COMPREHENSIVE COMPARISON
Kept vs Obsidian: Dedicated iPhone reflection vs markdown vault setup
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base with graph views and infinite plugins. Kept is a dedicated private iPhone journal that requires zero configuration and writes you a one-page summary on request.
Overview
Setting up a daily journal in Obsidian requires configuring vaults, daily notes plugins, template formats, and sync tools. Kept requires zero setup: it opens instantly to today's date, protects your database with Keychain encryption, and automatically compiles periodic review pages.
Direct feature comparison
| Dimension | Kept | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Required | Zero (Ready on install) | Vault, templates, and plugin configuration |
| Database Encryption | SQLCipher AES-256 + Keychain | Plain text files in filesystem |
| One-Page Summaries | Built-in structured synthesis on request | Manual note compilation |
| Export Portability | Standard Markdown export & encrypted backup | Local Markdown files |
Key differences in practice
Mobile Experience & Speed
Native iOS app with instant startup, smooth keyboard handling, and ambient shader visuals.
Cross-platform mobile wrapper requiring vault loading and plugin indexing.
Summary Automation
Generates structured one-page summaries with counted facts and extracted quotes on request.
Requires manual review or configuring third-party community AI plugins.
On-Device Security
SQLCipher database encrypted with hardware keys in the iOS Keychain and Face ID locking.
Plain text files stored in the local file system unencrypted at rest.
The verdict
If you want an interconnected personal wiki and research vault on desktop, Obsidian is an exceptional tool. If you want a private iPhone journal for therapy and daily reflection that works immediately with zero configuration, Kept provides the focused space.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export my Kept journal into my Obsidian vault?
Yes. Kept exports clean Markdown (.md) files that integrate seamlessly into any Obsidian vault.
Compare other journals
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