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Aside and Obsidian,
side by side.
Two tools, each for a different job. Obsidian is a local Markdown vault with plugins, for people who maintain a library of files. Aside is a local library on iPhone, for things you save from other apps and things you jot down yourself.
Start on iPhone · No sign-in needed for the Local Library
The other tool
Obsidian
Obsidian is a local vault. Notes live as Markdown files on disk. Plugins extend the vault. It is a fit for people who want to maintain that file library over time.
Aside
Aside
Aside is a local library on iPhone. No sign-in is needed for the Local Library. Save links, text, photos, files, contacts, notes, and calendar events through the iOS Share Sheet. Start a record from Home with Quick Capture. Add notes, put related items in collections, set a reminder to look again, and import an export file from a supported source. Aside cannot import an Obsidian vault.
What overlaps, and what does not
| Aside | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Local library on iPhone. No sign-in needed. | Local vault of Markdown files on disk. |
| How things get in | iOS Share Sheet from other apps; Quick Capture from Home. | You write and keep Markdown files in the vault. |
| Notes | Optional notes on saved items. | Notes are the Markdown files. |
| Organize | Collections you name yourself. | Folders, links, and plugins in the vault. |
| Reminders | Optional reminder on a saved item. | Not the same job. |
| File import | Export files from browsers and some readers. | The vault is already your files. |
| Obsidian vault | Aside cannot import an Obsidian vault. | Keep the vault in Obsidian. |
A few things to know
Before you begin.
Can Aside import my Obsidian vault?
No. Aside cannot import an Obsidian vault. If you already have a vault, keep using it. This page is not asking you to move.
Can I use both?
Yes. A Markdown vault you maintain is Obsidian's work. Saving from other iPhone apps into a local library is Aside's work. Two tools, each for a different job.
Does Aside publish a website or sync across devices?
No. Those are not current. Share in means saving into Aside from the iOS Share Sheet, not publishing to other people.
What export files can Aside read?
Export files from Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and some readers. Not an Obsidian vault.