Your note-taking app is the most important software in research.
But which one is the best for you?
I compared @Heptabase and @obsdmd. Deep dive in article or key points in thread:
π
effortlessacademic.com
But which one is the best for you?
I compared @Heptabase and @obsdmd. Deep dive in article or key points in thread:
π
effortlessacademic.com
@Heptabase is a note-taking tool that strongly focuses on visual notes.
In my opinion: Superb for learning new topics.
Three things it does very well:
- PDF annotations
- Usability/UI
- Whiteboard
In my opinion: Superb for learning new topics.
Three things it does very well:
- PDF annotations
- Usability/UI
- Whiteboard
@obsdmd is very mature. It focuses on integration and extendability.
In my opinion: Superb for synthesizing large bodies of knowledge.
Three things it does very well:
- Search/Structure of notes
- Integration (e.g. Zotero)
- Versatility (plugins allow for almost anything)
In my opinion: Superb for synthesizing large bodies of knowledge.
Three things it does very well:
- Search/Structure of notes
- Integration (e.g. Zotero)
- Versatility (plugins allow for almost anything)
1. Annotation of PDFs in @Heptabase
My favourite feature. Annotate your pdf on the right and then drag and drop the single annotations onto a whiteboard.
Connect them to break down a complex paper/book into a readable mind-map.
My favourite feature. Annotate your pdf on the right and then drag and drop the single annotations onto a whiteboard.
Connect them to break down a complex paper/book into a readable mind-map.
3. Searching notes
Obsidians search is very powerful but a bit messy. You can create precise search queries, which is not possible in Heptabase.
Heptabase however has one search dialogue, which is a better UI but less powerful for the advanced user.
Obsidians search is very powerful but a bit messy. You can create precise search queries, which is not possible in Heptabase.
Heptabase however has one search dialogue, which is a better UI but less powerful for the advanced user.
4. Whiteboard and Canvas
Heptabase is centered around the whiteboard. Both apps do a good job at it. One feature that I dearly miss in Obsidian is to style the path of connections, that Heptabase has out of the box.
This is very beneficial for large whiteboards.
Heptabase is centered around the whiteboard. Both apps do a good job at it. One feature that I dearly miss in Obsidian is to style the path of connections, that Heptabase has out of the box.
This is very beneficial for large whiteboards.
5. Cards vs Notes
Heptabase stores its notes or cards in one folder. You are encouraged to use tags to sort them.
I find Obsidians way of storing them as files on the file system more intuitive and versatile especially with bigger, diverse collections.
Heptabase stores its notes or cards in one folder. You are encouraged to use tags to sort them.
I find Obsidians way of storing them as files on the file system more intuitive and versatile especially with bigger, diverse collections.
6. Things missing in Heptabase
- Integration with Zotero (reference manager)
- Any plugins to extend functionality
- Custom properties for notes (e.g. to store the journal of a paper)
- Exporting to Word or PDF
- Integration with Zotero (reference manager)
- Any plugins to extend functionality
- Custom properties for notes (e.g. to store the journal of a paper)
- Exporting to Word or PDF
7. Pricing
While Obsidian is free, Heptabase costs 12$/month; 7d trial.
This includes sync with the cloud and the ability to publish your notes with one click.
Sync + publish are available in Obsidian too (2 x 8$/mo), but can be hacked for free as well.
While Obsidian is free, Heptabase costs 12$/month; 7d trial.
This includes sync with the cloud and the ability to publish your notes with one click.
Sync + publish are available in Obsidian too (2 x 8$/mo), but can be hacked for free as well.
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