DocGraph and Obsidian both keep your notes as local files you own. The main difference is AI: DocGraph has a private AI built in that runs on your Mac and answers from your notes with citations, while Obsidian relies on community plugins for AI. DocGraph also treats HTML as a first-class note format next to Markdown, and opens an existing Obsidian vault without importing.
At a glance
| DocGraph | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Note files | Plain .html and .md files in a folder you own | Plain .md files in a folder you own |
| HTML notes | First-class: view and edit HTML pages in place | Markdown-first |
| AI | Built in, and runs on your Mac by default (no API key, no per-question cost). Cloud models only if you add them | Through community plugins, usually with your own API key or a local model you set up |
| Ask your notes | Chat with your whole vault; answers cite the notes they came from | Through community plugins |
| Agents (MCP) | Built-in MCP server for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and others (off by default) | Through community plugins |
| Account | None | Not needed for the app; needed for paid Sync and Publish |
| Price | Free | Free app; Sync and Publish are paid add-ons |
| Platforms | macOS on Apple Silicon (beta). Intel, Windows and Linux later | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android |
| Plugins | Built-in features; third-party plugins not open yet | Large community plugin ecosystem |
Choose DocGraph if
- You want AI over your notes that runs locally, with nothing to configure and nothing to pay per question.
- You keep HTML pages, PDFs, Word files and spreadsheets next to your notes and want them searchable together.
- You want an existing Obsidian vault to keep working as is: [[wikilinks]], callouts, front matter and block ids are understood.
Choose Obsidian if
- You need mobile apps or Windows and Linux today.
- You depend on specific community plugins.
Try it
DocGraph is free. Download it for Mac, point it at a folder of notes, and see the FAQ or the documentation for details.
Obsidian details reflect its public information as of October 2026; check its own site for current features and pricing. Obsidian is a trademark of its owner; DocGraph is not affiliated with it.