Opensidian vs Tangent Notes

Tangent (tangentnotes.com) is an open-source notes app for Mac, Windows and Linux. Both Tangent and Opensidian work with local files: notes are markdown files that other text editors can read.

Differences

• Licence. Tangent is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence. Opensidian is open source under GPL-3.0-or-later.
• Price. Tangent says it is free and will always be. Opensidian costs nothing and is non-profit.
• Platforms. Tangent is made for Mac, Windows and Linux, with binaries on its download page and on Flathub. Opensidian release builds are Linux x86_64 only.
• Approach. Tangent uses [[Wiki Links]] with a slightly customised markdown syntax, sliding panels, and a two-dimensional map of your navigation and links. Opensidian follows Obsidian's behaviour and vault format: live preview, source and reading modes, backlinks, tags, a graph view, tabs and splits.
• Themes and plugins. Opensidian runs most Obsidian community themes and, once you allow it per vault, Obsidian community plugins.
• Maturity. Tangent's download page calls it an open alpha. Opensidian is under heavy development.
• Sync. Opensidian has no sync service of its own; you sync the folder with a tool you choose.

When Tangent is the better choice

If you are on Mac or Windows, Tangent runs there and Opensidian has no release builds there. If you like writing along sliding panels with a map of where you have been, that is what Tangent is designed around.

When Opensidian fits

If you already have an Obsidian vault, or want Obsidian community themes and plugins, Opensidian opens that vault as it is.

Moving from Tangent to Opensidian

Opensidian has no Tangent importer. Tangent's notes are markdown files on your disk, so you can open a copy of the folder in Opensidian. Tangent's customised markdown syntax is not converted, so check a few notes after opening them.

More comparisons

All comparisons · Obsidian · Logseq · OneNote · Google Docs · FAQ · Security · Install Opensidian

Tangent is a trademark of its owner; opensidian is not affiliated with it.