Obsidian vs Shortwave
Obsidian and Shortwave are both Productivity tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, user ratings, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Obsidian | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Obsidian | Shortwave |
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.5 |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Platforms | Desktop, iOS, Android | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Key features | Local Markdown, Plugins, Graph | AI summaries and drafts in Gmail, Bundles and shortcuts, Gmail-native, not a new mail stack |
| Headquarters | Canada / remote | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2020 | 2020 |
| Open source | No | No |
Key differences
- Obsidian has a higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.5★).
- Both Obsidian and Shortwave use a Freemium model.
- Obsidian runs on Desktop, iOS, Android; Shortwave runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian or Shortwave better?
By user rating, Obsidian scores higher (4.8★ vs 4.5★). Both are capable Productivity tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.
Which is cheaper, Obsidian or Shortwave?
Both Obsidian and Shortwave use a Freemium pricing model.
Are Obsidian and Shortwave open source?
No — neither Obsidian nor Shortwave is open source.