Loam vs Obsidian
Loam and Obsidian share the same idea: a vault is a folder of Markdown files, and the app is a view on top of it. Pick Obsidian if you need Windows, Linux or mobile apps, or a very large plugin catalog. Pick Loam if you work on a Mac and want an open source app with a small core, a command line and AI agents that work on the vault.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Loam vs Obsidian at a glance
Published capabilities, checked on official sites in November 2026.
| Dimension | Loam | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Plain Markdown files in a folder you choose, called a vault | Plain Markdown files in a vault folder |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Account | None. Free and open source | None needed to use the app |
| Source | Open source | Closed source app |
| Plugins | Every feature is a plugin. Install from the catalog or a Git URL; an agent can write one | A very large community plugin catalog |
| Command line and agents | Yes: the loam command runs every action of the app | An official command line interface, and community plugins |
| Sync | Git sync, with an optional encrypted remote | Paid Obsidian Sync, or iCloud, Git and other tools |
| Boards and drawings | JSON Canvas boards and Excalidraw drawings | Canvas (JSON Canvas) and drawing plugins |
| Price | Free | The app is free; Sync and Publish are paid services |
Sources: Obsidian ↗ · Obsidian Help ↗ · Obsidian CLI ↗
The same vault, two apps
A vault is a folder, so you do not have to choose once and for all. Loam opens an Obsidian vault as it is, and it never changes the original. Boards (.canvas) and Excalidraw drawings stay readable by both apps, and Obsidian Git can use the same Git remote as Loam.
The main difference is in how links are stored. Obsidian writes wikilinks such as [[Projects/Roadmap]]. Loam reads standard Markdown links, and its importer converts wikilinks and embeds to standard links in a copy of your notes, so the original vault stays untouched.
Plugins: a huge catalog or a small core
Obsidian has a very large community plugin catalog. If you rely on a specific plugin, check that Loam has an equivalent before you move.
In Loam the core is small and every feature is a plugin, including tasks, daily notes, collections and boards. A plugin is a Swift package that declares the permissions it needs, and you read them before you enable it. The catalog is younger and smaller than Obsidian's.
AI agents and the command line
Loam was built so that an agent can use it like a person does. The loam command runs every action of the app, so Claude Code, Codex or any agent with a terminal can create notes, search the vault or check tasks. See Agents and the command line.
Obsidian documents an official command line interface and can also be automated through community plugins. In Loam the loam command runs every action of the app, and loam skill install gives agents the rules to follow.
Which one to pick
Choose Loam if
- You work on a Mac with Apple silicon and want a native app with a small core
- You want AI agents to read and change your notes through a command line
- You prefer an open source app and Git for sync
Choose Obsidian if
- You need Windows, Linux, iPhone or Android
- You rely on a specific community plugin that Loam does not have yet
- You want a paid sync service run for you
Switching from Obsidian to Loam
- Keep your Obsidian vault folder as it is. Loam opens any folder of Markdown notes.
- Open the folder, or a copy of it, as a vault, as described in Your first vault.
- Run the import as a dry run first to see what changes, as described in Import notes. It converts wikilinks to standard links and never changes the source.
- Boards (
.canvas) and Excalidraw drawings stay readable by both apps. The.obsidian/folder, with your Obsidian plugins and themes, is not copied.
Loam vs Obsidian: questions
Is Loam a good Obsidian alternative for Mac?
Yes, if you use a Mac with Apple silicon and your notes are Markdown. Loam keeps notes as plain files in a vault like Obsidian does, adds a command line for agents, and is open source. It does not run on Windows, Linux or phones.
Can I use Loam and Obsidian on the same vault?
Yes, since both read plain Markdown files. Open a copy of the vault in Loam first and check your links, because Loam reads standard Markdown links and Obsidian writes wikilinks.
Does Loam have as many plugins as Obsidian?
No. Obsidian has a very large community catalog. Loam has a smaller catalog, and every feature of the app is itself a plugin, so you can also write your own.
Is Loam free?
Yes. Loam is free and open source, with no account. Obsidian is free to use too, and charges for its Sync and Publish services.