⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Tarification : Capacities Pro starts at $9.99/month. The Obsidian app is free, with Sync from $4/month.
- Idéal pour : Capacities suits visual, object-based note taking. Obsidian suits markdown notes and local control.
- Différence principale : Capacities offers a built-in Assistant IA. Obsidian adds AI through community plugins.
- Our pick: Capacities for most users who want a studio for your mind that works out of the box.
Both apps promise to become your second brain.
Mais ils empruntent des chemins très différents pour y parvenir.
Capacities is an object-based application de prise de notes with a built-in AI assistant.
Obsidian stores markdown notes on your local machine and adds AI through plugins.
One feels like an artist’s studio. The other feels like a developer’s toolkit.
This guide breaks down both note taking apps so you can pick with confidence.
Aperçu
This Capacities vs Obsidian comparison covers pricing, key features, and ease of use.
We also look at how each app handles your personal knowledge base.
Our sources include published specs, documentation, and user reviews.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with each note taking application.
By the end, you will know which tool fits your workflow.
Que sont les capacités ?
Capacities is an object-based note taking app for creative thinking.
It turns people, meetings, and books into linked objects, not plain pages.
This helps you build a personal knowledge base with hidden connections.
The app calls itself a studio for your mind for a reason.
You collect notes, then connect ideas to spark new content and new ideas.
Watch the walkthrough below to see it in action.
Capacités
A visual note taking app that links objects, not folders. It ships with a powerful AI assistant and a fast search across appareils.
Tarification des capacités
Here is what Capacities costs in 2026. The free version covers the basics.
| Plan | Prix | Idéal pour |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuit | $0 | Trying object-based note taking |
| Pro | 9,99 $/mois | Daily users who want AI features |
| Croyant | 12,49 $/mois | Fans who want to support the developer |
Pricing verified January 2026.
Essai gratuit : The free version has no time limit. You can upgrade any time.
Facturation: Annual plans cost less per month than paying month to month.
📌 Note: The AI assistant and daily notes live on paid plans. The free version still lets you create notes and objects.
⚠️ Avertissement: AI features count against a monthly quota. Heavy users may hit the cap in a single month.
Principaux avantages des capacités
Here is what makes Capacities worth a look:
- Objects Over Folders: You build notes around objects like people and books. This shows relationships, similar to a mind map.
- Assistant IA : The built-in AI assistant can brainstorm ideas and help you write. It works as a powerful assistant right inside your notes.
- Recherche puissante : A powerful search find tool surfaces notes fast. You can search across your whole knowledge base in seconds.
- Capture rapide : Quick capture and a share sheet save content from web pages. Save links, text, and images on the go.
- Notes quotidiennes et calendrier : Daily notes and a calendar keep your log and tasks in one place. This supports journaling and planning.
- Synchronisation multi-appareils : A desktop app, web app, iOS app, and Android build stay in sync. Your data follows you across devices.
What Our Team Noticed
Notre écrivain signed up for Capacities and spent several days building a small vault. Here is what stood out during that hands-on time:
Avantages et inconvénients des capacités
✅ Avantages
- Object-based system links notes in a visual, intuitive way
- Built-in AI assistant needs no setup or API keys
- Clean design makes it easy to learn
- Free version lets you test the app fully
❌ Inconvénients
- AI features and daily notes need a paid plan
- No local markdown files, so your data lives in the cloud
- Fewer plugins than open apps like Obsidian
Qu'est-ce que l'obsidienne ?
Obsidian is a note taking app built on plain markdown notes.
Every file sits on your local machine, so you own your data.
You link notes together to form a personal knowledge base over time.
Obsidian AI arrives through ai powered plugins, not a built-in tool.
These plugins connect local models or large language models to your obsidian vault.
See the overview video below before we dig into pricing.
Obsidienne
A local-first markdown app with a huge plugins library. Add smart connections, chat mode, and a text générateur through ai tools.
Prix de l'obsidienne
The Obsidian app is free for personal use. You pay only for extra services.
| Plan | Prix | Idéal pour |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronisation | 4 $/mois | Syncing vault notes across devices |
| Publier | 8 $/mois | Turning notes into web pages |
| Catalyseur | $25 | Tôt access and supporting the developer |
| Commercial | 50 $/an | Entreprise and commercial use |
Pricing verified January 2026.
Essai gratuit : The core app is free forever for personal use. No card is needed.
Plugin costs: Some ai powered plugins need an API key. Costs depend on the model you pick.
📌 Note: Copilot and text generator plugins call ChatGPT or Claude. For example, GPT-4 usage runs about $0.01 per 1,000 tokens.
⚠️ Avertissement: A commercial account costs $50/year once your team uses Obsidian for work. Personal use stays free.
Key Benefits of Obsidian
Here is what makes Obsidian a favorite among power users:
- Local Markdown Files: Your obsidian notes stay as markdown notes on your own machine. This protects data and keeps files future-proof.
- Plugins basés sur l'IA : Smart connections, copilot, and a générateur de texte add ai features. You can even run a local llm for private ai questions.
- Visual Graph: A graph view maps links between notes like a mind map. It reveals hidden connections in your knowledge.
- Huge Plugin Library: A plugins overview shows hundreds of community plug ins. You can shape the app around your own thoughts and workflow.
- Offline & Private: Obsidian works offline and keeps data on-device. This makes it strong for personal knowledge management and research.
- Settings Profiles: Global settings profiles let you switch setups fast. Power users tune tags, themes, and dark mode to taste.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer set up an obsidian vault and installed a few outils d'IA to test the workflow. Here is what stood out:
Obsidian Pros & Cons
✅ Avantages
- Core app is free with local markdown files
- Deep plugin library for endless customization
- Strong privacy with a local-first, offline design
- Graph view surfaces links between notes
❌ Inconvénients
- AI needs manual plugin setup and API keys
- Courbe d'apprentissage plus abrupte pour les nouveaux utilisateurs
- Sync and commercial use cost extra
Comparaison des fonctionnalités
Let’s compare Capacities and Obsidian across the features that matter most. We’ll look at seven areas, then pricing.
| Fonctionnalité | Capacités | Obsidienne |
|---|---|---|
| Prix initial | Free / $9.99 mo | Free app / $4 mo sync |
| Assistant IA intégré | ✅ | ❌ (via plugins) |
| Local Markdown Notes | ❌ | ✅ |
| Object-Based Notes | ✅ | ❌ |
| Visual Graph / Mind Map | ❌ | ✅ |
| Recherche puissante | ✅ | ✅ |
| Accès hors ligne | ✅ | ✅ |
| Plugins Library | ❌ | ✅ |
| Idéal pour | Visual thinkers | utilisateurs avancés |
1. Note-Taking Approach
Capacités : You create notes as objects, such as people, books, and meetings. This object model builds structured content and links notes without folders. It feels less rigid and more organic.
Obsidienne: You write atomic notes in markdown, then join them with links. Internal linking connects vault notes into a web of relevant information. It rewards users who like plain files and full control.
2. AI Assistant & AI Tools
Capacités : The ai assistant is built in and ready on day one. It can brainstorm ideas, draft text, and answer ai questions from your knowledge base. No API key or config is needed.
Obsidienne: Obsidian AI comes from ai powered plugins like Copilot and a text generator. These use language models such as ChatGPT, or you can run a local llm. This gives context aware answers with retrieval augmented generation across the entire vault.
⚠️ Avertissement: Obsidian’s AI is more flexible but needs setup. You must install plug ins and, in some cases, pay for a language model.
3. Hidden Connections
Capacités : Contextual backlinking shows how objects relate as you write. This surfaces hidden connections and helps new ideas appear on their own.
Obsidienne: The visual graph maps every link as a living mind map. Smart connections uses semantic similarity, not keywords, to link ideas across different vaults.
4. Powerful Search
Capacités : A powerful search find bar scans every page, tag, and object type. Results appear fast, which keeps quick capture and review smooth.
Obsidienne: Search covers your whole vault and pairs with a canvas workspace for visual planning. AI plugins add semantic search over obsidian notes for deeper research.
5. Quick Capture & Daily Notes
Capacités : A share sheet save content feature grabs web pages and text on mobile. Daily notes and a calendar tie your log, tasks, and journaling together.
Obsidienne: Daily notes create one page per day with date magic and templates. Community plug ins add quick capture from the web and other apps.
6. Customization & Structured Content
Capacités : Custom object types let you model tasks, projects, and people your way. Templates and tags keep structured content tidy without heavy config.
Obsidienne: Custom themes, dark mode, and powered templates reshape the app. Global settings profiles and various global settings profiles suit users who love to tinker.
7. Offline Access & Devices
Capacités : A desktop app, web app, and mobile app keep notes in sync across devices. Templating and offline edits keep you working with no internet.
Obsidienne: Obsidian runs offline by default since files live on your device. Sync is a paid add-on when you want notes on android and other devices.
8. Tarification et coût
Comparons les plans tarifaires côte à côte.
| Plan | Capacités | Obsidienne |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuit | Full free version | Free app for personal use |
| Entrée payée | Pro $9.99/month | Sync $4/month |
| Niveau supérieur | Believer $12.49/month | Publish $8/month |
| One-Time / Yearly | — | Catalyst $25 / Commercial $50/year |
Capacités : One monthly price unlocks AI features, daily notes, and full sync. It is simple to plan around for a single month or a year.
Obsidienne: The app is free, so you pay only for sync, publish, or a commercial account. AI plugin costs sit on top if you use paid language models.
Différents scénarios
| Si vous avez besoin | Choisir | Pourquoi |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in AI, no setup | Capacités | AI assistant ready on day one |
| Local files you own | Obsidienne | Markdown notes on your machine |
| Visual object notes | Capacités | Prise de notes basée sur les objets |
| Deep customization | Obsidienne | Huge plugins library |
| Beginner-friendly start | Capacités | Clean design, easy to learn |
💰 Votre budget
Obsidian wins on raw cost since the app is free. Capacities costs $9.99/month for AI, but a free version exists.
🤖 Vos besoins en IA
Capacities gives you a powerful assistant with zero config. Obsidian offers more control through ai tools if you like to tinker.
🔒 Your Data Control
Obsidian keeps data in local files you fully own. Capacities stores your knowledge base in the cloud with sync across devices.
🎓 Votre niveau d'expérience
New users learn faster with Capacities and its clean layout. Obsidian rewards patience with deep power once you climb the curve.
🆓 Essais et démos gratuits
Both let you start free with no card. Test each app on a real project before you pay for a plan.
🛟 Options d'assistance
Obsidian leans on a large forum and community plugins. Capacities offers clear docs and a team that ships new features often.
Guide de changement
Vous utilisez déjà l'un de ces outils ? Voici ce à quoi vous pouvez vous attendre si vous changez.
🔄 Switching from Capacities to Obsidian?
✅ Ce que vous y gagnerez :
- Local markdown files you fully own and control
- A deep plugin library and a local llm option
- A free core app with no monthly fee
❌ Ce que vous perdrez :
- The built-in AI assistant that needs no setup
- Object-based notes and custom object types
- The polished, beginner-friendly design
📋 Comment changer :
- Export your Capacities notes to markdown
- Create a new obsidian vault on your device
- Import the files and install your first plug ins
🔄 Switching from Obsidian to Capacities?
✅ Ce que vous y gagnerez :
- A built-in AI assistant with no config
- Object-based notes that show relationships
- A cleaner start for creative thinking
❌ Ce que vous perdrez :
- Local markdown files stored on your machine
- The large plugins overview and community plug ins
- Full offline-first control of your data
📋 Comment changer :
- Copy the text from your obsidian notes
- Create a free Capacities account
- Rebuild key pages as objects and add tags
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on solo users and small teams. We didn’t test large team workflows or every plugin in the plugins overview. Our notes reflect the January 2026 versions, so new features may have shipped since. If you rely on niche ai powered plugins or handwriting, your experience may differ.
Verdict final
| Catégorie | Gagnant |
|---|---|
| 💰 Tarification | Obsidienne |
| 🤖 Assistant IA | Capacités |
| 🔒 Data Control | Obsidienne |
| 🎯 Facilité d'utilisation | Capacités |
| 🧩 Customization | Obsidienne |
| 🎨 Design & Onboarding | Capacités |
| 🏆 Vainqueur toutes catégories | Capacités |
🏆 GAGNANT : CAPACITÉS
Capacities wins the tie-breakers on ease of use and its built-in AI.
Idéal pour : visual note taking, creative thinking, and a fast start with an AI assistant.
Capacities and Obsidian solve the same goal in different ways. Both help you build a second brain and a personal knowledge base.
Capacities is a studio for your mind with a ready AI assistant. It suits people who want to create amazing things without setup.
Obsidian is a local-first powerhouse for markdown notes and privacy. It shines for users who want to own their data and add ai powered plugins.
If you value control and free software, Obsidian is excellent. For most people who want speed and built-in AI, Capacities is the better pick.
Comparaison des capacités
Here is how Capacities stacks up against other note taking apps:
Capacités vs Notion
Capacités gagne sur : object-based notes, faster creative thinking, cleaner focus for a knowledge base
Notion l'emporte sur : databases, team collaboration, a bigger set of new content templates
Capacités vs Tout type
Capacités gagne sur : built-in AI assistant, polished web app, easier daily notes
Anytype gagne sur : local-first storage, open source code, offline-only privacy
Capacités vs Artisanat
Capacités gagne sur : hidden connections, custom object types, powerful search find speed
L'artisanat l'emporte sur : document polish, sharing, native Apple app feel
More of Obsidian Compared
Here is how Obsidian compares to other note taking apps:
Obsidian gagne sur : local markdown notes, offline speed, private ai tools with a local llm
Notion l'emporte sur : shared workspaces, structured databases, browser-based access anywhere
Obsidienne contre n'importe quel type
Obsidian gagne sur : mature plug ins, the visual graph, more ai powered plugins
Anytype gagne sur : object model, built-in sync, encrypted-by-default storage
Obsidian vs ClickUp
Obsidian gagne sur : distraction-free writing, vault chat with AI, data you host yourself
ClickUp l'emporte sur : project tasks, team dashboards, deadline and ticket tracking
Foire aux questions
Les capacités sont-elles meilleures qu'Obsidian ?
It depends on your workflow. Capacities is better for visual, object-based note taking with built-in AI. Obsidian is better for local markdown notes, privacy, and deep plugins.
Capacities.io est-il gratuit ?
Yes. Capacities has a free version with no time limit. Paid Pro plans start at $9.99/month and unlock the AI assistant and daily notes.
Obsidian AI est-il gratuit ?
The Obsidian app is free, and some plugins like Smart Connections are free too. Others, such as Copilot, need a paid API key from providers like OpenAI.
Capacities utilise-t-elle l'IA ?
Yes. Capacities includes a built-in AI assistant on paid plans. It can brainstorm ideas, draft text, and answer questions from your own knowledge base.
À quoi sert Obsidian AI ?
Obsidian AI suits solo research and personal knowledge management. Plugins add context aware answers, semantic search, and chat over your entire vault while your files stay local.
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