Klad vs Cairn

Klad is a lightning-fast, offline-first Markdown notebook built specifically for developers and privacy-conscious thinkers. Instead of locking your notes in a proprietary database or charging you a monthly fee for cloud storage, Klad syncs directly to your own remote Git repository. You own your data, plain and simple. Whether you are tracking daily tasks, writing code snippets, or building a second brain, Klad stays out of your way. Your vault lives on your device as standard, plain-text Markdown files. This makes Klad perfectly interoperable with desktop tools like Obsidian, VS Code, or any other text editor you choose. CORE FEATURES • 100% Data Ownership: Bring your own vault. No proprietary formats, no forced cloud accounts, and zero vendor lock-in. • Native Git Sync: Choose between seamless background Auto-Sync to keep your devices updated, or take full manual control with dedicated Push/Pull commands. • Frictionless Markdown: A fast, native-feeling editor that perfectly renders headers, task lists, code blocks, and wikilinks. • Daily Notes: A built-in calendar view instantly drops you into today's note, perfect for daily standups, journaling, or habit tracking. • Local Organization: Manage your vault your way with standard folder and file structures. Built for speed and simplicity, Klad gives you the power of version-controlled, offline-first note-taking right in your pocket. Terms of Use: https://kladnotes.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://kladnotes.com/privacy

Cairn is a fast, native task and note companion that lives on top of the Markdown files you already own. Point it at your Obsidian vault — or any folder of Markdown notes — and your tasks and notes appear in clean, focused views. Everything you do in Cairn is written straight back to your files as plain text, in the Obsidian Tasks format. YOUR NOTES STAY YOURS • No account, no sign-up, no Cairn cloud database — your tasks live in your own files • Cairn does not send your notes or tasks to the developer • Careful, patch-based edits change only the content you touched, preserving the rest of your note • Works alongside Obsidian, iCloud Drive, Git, or any sync you already use CAPTURE, BROWSE, AND PLAN • Browse and edit Markdown notes directly in your vault • Quick capture into your daily note, with date, tag, and priority tokens parsed as you type • Choose where longer captures are saved • Today, Upcoming, Inbox, and Pool views, plus a global filter for folders, tags, dates, priority, and status • Full support for sub-tasks and task hierarchies • Recurring tasks in Obsidian Tasks format, with safe completion handling • Convert upcoming calendar events into tasks, or mirror your dated tasks into a calendar you choose (optional) STAY ON TRACK • Local reminders for due tasks — including sunrise-relative reminders computed entirely on your device • A Live Activity keeps today's progress on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island • Home Screen widgets and a Control Center quick-capture control • Search across every task in your vault MADE FOR OBSIDIAN — NOT ONLY OBSIDIAN Cairn reads and writes the Obsidian Tasks plugin format (due, scheduled, start, and done dates, priorities, recurrence, tags), so your vault stays fully compatible with your desktop setup. Don't use Obsidian? Create a plain task folder in the Files app and Cairn works as a stand-alone Markdown to-do app. Cairn asks for access only to the folder you pick. Calendar access and location (used to compute local sunrise times) are optional and processed on your device. If you choose iCloud Drive or another Files or calendar provider, that provider's own sync and privacy terms apply.