Pick Obsidian if
individual writers who will stay on the $0 app while they open a first Bases table, then Sync at $4/user/month yearly ($5 monthly) when they want encrypted vaults on other devices.
Read the Obsidian pageObsidian vs Readwise
Our take
Pick Obsidian if individual writers who will stay on the $0 app while they open a first Bases table, then Sync at $4/user/month yearly ($5 monthly) when they want encrypted vaults on other devices. Pick Readwise if readers who will use the 30-day free trial (no card on the Reader FAQ), then stay on Full Readwise at $9.99/month billed yearly while they open a first Library › Later list — not Highlights only $7.99
Best for
Obsidian A vault table you start at a public $
Readwise A read-it-later + highlight library you start at a public $
Free plan
Obsidian $0 · no sign-up. No strings attached
Readwise No free plan
Lowest paid
Obsidian Sync $4/user/mo yearly
Readwise Highlights Lite only $5.59/mo
Next step up
Obsidian Publish $8/mo yearly
Readwise Highlights only from $7.99/mo
Runs where
Obsidian
Readwise Hosted
Watch out
Obsidian The $0 tile is the local app
Readwise There is no permanent $0 tile
Last checked
Obsidian 2026-10-23 · obsidian.md/pricing
Readwise 2026-10-23 · readwise.io/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Readwise if
readers who will use the 30-day free trial (no card on the Reader FAQ), then stay on Full Readwise at $9.99/month billed yearly while they open a first Library › Later list — not Highlights only $7.99 unless they skip Reader, and not Highlights Lite $5.59 unless they can live without tags, notes, and exports.
Read the Readwise page