Sync Vault vs Obsidian Sync
Sync Vault vs Obsidian Sync: Which Should You Choose?
Section titled “Sync Vault vs Obsidian Sync: Which Should You Choose?”Both Sync Vault and Obsidian Sync keep your notes in sync across devices. But they take very different approaches. This guide breaks down the key differences to help you pick the right one.
Quick Comparison
Section titled “Quick Comparison”| Feature | Sync Vault (Free) | Sync Vault (Pro) | Obsidian Sync (Official) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | 59 lifetime | 96/year |
| Cloud Storage | Your own (Baidu, Aliyun, WebDAV, S3) | Your own + Baidu, Quark, OneDrive | Obsidian’s servers only |
| Storage Limit | Unlimited (your cloud quota) | Unlimited | 1 GB included |
| VFS (Zero-Space Sync) | No | Yes | No |
| 4K Video Streaming | Trial only | Yes (Baidu, Aliyun, Quark) | No |
| P2P Real-Time Sync | No | Yes (WebRTC + Yjs) | Yes (but limited) |
| MCP AI Integration | Limited | Full access | No |
| E2E Encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conflict Resolution | Keep latest | Smart merge + manual | Smart merge |
| Cross-Platform | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Same | Same |
Key Differences
Section titled “Key Differences”1. Cloud Storage: Your Data, Your Cloud
Section titled “1. Cloud Storage: Your Data, Your Cloud”Obsidian Sync stores your notes on Obsidian’s servers. You get 1 GB included, and can buy more at $0.15/GB/month. Your data lives on their infrastructure.
Sync Vault uses your own cloud storage — Baidu Netdisk, Aliyun Drive, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3, and more. Your notes stay in accounts you control. No extra storage fees if you already have a cloud subscription.
TIPWhy This Matters If you already pay for Baidu VIP or Aliyun Drive, Sync Vault lets you use that storage for notes — no additional cost.
2. VFS: Access TBs Without Filling Your Disk
Section titled “2. VFS: Access TBs Without Filling Your Disk”Obsidian Sync downloads everything to your device. A 50 GB vault means 50 GB on every device.
Sync Vault Pro uses VFS (Virtual File System) — files appear as tiny stubs (.osvc) in your vault. They occupy zero space until you click to hydrate them. Access terabytes of notes from a 200 MB local footprint.
3. Video Streaming: Watch Without Downloading
Section titled “3. Video Streaming: Watch Without Downloading”Obsidian Sync doesn’t support video streaming. You must download large files to view them.
Sync Vault Pro streams 4K video directly from Baidu, Aliyun, and Quark — zero local storage required. Perfect for researchers with large video libraries.
4. MCP AI Integration: Let AI Read Your Cloud
Section titled “4. MCP AI Integration: Let AI Read Your Cloud”Obsidian Sync has no AI integration. Your notes stay locked in Obsidian’s ecosystem.
Sync Vault Pro includes a built-in MCP Server. Connect Claude, Cursor, or Trae to your vault. Ask questions about thousands of cloud PDFs without downloading them.
5. P2P Collaboration: Real-Time Editing
Section titled “5. P2P Collaboration: Real-Time Editing”Both support real-time collaboration, but with different approaches:
- Obsidian Sync: Server-mediated, requires internet
- Sync Vault Pro: Direct device-to-device via WebRTC, works on LAN with zero latency
When to Choose Obsidian Sync
Section titled “When to Choose Obsidian Sync”- You want a simple, set-and-forget solution
- You don’t mind paying $8/month for 1 GB storage
- You don’t need video streaming or AI integration
- You prefer Obsidian’s official infrastructure
When to Choose Sync Vault
Section titled “When to Choose Sync Vault”- You already have cloud storage subscriptions (Baidu, Aliyun, etc.)
- You need to access TB-scale vaults without filling your disk (VFS)
- You want 4K video streaming from cloud drives
- You want AI tools (Claude, Cursor) to read your cloud files
- You want to save money — Pro costs less than Obsidian Sync
Migration Guide
Section titled “Migration Guide”Switching from Obsidian Sync to Sync Vault is straightforward:
- Export your vault from Obsidian Sync (Settings → Sync → Export)
- Install Sync Vault from the community plugins market
- Connect your cloud storage (see Cloud Setup)
- Import your vault into Sync Vault
- Disable Obsidian Sync to avoid conflicts
IMPORTANTImportant Disable other sync plugins (including Obsidian Sync) when using Sync Vault to avoid conflicts.
Pricing Comparison (Annual)
Section titled “Pricing Comparison (Annual)”| Plan | Sync Vault | Obsidian Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Basic | — | $96/year (1 GB) |
| Pro (Monthly) | $48/year | — |
| Pro (Yearly) | $32/year | — |
| Lifetime | $59 (one-time) | — |
Sync Vault Pro saves you $64/year compared to Obsidian Sync, with unlimited storage and more features.
Sync Vault: Use your own cloud, pay less, get more.