Arka vs Obsidian

The power of local,
with the freedom of cloud.

Love Obsidian's privacy but tired of the sync friction? Arka gives you the best of both worlds: local-first Zero-Knowledge security with seamless cloud-native intelligence.

Core CapabilityArkaObsidian
Cloud SynchronizationCross-device data availability
Native E2EE (Built-in)
Paid Add-on ($10/mo)
Collaboration ModeWorking with teammates
Real-time Multi-user
Solo-first / Local only
AI IntelligenceContextual knowledge retrieval
Native RAG & Agents
Via Plugins (Fragile)
Search LogicFinding complex ideas
Hybrid Semantic Search
Keyword / Regex
Web AccessAccess without the app
Full Web Dashboard
None (Local App Only)
Media & AssetsEncrypted file hosting
Unlimited Secure Cloud
Local Folder Managed
Visual BrainMindmaps & Diagrams
AI-Assisted Canvas
Manual Plugin setup
Setup & MaintenanceTime to reach full power
Zero-Config / Instant
High (Plugin Overload)

From local files to intelligent nodes.

Encrypted Collaboration

Obsidian was built for one. Arka was built for teams. Share vaults with end-to-end encryption and edit in real-time without ever leaking data.

Cloud-Native, Local-First

Experience the speed of a local app with the convenience of a web dashboard. Your knowledge is always reachable, even without your primary machine.

Automated Indexing

No more manual tagging. Arka's AI automatically categorizes, links, and summarizes your markdown files as you write.

Unlimited Vaults

Partition your life into infinite encrypted workspaces. Work, personal, and research stay completely separate and isolated.

Bring your .md files home.

Import your entire Obsidian vault in one click. We preserve all your links, tags, and formatting.