Browser editor vs desktop knowledge base

Vela Docs vs Obsidian

Obsidian and Vela Docs are both built on Markdown, but they solve different problems. Obsidian is a desktop personal knowledge base: a vault of linked .md files you maintain long-term, with plugins, graph views, daily notes. Vela Docs is a browser editor for a single .md or .html file you want to share with someone right now. Most users of one could happily use the other.
Drop a file or click to upload
Up to 1 MB · stays in your browser
When to choose Obsidian

Obsidian is the better choice when: the content is a long-term personal knowledge base. You want backlinks, a graph view, daily notes, and plugins.

You prefer a desktop app you fully control over a web service. Files live on your disk, not on someone's server.

You're not regularly collaborating with non-Obsidian users. The single-player workflow is fine.

When to choose Vela Docs

Vela Docs is the better choice when: the file came from an AI assistant and you want to share or co-edit it with a team. Obsidian's collaboration story doesn't fit this case.

Your collaborator doesn't use Obsidian and you don't want to ask them to install one. The browser path is the shortest possible distance to "they're reading the file."

You need real-time cursors and inline comments anchored to text. Both are first-class in Vela Docs and not native to Obsidian.

You also work with .html files. Vela Docs handles both formats; Obsidian renders Markdown only.

Feature comparison

 Vela DocsObsidian
Real-time co-editingyesno
Inline comments anchored to textyesno
Drop a .md file in browseryesno
Browser-based, no installyesno
Share-by-linkyespaid (Publish)paid (Publish)
Renders GitHub-flavored Markdownyesyes
Native format is .mdyesyes
Multi-device syncbuilt-inbuilt-inpaid Syncpaid Sync
Graph view + backlinksnoyes
Daily notes / templatesnoyes
Plugin ecosystemnoyes
Local-first storageyesyes

Comparison reflects standard / free tiers as of 2026. Obsidian's feature set evolves; this page is updated when material differences change.

Common questions

Is Obsidian a collaborative editor?
Obsidian by default is single-player. Multi-device sync requires either a paid Obsidian Sync subscription or a third-party plugin (Git, Syncthing, iCloud). Real-time co-editing isn't a first-class feature; you can't see another person's cursor as they type. Vela Docs is real-time by design with live cursors and inline comments.
Can I open my Obsidian vault in Vela Docs?
Vela Docs opens one .md file at a time, not a whole vault. If you want to share a specific note from your Obsidian vault, export or copy it as a .md file and drop it on Vela Docs. The file round-trips: edits in Vela Docs save as clean .md, you can drag the result back into your vault.
Does Obsidian work in the browser?
No. Obsidian is a desktop / mobile app. There's no in-browser editing surface. Vela Docs is the inverse: browser-only, no install, no app store.
What about Obsidian's plugin ecosystem?
Obsidian has hundreds of community plugins (graph view, kanban, daily notes, calendars, etc.). Vela Docs doesn't have a plugin system; the focus is the file and the team, not the workspace around it. If plugins are core to your workflow, stick with Obsidian.
Mobile support?
Obsidian's mobile apps are paid for advanced sync but free to read. Vela Docs runs in mobile Safari / Chrome with no install for both viewing and short edits. For long writing sessions on mobile, neither is great; the keyboard is the limit.
How do I share an Obsidian note with someone who doesn't use Obsidian?
You don't, directly. Obsidian Publish (paid) generates a static site. The lighter path: export the note to .md, drop it on Vela Docs, send the share link. Your colleague doesn't need to install anything.

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