# DocGraph vs Obsidian — DocGraph

> 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.

Source: https://docgraph.app/vs/obsidian/

Compare

# DocGraph vs Obsidian

Updated October 2026

**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](https://docgraph.app/download), point it at a folder of notes, and see the [FAQ](https://docgraph.app/faq) or the [documentation](https://docs.docgraph.app) 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.