con: Only available for macOS
- Con: Not an editor or note-taking app, purely a viewer
Key features
Plans and prices: Obsidian vs showmd
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian |
| obsidian.md/pricing read Oct 26, 2026 |
| showmd | No plan prices on file | showmd.yetanother.one |
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 showmd pricing.
Key Takeaways
Obsidian
- Choose if you want private and flexible note-taking
showmd
- Choose if you want the most readable way to preview any .md file on macOS, enhancing Quick Look with rich rendering
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Obsidian has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 12 reviews); showmd has none we can show.
- Obsidian starts at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; showmd has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have 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 showmd compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Obsidian has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 12 reviews); showmd has none we can show. Obsidian starts at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; showmd has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Obsidian and showmd used for?
Obsidian: Private and flexible note-taking. showmd: The most readable way to preview any .md file on macOS, enhancing Quick Look with rich rendering.
What does Obsidian cost vs showmd?
Obsidian's cheapest paid plan is Sync at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. showmd is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.
What's the main difference between Obsidian and showmd?
Obsidian's main strength: local-first privacy. showmd's main strength: significantly improves Markdown preview readability on macOS.