SimpleMD vs. Notion, Obsidian & Bear: Why Simpler is Better

There are hundreds of note-taking apps. Each promises to revolutionize how you capture ideas. Most will overwhelm you with features you will never use.

Let us cut through the noise and compare SimpleMD to three popular alternatives: Notion, Obsidian, and Bear. We will be honest about when you should and should not choose SimpleMD.

The Quick Comparison

SimpleMD: The Minimalist's Choice

Best for: Quick notes, distraction-free writing, privacy-conscious users

SimpleMD does one thing well: let you write markdown notes without friction. Open a tab, start typing, done. Your notes stay on your device (or your own Google Drive).

Strengths:

• Zero setup time. Works instantly

• No account required for basic use

• Privacy-first (local storage by default)

• Beautiful live preview

• Mermaid diagram support

• Runs in your browser. Nothing to install

Limitations:

• No mobile app (browser only)

• No team collaboration features

• No advanced linking/graph view

Notion: The Everything App

Best for: Teams, databases, project management, wikis

Notion tries to be your notes, tasks, wiki, database, and project management tool all in one. It is powerful, but that power comes with complexity.

Strengths:

• Incredibly flexible (databases, templates, views)

• Excellent team collaboration

• Works on all platforms

• Rich embedding and integrations

Limitations:

• Steep learning curve

• Your data lives on Notion's servers

• Can feel slow and bloated

• Not true markdown (proprietary format)

• Offline support is limited

• Gets expensive for teams ($10/user/month)

Choose Notion if: You need a team workspace with databases and complex organization. It is overkill for personal notes.

Obsidian: The Knowledge Graph

Best for: Researchers, writers building interconnected note systems, power users

Obsidian is built around the idea of linked notes. It creates a "second brain" where ideas connect to each other. It is local-first and incredibly customizable.

Strengths:

• Local files (plain markdown)

• Powerful linking and graph view

• Huge plugin ecosystem

• Works offline

• Your data, your control

Limitations:

• Requires desktop installation

• Can become complex with plugins

• Mobile apps are separate purchases

• Sync costs $8/month

• Steeper learning curve

Choose Obsidian if: You are building a personal knowledge base with hundreds of interconnected notes. It is more than you need for simple note-taking.

Bear: The Apple Aesthetic

Best for: Apple users who want beautiful, simple notes

Bear is a gorgeous note-taking app exclusive to Apple devices. It strikes a nice balance between simplicity and features.

Strengths:

• Beautiful design

• Native Apple experience

• Good organization with tags

• Markdown support

• One-time price option

Limitations:

• Apple only (no Windows, Linux, Android)

• Syncs via iCloud (Apple ecosystem lock-in)

• No web access

• Limited export options

Choose Bear if: You are all-in on Apple and want native apps. Not an option if you use Windows or Android.

When to Choose SimpleMD

SimpleMD is the right choice when:

1. You Value Instant Access

No apps to open. No pages to load. Press Alt+Shift+M and you are writing. SimpleMD lives in your browser, always one shortcut away.

2. Privacy Matters to You

Your notes stay on your device. If you enable sync, they go to YOUR Google Drive, not our servers. We never see your content. Period.

3. You Prefer Simplicity

Not everything needs to be a "system." Sometimes you just want to jot down a thought, save a code snippet, or draft an email. SimpleMD is fast because it does not try to do everything.

4. You Already Use Google Drive

If your files live in Google Drive, SimpleMD fits right in. Your notes sync alongside your other documents, accessible from any device with a browser.

5. You Work in the Browser

Developers, researchers, writers: if you spend your day in Chrome, SimpleMD is already where you are. The side panel mode lets you take notes while browsing without switching apps.

When to Choose Something Else

Let us be honest about SimpleMD's limitations:

• Need team collaboration? Notion is your best bet

• Building a knowledge graph with 1000+ linked notes? Obsidian excels here

• Want native iOS/Mac apps? Bear is the answer

• Need databases and project management? Notion handles this well

• Require mobile apps? Any of the others

The Philosophy Difference

Here is the real distinction:

Notion asks: "What if your notes could do everything?"
Obsidian asks: "What if all your notes were connected?"
Bear asks: "What if your notes were beautiful?"
SimpleMD asks: "What if taking notes was just... simple?"

We believe the best tool is one that disappears. You should not think about your note-taking app. You should think about your notes. SimpleMD gets out of the way and lets you write.

Try It Yourself

The best way to know if SimpleMD is right for you? Try it. No sign-up required. Just install the extension and start writing.

If it clicks, great. If you need more features, the other apps will still be there. But we think you might be surprised how far simplicity can take you.

Ready to try SimpleMD? Install the extension and start writing in seconds.