Obsidian vs Tome
A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
Obsidian
Private, local-first knowledge base using markdown files and bidirectional links
Tome
Discontinued AI presentation tool — shut down April 2025; team pivoted to Lightfield (tome.app no longer serves the product)
Our verdict
It's a close call
Obsidian (7.5) and Tome (7.5) are virtually tied. Your best pick depends on your specific needs and budget.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Obsidian | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| API Access | ||
| Plugins / Extensions | ||
| Image Generation | ||
| Code Execution | ||
| File Upload | ||
| Web Search | ||
| Max Context Window | N/A | 32K tokens |
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | Obsidian | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Free Free without limits; no sign-up; all core features on every platform | Free AI presentation product shut down April 2025; tome.app no longer serves the product (404 verified 2026-09-22). Team pivoted to Lightfield; brand acquired by AngelList. No new subscriptions. |
| Sync | $5 $4/mo billed annually; end-to-end encrypted sync across devices, version history, shared vaults | — |
| Publish | $10 $8/mo billed annually (per site); publish notes as a customizable website | — |
| Catalyst | $25 One-time payment; early access to beta versions, community badges | — |
| Commercial | $50 Per user/year; optional license for business use (not required to use commercially) | — |
Score Breakdown
| Dimension | Obsidian | Tome |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 6.0 | 9.0 |
| Features | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Value for Money | 10.0 | 7.0 |
| Support | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 | 7.5 |
Pros & Cons
Obsidian
Pros
- +Completely free for personal use with no feature limitations
- +All notes stored locally as plain markdown files
- +Massive plugin ecosystem with 1000+ community plugins
- +Bidirectional linking and graph view for knowledge mapping
Cons
- −Steep learning curve to unlock full potential
- −No built-in AI — requires plugins for AI features
- −Sync and publish features cost extra
Tome
Pros
- +Generates full presentations from a text prompt in seconds
- +Beautiful cinematic design aesthetic out of the box
- +Interactive embeds for data, videos, and live content
- +AI writes narrative alongside visual layout automatically
Cons
- −Limited customization compared to PowerPoint or Google Slides
- −No offline mode — fully cloud-based
- −Export options are restricted on free plan