MD HD vs Obsidian: Which Is Better for Reading Markdown?
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base and editor. MD HD is a dedicated iPhone reader for Dropbox and local markdown files.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MD HD | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Experience | PDF-like, mobile-first | Preview mode |
| Cloud Storage | Dropbox + local imports | Local vault (Obsidian Sync paid) |
| Setup Required | Connect Dropbox or import | Create vault, migrate files |
| Mobile App | iPhone (Android planned) | iOS + Android (free, limited) |
| Editing | Not included in 1.0 | Full editor with plugins |
| Price | Free / $5.99 / $9.99 mo | Free / Sync $4/mo / Publish $8/mo |
Why Choose MD HD
Obsidian is an incredibly powerful tool — if you want to build a personal knowledge base with linked notes, graphs, and plugins. But if your markdown files already live in Dropbox, Obsidian requires you to migrate them into a local vault.
MD HD takes the opposite approach: connect Dropbox or import selected local files, then read them without moving them into a proprietary library.
- ✓Dropbox and local file access
- ✓Focused connect-and-read setup
- ✓Beautiful mobile-first reading
- ✓No proprietary library migration
Where Obsidian Shines
To be fair, Obsidian excels in areas MD HD does not try to compete. If you need a full-featured knowledge management system, Obsidian is hard to beat.
- Plugin ecosystem
- Graph view
- Advanced editing
- Local-first storage
The Bottom Line
Choose Obsidian if you want a powerful editor and knowledge graph for a local vault of notes. Choose MD HD if you want focused iPhone reading for Dropbox and local markdown files.
Join the Waitlist →Ready to read markdown beautifully?
MD HD 1.0 is being prepared for iPhone. Join the waitlist for release and beta availability updates.
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