Caliu vs Obsidian
Obsidian is the most configurable local-first Markdown app there is: a folder of plain files, a graph view, and a plugin for almost anything. Caliu wants the opposite of configuration. Same plain Markdown, same local-first promise, but a finished app you open and write in, with sync included free instead of sold separately.
| Feature | Caliu | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Markdown, local-firstBoth keep your notes as Markdown and work fully offline. | ||
| Notes as loose files in a folder you pickObsidian's vault is ordinary .md files on disk. Caliu stores notes in its own database and exports Markdown on demand. | ||
| Works with no account at all | ||
| Sync across devices at no costCaliu sync is free with a free account. Obsidian Sync is a paid add-on, or you wire up iCloud, Dropbox or git yourself. | ||
| Full web appCaliu runs in the browser as an offline-capable PWA. Obsidian is desktop and mobile only. | ||
| Nested hashtag organizationBoth read #work/project out of the text. | ||
| Plugin ecosystemObsidian's community plugin catalog is its defining strength and Caliu has nothing like it. | ||
| Graph view and backlinksCaliu links notes with [[Note Title]] and resolves them both ways, but draws no graph. | ||
| Official REST APIObsidian's REST access comes from a community plugin, on device only. | ||
| MCP server for AI agents | ||
| Reminders attached to notesA plugin can do it in Obsidian; in Caliu it is built in and pushes to your devices. | ||
| Ready to write with no setupObsidian rewards configuration. Caliu ships one opinionated editor and no settings to survive first. |
Pick Caliu if
- You want a finished app, not a starting kit: no vault to design, no plugins to choose, no theme to install before the first sentence.
- You want sync included rather than sold separately: a free Caliu account syncs every device.
- You want your notes in a browser too, on a machine where you cannot install anything.
- You automate things and would rather use a documented REST API and MCP server than a community plugin.
- You prefer the price: Caliu Pro is $1.99/month or $17.99/year, and the free tier is a complete notes app.
Pick Obsidian if
- You want your notes to stay loose .md files in a folder you control, syncable by any method you choose.
- You rely on the plugin ecosystem, Dataview queries, canvas or the graph view.
- You enjoy shaping the tool itself, and a fixed editor would feel like a cage.
- You need a Linux or Windows desktop app, which Caliu does not offer.
Switching from Obsidian
An Obsidian vault is already Markdown, so this is the easy direction: zip your vault folder and drop the .zip into Caliu's import. Notes arrive with their hashtags intact, including nested ones, and [[wiki links]] between imported notes are relinked so they keep pointing at each other. Plugin-specific syntax and frontmatter beyond tags will not carry meaning, and each file can bring in up to 500 notes per archive.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my Obsidian vault into Caliu?
Yes. Zip the vault and import the archive: Caliu reads Markdown files, recreates your hashtags as tags (nested ones included), and relinks [[wiki links]] between the imported notes. Notes that already exist are skipped rather than duplicated.
Does Caliu keep my notes as files on disk like Obsidian does?
No, and that is the real architectural difference. Caliu stores notes in a local database and syncs them, rather than watching a folder. You can export to Markdown, TXT, HTML, RTF, ePub, PDF and TextPack at any time, so the notes stay portable, but there is no folder of .md files to point another app at.
Is Caliu's sync really free?
Yes. An account is free, and having an account is what turns sync on: there is no sync tier and no way to pay for it. Obsidian Sync is a separate subscription, though you can also sync a vault yourself through iCloud, Dropbox or git.
Does Caliu have plugins?
No. If plugins are why you use Obsidian, stay with Obsidian, the ecosystem is genuinely excellent. Caliu's answer to extensibility is a REST API and an MCP server: instead of running code inside the app, you let your own scripts and AI agents read and write your notes from outside.