Obsidian vs Grain

AI note-taking tools promise to save time and keep your thoughts organized. But not all tools are created equal. Obsidian and Grain both bring something unique to the table — and choosing between them depends on what you need.

For finance professionals handling sensitive data, security and privacy are non-negotiable. That’s why tools like Knapsack’s AI Note Taker stand out — offering some of the first private AI-driven meeting notes. But how do Obsidian and Grain compare when it comes to features, usability, and security?

Let’s take a closer look.

Key Differences Between Obsidian And Grain

Obsidian and Grain both offer AI-powered note-taking, but they cater to different needs. Obsidian focuses on personal knowledge management with powerful customization. Grain is built for recording and summarizing meetings. Here’s how they stack up:

Feature

Obsidian

Grain

Primary use

Personal knowledge management

Meeting recording and summaries

AI capabilities

Plugins for AI-powered notes

Built-in AI transcription and highlights

Collaboration

Local storage option for notes

Cloud-based with security measures

Data privacy

Highly customizable with plugins and themes

Minimal customization, focused on ease of use

Customization

Highly customizable with plugins and themes

Minimal customization, focused on ease of use

Integration

Works with third-party apps via plugins

Integrates with video conferencing tools like Zoom

Pricing

Free with paid add-ons

Subscription-based model

What Is Obsidian?

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking and knowledge management tool known for its flexibility and local-first approach. It’s designed for users who want complete control over their notes without relying on cloud-based storage. Obsidian uses Markdown files stored on your device, which means your data stays private and accessible even offline.

This tool is popular with professionals who need extensive customization. With a wide range of plugins, themes, and add-ons, Obsidian lets you shape your note-taking experience to fit your workflow. It’s especially favored by people who value security, organization, and the ability to link ideas through a network of connected notes.

Key Features

• Local-First Storage: Obsidian saves notes directly on your device, offering maximum privacy.
• Graph View: Visualize connections between your notes in an interactive, mind-map-style display.
• Extensive Plugin Support: Choose from hundreds of community-made plugins to add AI, automation, and new features.
• Markdown-Based: Obsidian uses simple Markdown language for formatting, keeping your files lightweight and portable.
• Offline Access: Access and edit your notes without an internet connection.
• Customizable Interface: Change themes, layouts, and workflows to suit your style.

Pros

• Clean and intuitive interface.
• Works locally, with optional cloud sync.
• Huge library of plugins for added functionality.
• Flexible pricing with affordable add-ons.

Cons

• May feel too simple for teams or data-heavy projects.
• Security depends on user-managed storage unless using paid sync.
• Community plugins offer no official support.
• Customization takes time to set up properly.

Pricing

Obsidian offers both, a free plan for personal knowledge management, and a commercial one for business uses. Here’s a breakdown of the plans Obsidian offers:

• Free Plan: Perfect for personal use, with access to core features and community support.
• Obsidian Sync: $10/month or $8/month (annual), syncs notes across devices with version history.
• Obsidian Publish: $10/month per site or $8/month per site (annual), shares notes online.
• Commercial Plan: $50/year per user, required for business use, includes priority support.
• Discounts: 40% off add-ons for students, educators, and nonprofit workers.

What Is Grain?

Grain is an AI-powered meeting assistant designed to simplify note-taking and documentation during calls. It captures key points, summarizes discussions, and integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Salesforce. By automating these tasks, Grain helps teams focus on conversations without worrying about manual notes.

It’s especially useful for professionals who need organized and shareable meeting insights. With features like real-time transcription and customizable templates, Grain reduces the time spent on admin work. Its ability to answer questions based on meeting content makes it a smart, time-saving solution for busy teams.

Key Features

• Automated Note-Taking: Grain captures and summarizes important points from calls automatically.
• Customizable Templates: Tailor note templates to fit your team’s specific needs and workflows.
• Platform Integrations: Syncs meeting notes with Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, and other tools.
• AI-Powered Responses: Answers questions about meeting content by pulling relevant information.
• Real-Time Highlights: Identifies and summarizes key moments in discussions as they happen.
• Multi-Language Support: Works with multiple languages for global team collaboration.

Pros

• Saves time with efficient meeting summaries.
• Enables collaborative note review with annotation features.
• Provides strong security for handling sensitive data.
• Offers accessibility features like adjustable text sizes and screen reader support.
• Supports multiple languages for diverse teams.

Cons

• Needs a stable internet connection to work properly.
• Limited depth in template customization.
• Cloud storage may raise privacy concerns for sensitive data.
• Heavy reliance on automation could impact manual note-taking skills.
• Platform integrations can be complex to set up and manage.

Pricing

Grain offers various pricing plans to suit different business needs, though specific pricing details often depend on the features required. Many users find its capabilities well worth the investment for the time saved and improved productivity.

Comparison: Obsidian vs Grain

When choosing between Obsidian and Grain, it’s important to look at how their features stack up. Both tools cater to different needs, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you pick the right one. Let’s dive into the details and see how they compare on pricing, transcription, user experience, advanced features, security, language support, integrations, and AI capabilities.

Pricing

Obsidian offers a more flexible pricing structure, especially for personal use. Its free plan comes with solid knowledge management features, and you can add services like Obsidian Sync and Publish for $8–$10 per month. For commercial use, it costs $50 per user per year, making it an affordable option for businesses.

Grain’s pricing varies depending on the features and team size, and while it offers time-saving automation, it’s generally more expensive than Obsidian. You’re paying for advanced AI capabilities and seamless integrations.

Verdict: Obsidian wins for affordability and flexible pricing, while Grain is better suited for teams needing AI-driven automation.

Transcription

Grain shines when it comes to transcription. It offers real-time transcription with the ability to highlight important moments and summarize conversations instantly. This makes reviewing and sharing meeting notes fast and efficient.

Obsidian doesn’t have built-in transcription. You’d need third-party plugins or external tools to add this functionality, which adds complexity and potential costs.

Verdict: Grain clearly takes the lead with its advanced, built-in transcription features.

User Experience (Interface)

Obsidian’s interface is simple, clean, and highly customizable. It’s designed for personal knowledge management, and while it has a learning curve, the variety of plugins and themes let you shape the experience to your liking.

Grain’s interface is more modern and focused on efficiency. It’s optimized for meetings, with automated features that reduce manual work. However, its reliance on integrations can make setup a bit complicated.

Verdict: It’s a tie. Obsidian offers customization, while Grain provides a streamlined, meeting-focused experience.

Advanced Features

Grain stands out with its AI-powered capabilities. It can answer questions based on meeting content, generate summaries, and sync notes directly to tools like Slack and HubSpot. Its real-time transcription and automated highlights add even more value.

Obsidian’s strength lies in its plugin ecosystem. You can add powerful features like graph views, backlinks, and markdown support. But many advanced functions require third-party plugins, which may not always be reliable or well-supported.

Verdict: Grain is the better choice for AI-driven features and automation, while Obsidian excels in customizability and knowledge management.

Security and Privacy

Security is where Obsidian has a major advantage. It works locally by default, so your data isn’t stored on cloud servers unless you use the Sync add-on. This makes it a safer choice for handling sensitive information without risking data leaks.

Grain, while offering secure cloud storage, still depends on cloud-based services. For industries dealing with confidential data, like finance, this could raise privacy concerns.

Verdict: Obsidian wins for privacy and local data control.

Language Support

Grain supports multiple languages, making it a great choice for global teams. Its transcription and AI features work across different languages, enhancing accessibility.

Obsidian’s language support depends on community plugins and themes. While it covers many languages, the experience may vary, and official support can be limited.

Verdict: Grain takes the lead with broader, more consistent language support.

Integrations

Grain is designed for seamless integration. It connects effortlessly with tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Salesforce, automating workflows and reducing manual data entry.

Obsidian focuses more on internal organization. It has a strong plugin community, but third-party integrations require additional setup and might not be as polished.

Verdict: Grain wins for out-of-the-box integrations and workflow automation.

AI Capabilities

Grain’s AI capabilities are its biggest selling point. From real-time transcription to automated summaries and AI-driven responses, it makes meetings more efficient and organized.

Obsidian doesn’t have built-in AI features. Any AI functionality would have to come from external plugins, which may not offer the same seamless experience.

Verdict: Grain leads the way in AI-driven efficiency and automation.

Obsidian vs Grain: Which One Is Right For You?

Choosing between Obsidian and Grain comes down to your specific needs and how you plan to use your notes. Both tools offer unique strengths, but they cater to different kinds of users and workflows. Let’s break down who will benefit most from each one.

Obsidian Is Best For

Obsidian is perfect for those who prioritize knowledge management and personal productivity. Its flexibility and powerful features make it a go-to for people who want complete control over their notes.

• Writers and researchers: Obsidian’s markdown support and backlinking make it easy to organize ideas and track relationships between topics.
• Power users: With a wide range of customizable plugins, Obsidian can be tailored for everything from task management to personal wikis.
• Privacy-focused users: Since Obsidian works locally by default, your data stays on your device unless you choose to sync it to the cloud.

If you value customization, data privacy, and detailed note-taking, Obsidian offers a robust and adaptable platform.

Grain Is Best For

Grain is designed for teams and professionals who rely on meetings and collaborative discussions. It simplifies capturing and sharing important insights from conversations, saving time and effort.

• Teams working remotely: With real-time transcription and video highlights, Grain makes it easy to keep everyone aligned, even across different time zones.
• Sales and customer support: Its seamless integration with platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack ensures that key client conversations are always well-documented and accessible.
• Managers and project leaders: Grain’s video library acts as a central hub for recorded meetings, making it simple to review and share decisions and action items.

If your priority is capturing and sharing meeting insights with minimal effort, Grain’s automation and AI-driven features are a perfect fit.

FAQs

1. Is Obsidian completely free to use?

Obsidian offers a robust free plan for personal use. However, premium add-ons like Obsidian Sync and Obsidian Publish require a paid subscription. If you’re using Obsidian for business purposes, you’ll need a commercial license.

2. Does Grain work without an internet connection?

No, Grain requires a stable internet connection for real-time transcription, syncing, and integrations. Without it, many of its core features won’t function properly.

3. Can I use Obsidian and Grain together?

Yes, you can! While they serve different purposes, you could use Obsidian for personal knowledge management and Grain for capturing and sharing meeting insights.

4. Which tool offers better security and privacy?

Obsidian wins in terms of privacy since it stores your data locally by default. Grain stores meeting data on cloud servers, which may raise privacy concerns for some users.

5. Does Grain support multiple languages?

Yes, Grain offers multi-language support, making it a great choice for global teams working across different languages.

6. Can I try the paid plans of Obsidian and Grain before committing?

Yes, both tools offer trial periods. Obsidian’s add-ons come with a 14-day free trial, while Grain also provides trial options for its premium features.

Wrap-Up!

Both Obsidian and Grain bring powerful features to the table, but they cater to different needs. Obsidian shines as a personal knowledge management tool, perfect for organizing thoughts, notes, and research with deep customization and offline access. On the other hand, Grain’s AI-driven approach makes it a standout for capturing, summarizing, and sharing meeting insights, boosting team collaboration and productivity.

Your choice ultimately depends on how you work. If you’re managing information independently and value flexibility, Obsidian is a strong fit. If seamless meeting documentation and team sharing are your priorities, Grain could be the better option. Consider your workflow and the features that matter most to pick the tool that aligns with your goals.