Obsidian vs Xtiles: All Features Compared (2025)

In this Obsidian vs Xtiles comparison, I will show you the key differences between these two note-taking apps. I will compare Obsidian to Xtiles based on features, pricing, user interfaces, and pros and cons. I spent numerous hours with both note-taking apps, and I am here to share the benefits and limitations of each tool to ensure you make the right choice.

These are the key points that I explored during the Obsidian vs Xtiles clash:

• Obsidian is a more powerful note-taking app than Xtiles.
• Obsidian is one of the safest note-taking apps on the market.
• Obsidian has an offline mode as well.
• Both note-taking apps have mobile versions.
• Xtiles is a more user-friendly app with a very short learning curve.
• You can use Xtiles in various workflows besides note-taking, such as project or task management.
• Xtiles is a more suitable tool for collaboration.

Now, let’s dive into the side-by-side comparison of Obsidian vs Xtiles!

Key differences between Obsidian and Xtiles

Here is a short overview of the key differences I found in the Obsidian vs Xtiles showdown:

	Obsidian	Xtiles
Best for	Individuals	Individuals
Features	Note-taking, Graph view and internal links, Plugins, Canvas view	Structuring notes with workspaces and projects, Visual boards, Templates, Task management
User interface	Old-fashioned, and complex, and has a long learning curve	Visually appealing UI and easy-to-use app
Integrations	Limited integrations	Extensive integrations (+7,000)
Pricing	Free plan: Available Commercial use license: $50 per year Obsidian Sync add-on: $4 per month Obsidian Publish add-on: $8 per month Catalyst: $25+ one-time payment	Free plan: Available Starter plan: $5 per month per user Plus plan: $8.25 per month per user
Mobile app	Available	Available
Offline version	Available	No
Product Hunt or G2 ratings	4.9	5

Comparison: Obsidian vs Xtiles

First, I will show you both note-taking apps’ features one by one. Second, I will guide you through their user interfaces, integration options, and pricing. Lastly, I will show you the pros and cons of Obsidian and Xtiles and their alternatives and reveal my pick.

Key features

Obsidian’s features

Let’s start with Obsidian’s features!

Obsidian Vault

The Obsidian Vault is a folder that contains your notes, attachments, and data. When creating a vault, you can choose end-to-end encryption that offers the strongest security. However, if you choose end-to-end encryption for your vault, safely store your encryption password, as you cannot enter your vault without it.

You can create more vaults and customize them with different themes. If you go to appearances, there are over 160 themes created by the community that you can install and use right away.

It is great that Obsidian offers these customization options so you can personalize your vaults.

Note-taking app

As mentioned before, Obsidian uses markdown language when writing your notes. To create paragraphs, just insert a blank line to separate your paragraphs. If you press Enter, it will create a new line in your note, and it will be treated as a continuation of the same paragraph in the rendered output.

Also, you can change the size of your fonts under the Appearance option in settings even if you use Obsidian on mobile devices.

You can create tags, which help you organize and find your notes more easily. Just enter a hash symbol (#), and you can choose from your tags.

When taking notes, Obsidian allows you to use attachments, such as images, audio files, or PDFs. You can access these files using your files system. Moreover, you can embed web pages as well. To embed a web page, you have to use the iframe.

Ultimately, you can create notes easily with Obsidian, and the way they work makes them ideal for creating your personal knowledge management center or second brain.

Bidirectional links

The internal links are one of the best features I discovered during my Obsidian review. Using this feature, you can link notes to each other and connect ideas through your vault.

To link notes, just type “[[” in Obsidian and then choose the file to which you want to create a link. Another way to add a link is to select the Command palette and then choose the option of “add an internal link.”

So, it is quite simple to connect your notes. And the real power of the internal links comes with the graph view.

Graph view

The graph view is perfect for visualizing the relations between your data. Using the graph view makes it easy to create your personal knowledge base, as you can see how your ideas are connected to each other.

You can easily zoom in and out using the scroll wheel on your mouse. What is especially valuable are the filter options. Obsidian’s graph view allows you to filter your notes based on search terms.

Overall, it works like a knowledge graph view, and you can see how your notes are connected.

Canvas view

One of the features I recommend you to try is the canvas view. It offers an excellent tool for visual note-taking.

This function lets you choose from visual aspects, such as size and position, to make sense of your notes. With the canvas, you can connect notes with lines and group multiple notes together to better understand their relationship.

Plugins

With the plugins, you can customize your vault and access many advanced features. There are two types of plugins.

The Obsidian core plugins switch on and off features you do and do not like. For instance, you can switch off the graph view if you do not use it.

When it comes to the community plugins, you can choose from more than 2,000 plugins. The community plugins allow you to access more features like creating Excel-like tables or even a language translator.

To access the community plugins, open settings, select the turn on community plugins, and install the ones you like.

Xtiles’ features

Let’s check Xtiles’ features!

Workspaces

You can create workspaces for personal use or your team. If creating a workspace for your team, you can easily invite your team members to work together in real-time.

They work similarly to folders. In a specific workspace, you can have many different projects. It really depends on your own preferences on how you want to structure your work.

The workspaces include your projects, where you can access every information you store in Xtiles.

Projects

The projects are the building blocks of your workspaces. They can vary in size and complexity, and you can easily move these projects between your workspaces. Also, it is possible to share your projects with others.

You can use different projects for different purposes. If you check my Xtiles tutorial video, you will see I created a workspace for my goals, and I use one project for personal goals and another one for work-related goals.

Each project can have multiple pages where you can add, organize, and edit content. So I can further break down these projects into smaller pieces. For example, I can break down my personal goals into yearly and monthly goals if I want to in the same project.

Furthermore, if you click on the “+” icon, you can add nested pages if you need more space to structure your content in your projects. When you click on its icon, Xtiles will redirect you to this newly created sub-page. Ultimately, the sub-pages give you more possibilities to break down and structure your content.

Visual boards

The visual boards include tiles, which are the elements on a page to display and organize information. It has a super easy drag-and-drop interface, so you can create a tile of any size if you click on the canvas.

If you double-click on the page, Xtiles will create a standard-size tile. Whenever you click on the created tile, you can adjust the size, set the background color, and easily move it around the page. If some tiles are connected to each other, using the grouping function, you can visually group tiles based on their content.

The tiles can contain text and media content as well. The content you add to your tiles is called blocks. You can add different types of content with Xtiles, such as text, lists, tables, images, videos, code, etc. You can either choose a block type from the list or type its name in the search bar. Xtiles has its own image library from Unsplash; you can upload photos as well.

The main reason why I think tiles are great for organizing your stuff is this: Unlike most note-taking apps, where you can only drag and drop elements after each other, the tiles give you way more customization options, as you can select the exact size and position of the tiles. In the end, it offers a way more personalized experience for your notes than any other app.

Templates

Xtiles offers numerous templates, from project trackers to weekly, monthly, or yearly planners. However, there are templates for productivity, education, brainstorming, teams, and meetings.

If you click on the template gallery, you will see all the templates, and you can add them with one click. While some templates require paid plans, you can access several useful templates with the free plan as well.

Tasks

You can create to-do lists in Xtiles as well. Using this feature, you can add a task, assign it to your team members or you, and give a due date. It is a useful feature for those who do not want to use a different app to handle the to-do list and want to integrate every function into one app.

Moreover, you can turn on the desktop notification to receive reminders regarding your tasks and projects, so you will not forget about anything important.

Integrations

Obsidian’s integrations

Using the plugins, you can integrate Obsidian with other third-party apps like Todoist, Trello, or Toggl Track. The number of integrations is quite limited, but at least some popular tools are among them. You can see the full list of integrations here.

Xtiles’ integrations

You can connect Xtiles to +7000 third-party apps using the Zapier integration. Also, if you have paid plans, Xtiles offers instant syncing with Google Calendar, Google Drive, and Slack.

Integrating Google Calendar with Xtiles is quite helpful, as you can see your meetings and appointments in Xtiles. With this integration, you can centralize your calendars, notes, and tasks in one single place.

User interface

Now, let’s take a look at both note-taking apps’ user interfaces!

Obsidian’s user interface

Let’s say that Obsidian’s user interface is not pretty. It is similar to Apple Notes’ user interface, but somehow, I feel like Obsidian’s UI is a little bit clunky. If you do not like its user interface, try the dark theme, as it seems better.

You can also choose different themes from the community plugins. Many users recommended the Minimal theme, so you can give it a try.

Xtiles’ user interface

Xtiles offers a beautiful experience if we take a look at its user interface. Compared to Notion’s massive and slightly conservative user interface, it has a friendlier and cleaner UI. It is a very simple app, so you can easily navigate and utilize its full capabilities with a short learning curve.

Overall, Xtiles offers a pleasant experience with its intuitive user interface.

Pricing

Here, I will show you both note-taking apps’ pricing models to see which one is better in the Obsidian vs Xtiles comparison.

Obsidian’s pricing

One of the best things I found during my Obsidian review is the pricing. If you use Obsidian for personal use, it is 100% free.

The free version for personal use includes all the features, themes, plugins, APIs, and community support. The free version is quite generous, as there are no limitations on which features you can use.

However, if you want Obsidian for commercial use, you need to buy the commercial use license, which is $50 per year. Commercial purposes mean using Obsidian for revenue-generating or work-related activities within a for‑profit organization with two or more employees. However, before deciding to purchase Obsidian, you have 14 days of free trial.

To upgrade your Obsidian experience and security, you can buy add-ons. You need to purchase the add-on services separately for commercial and free users.

The Obsidian Sync add-on allows you to synchronize your notes across multiple devices and offers end-to-end encryption, version history options, and priority email support. It is $4 per user per month.

The Obsidian Publish add-on is $8 per month per site. With this add-on, you can publish notes to the web, and it offers graph view and priority email support.

Finally, you can access the beta versions of Obsidian and VIP badges for a one-time payment of over $25. With this, you can support Obsidian and get early access to the beta versions.

Xtiles’ pricing

Xtiles has three plans.

Thefree plan includes unlimited blocks, projects, 100+ free templates, one workspace to share, three personal workspaces, unlimited storage (5MB/file), and 5 pages per project. The free plan is ideal for individuals, mainly for personal use.

The starter plan is $5 per month per user. Besides the features included in the free plan, it offers unlimited personal spaces, pages, premium templates, unlimited storage, recurring tasks features, and Google Calendar integration. The starter plan is ideal for individuals who use Xtiles for daily work and need more powerful capabilities to enhance their note-taking experience.

Lastly, Xtiles offers the plus plan for $8.25 per month per user. This plan includes everything in the starter plan. In addition to those features, it provides color customization, timeline view, priority support, forms, unlimited shared spaces, linked pages, and productivity bundles. As this is the only plan with unlimited spaces you can share, the plus plan is ideal for teams.

Obsidian’s pros and cons

In this section of Obsidian vs Xtiles comparison, let’s take a look at Obsidian’s pros and cons!

Obsidian’s pros

First, I discovered during my Obsidian vs Xtiles review that Obsidian is a safe note-taking app that allows you to store sensitive data thanks to its high-security standards. This is particularly true if you purchase the Obsidian sync add-on, so you can protect your data with end-to-end encryption.

Furthermore, Obsidian’s free version is excellent. It includes all the features you need to manage and organize your notes effectively.

In addition, there are regular updates, so I expect more features and plugins in the future.

Moreover, I enjoyed using the graph view and bidirectional links to visualize the relations between my notes.

Finally, utilizing markdown files is practical if you want to switch to other note-taking apps eventually.

Obsidian’s cons

When it comes to the cons of Obsidian, it is easy to see that it is quite a complex app with a huge learning curve. So, it will take time to learn how to use Obsidian.

Another problem for me is the lack of collaboration features. Basically, you can use this note-taking app only for personal knowledge management. Therefore, I do not see it as a best fit note-taking app for teams.

Lastly, while it is safer to store your data locally, some people just want to use a web version. However, you can not make such a decision in the case of Obsidian, as you are forced to download it to your devices.

Xtiles’ pros and cons

Considering all the factors, let’s summarize Xtiles’ pros and cons!

Xtiles’ pros

First of all, Xtiles is a beautiful and easy-to-use app that keeps your data and workflow organized. It offers a visually appealing experience on a day-to-day basis.

Secondly, using tiles for your notes provides more customization options for Xtiles users. Compared to most note-taking apps, where you can just move sections or items on a page, Xtiles gives you 100% customization for your notes.

Moreover, the free plan is quite generous. It includes all the features you need for personal use.

Lastly, I loved the sub-pages feature. Creating sub-pages helps to structure your ideas, projects, and notes on a deeper level.

Xtiles’ cons

During my Xtiles review, the only con I found is that the mobile app still needs some development. Compared to other note-taker mobile apps, it lacks customization options.

Alternatives to Obsidian and Xtiles

Here are some alternatives to Obsidian and Xtiles:

• Anytype: A complex but powerful note-taking app.
• Notion: An all-in-one app for data, task, project management, and note-taking.
• Evernote: A popular note-taking app.
• Taskade: A simple but effective note-taking app ideal for more complex project management.
• NotebookLM: A note-taking and research app with a fantastic podcast feature.

Related articles:

• Xtiles Review: Is It The Best Notion Alternative In 2025?
• Obsidian Review: What Nobody Tells You About This App (2025)
• Xtiles Vs Notion: All Features Compared (2025)
• Notion Vs Obsidian: Side-by-Side Comparison (2025)
• Anytype Vs Notion: Side-by-Side Comparison (2025)

Wrap-up: Obsidian vs Xtiles

During my Obsidian vs Xtiles review, I found that the only thing that is common in Obsidian and Xtiles is that both are note-taking apps. However, their approach to note-taking is completely different. While Obsidian works as a traditional minimalistic note-taking app, Xtiles is a beautiful app with collaborative online spaces offering many options to personalize your note-taking experiences.

Ultimately, Obsidian is a more powerful app than Xtiles for personal note-taking. While it is a complex app with a long learning curve, it offers many possibilities to organize your notes and brainstorm ideas. And most importantly, you can do it safely.

Nevertheless, Xtiles is an easy-to-use note-taking app with some essential tools for team collaboration. It offers an all-in-one solution to visualize your notes, projects, and tasks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Xiles and Obsidian?

There are huge differences in the user interfaces and the use cases. Obsidian is an old-fashioned app with massive note-taking capabilities. In contrast, Xtiles is a beautiful note-taking app that is ideal for project and task management.

Does Xtiles work offline?

Xtiles does not offer offline mode. So, you can only use this note-taking app with an internet connection.

Is Xtiles or Obsidian better for knowledge management?

Obsidian is a better solution for creating a knowledge base. Using the graph view, you can visualize the relations between your notes to see how your ideas are connected.

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