DotMDDotMD vs Obsidian.Notes app or review app?
macOS 14 or later. Reading is free; DotMD Pro has a 3-day free trial.
Short answer
Obsidian is a free notes app that keeps your notes as Markdown files in a vault, on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. DotMD opens any .md file or folder on your Mac and adds comments and review of an AI agent's changes through its own MCP server. Pick Obsidian to build a knowledge base; pick DotMD to review what your agents write.
Side by side
| DotMD | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Reading free. Pro $19.99/year (3-day trial) or $49.99 once | App free for all uses; Sync from $4/month, billed yearly |
| Platforms | macOS 14 or later | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Editing | Yes, with Pro; optional live preview beside the text | Yes; Live Preview, Source and Reading views |
| Your files | Any .md file or folder, edited in place | Plain .md files in a vault (a folder) |
| Comments | Built in with Pro; kept outside the .md file | Not in the core plugins |
| Review of an agent's changes | Old and new text beside each comment; accept or reopen | — |
| Version history | Built in with Pro; up to 200 versions per file | File recovery (7 days by default); paid Sync keeps 1 to 12 months |
| AI agents / MCP | Local MCP server for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code | Official CLI; MCP only through community plugins |
| Export | PDF, HTML, rich text copy, print (Pro) | — |
Sources, checked October 2026
- https://obsidian.md
- https://obsidian.md/pricing
- https://obsidian.md/license
- https://obsidian.md/download
- https://obsidian.md/help/edit-and-read
- https://obsidian.md/help/plugins
- https://obsidian.md/help/plugins/file-recovery
- https://obsidian.md/help/sync/version-history
- https://obsidian.md/help/cli
- https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/mcp-server (a community plugin, for the MCP row)
- DotMD: getdotmd.com/faq
Choose Obsidian if…
- You want notes that link to each other, on your phone as well as your Mac.
- You want a free app, including for commercial use, and you may add paid Sync later.
- You use Windows or Linux.
Choose DotMD if…
- You want to review a spec or plan from Claude Code, Codex or Cursor without installing a plugin.
- You want comments tied to the passage and the agent's fixes shown in the file for you to accept.
- You want to open any .md file anywhere on your Mac, not only files in a vault.
FAQ
What is an Obsidian alternative for reviewing Claude Code specs without plugins?
DotMD. Its MCP server is built in: the agent sends a spec, you comment on passages, and the fixes appear in the file with the old text next to the new. In Obsidian, MCP servers come from community plugins.
Can I use both Obsidian and DotMD?
Yes. A vault is a folder of .md files, and DotMD opens any folder of .md files. Keep your notes in Obsidian and open a spec from the same folder in DotMD for review.
How much do Obsidian and DotMD cost?
Obsidian is free for all purposes, including commercial use; Sync starts at $4 a month, billed yearly. DotMD is free to read; Pro is $19.99 a year with a 3-day free trial, or $49.99 once.