An Obsidian alternative that's a single file.
Obsidian is a fine local-first app. The Writing Desk is a different bet: not a program, but one HTML file that opens in any browser and dies with no company attached.
Obsidian's plain-Markdown folder is close to as portable as software gets, this page is honest about that. The Writing Desk is for people who prefer their entire notes system to be a single artifact rather than a folder + an app + a plugin set.
The Obsidian price above comes from our Subscription Price Index, read at source and checked on 3 August 2026.
Why one file vs a vault
A vault is portable in theory; in practice most people accumulate plugin dependencies that make "just move the vault" a small project. One HTML file is portable in the way a photo is portable.
Backlinks and graph view
The Writing Desk supports internal links between notes and a lightweight graph view. It's less elaborate than Obsidian's, that's intentional, not an oversight.
Where Obsidian wins
If you're deep into the plugin ecosystem, or you want a native app with keyboard-power at every corner, Obsidian is genuinely better. The Writing Desk is for the person who realised the plugin ecosystem was doing them.
Common questions
Can I import my Obsidian vault?
Paste-in works well for individual notes. Bulk import isn't automated, most people move the fifty notes they actually re-read.
Is there a mobile app?
The file opens in mobile Safari / Chrome and works offline. There is no App Store app.
Do you have a Publish equivalent?
No. If you want to publish notes, export them and put them on any host. Nothing tied to us.
What if I want plugins?
You'll be happier on Obsidian. That's a real answer, not a rhetorical one.