$diff obsidian mdflow

> the Obsidian alternative with zero setup

Q: Obsidian is already markdown — so why switch?

Markdown isn't the difference — both tools have it. MDflow adds zero setup, free cloud sync, clean reader-friendly sharing with comments, a full API, and a remote MCP server for AI agents. If you're tired of the plugin tax and sync costs and you share notes with people, MDflow fits.

Q: Can I bring my Obsidian vault into MDflow?

Both apps use plain .md files, so your content is portable. You can upload Markdown files into your workspace today; a bulk vault importer isn't available yet.

Q: What does Obsidian do that MDflow doesn't?

Local-first and offline operation, backlinks and the graph view, tags, and a massive plugin ecosystem.

Obsidian and MDflow both speak Markdown — that's not the difference. The difference is everything around it: Obsidian asks you to assemble plugins, pay for sync, and hand readers raw files. MDflow works the moment you open it, syncs for free, and shares a clean page anyone can read and comment on.

./start-free jump to the table ↓

obsidian → mdflow.diff

# first 5 minutes
-setup = "empty vault + plugins"
+setup = "open browser, write"
-sync = "$4–8 / month add-on"
+sync = "included, cloud-native"
-share = "send raw .md files"
+share = "clean link + comments"
-ai = "plugin + api key wiring"
+ai = "remote MCP + full API"

$cat frustrations.log

the plugin-tax problems MDflow skips

The friction Obsidian users hit most — and how MDflow handles each one out of the box.

//setup

An empty vault and no onboarding — you learn YAML, Dataview, and plugins first.

A starter workspace and built-in features. Open it and start writing.

//sync cost

Obsidian Sync is a paid add-on; free workarounds cause merge conflicts on mobile.

Cloud-native sync is included, and local drafts auto-retry on reconnect.

//plugin tax

Tasks, backlinks, templates, sync — all need community plugins that break on updates.

Core features are first-party and maintained. No plugins, no plugin debt.

//mobile

The mobile app has had keyboard bugs, slow cold starts, and lost saves.

It's a responsive web page — consistent across devices, nothing to update.

//sharing

Sharing a vault hands people raw .md files, not a reading experience.

A one-click public link renders a clean page; readers can comment and clone.

//ai

AI needs plugins and manual API-key wiring; no first-party agent access.

A remote MCP server and full API let Claude, Cursor, and Codex manage your workspace.

$diff --stat obsidian mdflow

Obsidian vs MDflow, line by line

The honest version — including the rows where Obsidian still wins.

swipe to compare →

Feature comparison between Obsidian and MDflow
// feature	Obsidian	MDflow
›Markdown-native	Yes	Yes
›Plain .md files you own	Yes	Yes
›Works out of the box (zero setup)	No	Yes
›Free sync included	No	Yes
›Plugins required for basics	Required	None
›Clean public reader link	No	Yes
›Reader comments on shared docs	No	Yes
›Clone a shared doc	No	Yes
›First-party web clipper	No	Yes
›HTTP API	No	Full (Pro)
›AI agent access (MCP)	Plugins only	Remote (Pro)
›Local-first / fully offline	Yes	Drafts only
›Backlinks & graph view	Yes	No
›Tags	Yes	No
›Plugin ecosystem	Yes	No
›Use with no account	Yes	No

$./why-mdflow

why people switch

$mdflow open

Genuinely easy to use

No vault to configure, no ribbon to learn, no plugins to wire up. Open the browser, make a folder, start writing markdown. That's the whole onboarding.

$curl /api/v1

Full API + remote MCP server

A documented HTTP API with full read and write access, plus a remote Model Context Protocol server — so scripts and agents can manage your workspace without running a local server.

$mdflow context

Built for AI agents

Folder descriptions and document metadata give Claude, Cursor, and Codex scoped context. Your notes become a knowledge base agents can actually use.

$mdflow share

Sharing & comments that just work

Publish one document at an unguessable link — readers get a clean rendered page, can comment on a passage, and can clone their own copy. No account needed to read.

$cat pricing.txt

no sync tax

Obsidian is free for personal use, but reliable sync and publishing are paid add-ons. MDflow includes cloud sync free, with Pro at €4.99/month for unlimited files, the full API, and the remote MCP server.

Freefree forever

[x]5 markdown files
[x]5 image uploads
[x]Public sharing links
[x]Commenting

Pro€4.99/ month

[x]Unlimited markdown files
[x]10,000 image uploads
[x]Full HTTP API access
[x]Remote MCP server

// no card to start · fair-use applies

./start-free full pricing

$git log --author=obsidian --oneline

Where Obsidian is still ahead

We'd rather be straight with you. Obsidian is a mature product, and there are real reasons to stay — especially if you depend on these:

Local-first & fully offline. Obsidian keeps files on your disk and works with no account and no internet. MDflow is cloud-native with offline drafts — not the same thing.
Backlinks & the graph view. The killer feature for networked thought. MDflow doesn't have bidirectional links or a graph yet.
Tags. Power-user organization that cuts across folders. MDflow uses flat folders and has no tags yet.
A huge plugin ecosystem. Dataview, Excalidraw, Templater and thousands more. If your workflow is built on them, Obsidian is hard to replace.

$cat faq.md

Obsidian alternative — FAQ

Obsidian is already markdown — so why switch?

Markdown isn't the difference — both tools have it. The difference is everything around it: MDflow has zero setup, free cloud sync, a clean reader-friendly sharing experience with comments, a full API, and a remote MCP server for AI agents. If you're tired of the plugin tax and sync costs — and you actually share notes with people — MDflow fits.

Does MDflow include free sync?

Yes. Sync is cloud-native and included — there's no $4–8/month add-on. Your edits also survive offline as local drafts and auto-retry when you reconnect.

Can I bring my Obsidian vault into MDflow?

Both apps use plain .mdfiles, so your content is portable. You can upload Markdown files into your workspace today; a bulk vault importer isn't available yet. Either way, nothing is locked in.

Does MDflow have backlinks or a graph view?

Not yet. If your workflow is built around the graph view and Dataview queries, Obsidian is still the better fit — and we'd rather tell you that than oversell.

Can AI agents read my notes without configuring plugins?

Yes. AI agents can connect directly to MDflow's first-party remote MCP server or use its full-access HTTP API (both on Pro) to read and manage your workspace without plugins.

What does Obsidian do that MDflow doesn't?

Local-first/offline operation, backlinks and the graph view, tags, and a massive plugin ecosystem. See “Where Obsidian is still ahead” above.

$mdflow init

Try the Obsidian alternative built for today.

Sign in with Google, create a folder, and start writing markdown that people and AI agents can read. The free plan needs no card.

./start-free →see pricing