jotcompare · checked
Jot vs Obsidian
These aren't rivals. Obsidian is where notes get linked and organized. Jot is how a thought gets written down in the two seconds before you lose it. Both store plain Markdown files in a folder you own.
At a glance
| Jot | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 3 days, then $9 once for the first 50 buyers, then $29. No subscription. | Free. Sync is $4 a month billed yearly. Publish is $8. |
| Platforms | Mac (macOS 12 or later, Apple silicon and Intel) | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android |
| Where text lives | Plain Markdown files in ~/Documents/Jot, a folder you own | Plain Markdown files in a local folder |
| Capture selected text | Select text in any app and tap Shift twice. Images in the selection come too. | No global capture. There's a Web Clipper for the browser. |
| Dictation | Hold fn and speak. The text types into the app in front. | None built in. Plugins add it. |
| Agents | CLI and MCP server for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor | An official CLI. The app must be running. |
Pick Obsidian if
- You want links, a graph, and thousands of plugins.
- You write and organize long-form notes.
Pick Jot if
- You want to save from any app in one gesture, without opening Obsidian.
- You want local dictation into any app.
Using both
Jot's vault is a plain folder you can set in Settings → Vault & Agents. Put it inside your Obsidian vault and your jots show up there as notes.
Sources
Obsidian facts come from its own site, checked on 2026-11-14. Prices and features change. If something here is out of date, email support@sayjot.xyz and I'll fix it.