Obsidian vs Tana: 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 Tana 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. 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 local-first privacy
Tana
Outliner flexibility meets database power for structured, dynamic workspaces
Best for you if:
- • You want powerful supertags
| At a Glance | Obsidian | Tana |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Sync plan | Free plan, paid from $10/mo, billed monthly Plus plan |
Category | Productivity Note-Taking | Note-Taking Productivity |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 12 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 37 reviews |
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 | Yearly billing saves about 20% ($8 and $14 a month) but is paid up front. |
Choose Obsidian or Tana?
Choose Obsidian if
- 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 Tana if
- You want powerful supertags
- You want flexible workflows
- 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
Tana
Outliner flexibility meets database power for structured, dynamic workspaces
Tana's pricing is fair, offering a generous Free tier with basic AI.
Watch out
Yearly billing saves about 20% ($8 and $14 a month) but is paid up front.
Strengths
- Pro: Powerful supertags
- Pro: Flexible workflows
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Waitlist access
- Con: Learning curve
Key features
Plans and prices: Obsidian vs Tana
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian |
| obsidian.md/pricing read Oct 26, 2026 |
| Tana |
| outliner.tana.inc/pricing read Nov 2, 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 Tana pricing.
Key Takeaways
Obsidian
- Lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly vs $10/mo, billed monthly
Tana
- Choose if you want outliner flexibility meets database power for structured, dynamic workspaces
What the data shows
On the data below, Obsidian leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 12 reviews for Obsidian, 4.5/5 from 37 reviews for Tana; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Obsidian has the lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly (Sync) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Plus) for Tana.
- 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 Tana compare in 2026?
On the data below, Obsidian leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 12 reviews for Obsidian, 4.5/5 from 37 reviews for Tana; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Obsidian has the lower entry price: $4/user/mo, billed monthly (Sync) against $10/mo, billed monthly (Plus) for Tana. Both have a free plan.
What are Obsidian and Tana used for?
Obsidian: Private and flexible note-taking. Tana: Outliner flexibility meets database power for structured, dynamic workspaces.
What does Obsidian cost vs Tana?
Obsidian's cheapest paid plan is Sync at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Tana's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $10/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Obsidian and Tana?
Obsidian's main strength: local-first privacy. Tana's main strength: powerful supertags.