Compare Matter and Obsidian Web Clipper: Which Extension is the Best?

Matter uses AI to help you read and listen smarter—transcribe podcasts, speed up audio, and organize content for faster, more effective learning.
Obsidian Web Clipper is a browser extension that lets you save, highlight, and organize web content to your Obsidian vault with templates, hotkeys, metadata extraction, and local storage.
Key Features
  • AI Transcription: Convert podcasts and YouTube videos into readable text
  • Speed Listening: Listen to articles at 2x speed with natural-sounding voices
  • Service Integration: Connect with Kindle, Gmail, and popular note-taking apps
  • Content Organization: Save and categorize your reading materials efficiently
  • Cross-Platform Access: Access your content across different devices
  • Privacy-focusedSave anything: Capture entire pages, selected text, or main content
  • Highlight: Mark important passages that remain visible when revisiting pages
  • Templates: Customize how web pages are saved with automatic metadata extraction
  • Rules: Apply specific templates based on website patterns
  • Hotkeys: Quick save pages with keyboard shortcuts
  • Offline access: All content is stored locally in your Obsidian vault
  • Privacy focused: No data collection or third-party sharing
Our Rating
9.0
8.5
Total users
20,000
272,290
Total ratings
28
508
Average rating
4.1 ⭐
4.7 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.1
3.75
28 ratings
20.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.83
287 ratings
200.0K+Users
Edge
-
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.4
4.38
20 ratings
46.4K+Users
Firefox
-
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.9
4.90
201 ratings
25.8K+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
9.2

Matter's feature set is imposing, offering a comprehensive suite of tools that enhance the reading and listening experience. The AI transcription capabilities are particularly noteworthy, as they accurately convert spoken content into readable text.

text to speech

The speed listening feature with natural-sounding voices is a game-changer for consuming content efficiently. The integration options with popular services like Kindle and Gmail make it a versatile tool for content management. The regular updates and improvements show a commitment to enhancing the user experience.

8.7

The extension offers a comprehensive set of features that cover all essential web clipping needs. The templating system is particularly powerful, allowing for automatic metadata extraction and custom formatting. The highlight feature works well, though we noticed some issues with certain websites. The ability to save different types of content (full page, selection, main content) provides flexibility. The hotkey system is well-implemented and customizable.

Performance
9.2

Matter delivers reliable performance across all its features. Content processing is fast and efficient, handling various file types and formats smoothly. The sync capabilities work reliably across devices, ensuring content is always up to date. The tool uses system resources efficiently, maintaining good performance even with multiple features in use. Response times are quick, providing a snappy user experience. The stability across different platforms is impressive, though occasional minor issues may occur during heavy usage.

6.5

The direct clipping to Obsidian did not work properly in the test. Only the headline was saved; the rest was not. However, with the intermediate step, Clip to Clipboard and then paste, it works. The clipping process can be slow on certain websites. The highlight feature sometimes lags on content-heavy pages. The extension uses minimal system resources.

Design
8.8

The interface design is clean and modern, making it easy to navigate through different features. The layout is intuitive, with a clear hierarchy that helps users find what they need quickly. The mobile-responsive design ensures a smooth experience across devices. While the design is generally excellent, there's room for improvement in some areas of the mobile interface.

8.9

The interface is clean and intuitive, following Obsidian's design language. The popup menu is well-organized and easy to navigate. The highlight interface is straightforward and user-friendly. The settings page is logically structured, though some advanced options could be better documented. The visual feedback during clipping operations is clear and helpful.

Value for Money
9.3

The free tier offers substantial value, providing access to most essential features without cost. The premium pricing is competitive compared to similar tools in the market. Regular feature updates ensure that users get ongoing value from their subscription. The cross-platform access adds significant value for users who work across multiple devices.

9.7

The extension is completely free with all features included. There are no premium tiers or paid versions. The feature set is comprehensive and well-implemented. The value proposition is excellent compared to paid alternatives.

Ease of Use
9.0

Matter is very user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process that gets users started quickly. The controls are intuitive and well-placed, making it easy to access key features. The content organization system is logical and easy to understand. The onboarding process is helpful, guiding new users through the main features. The learning curve is minimal, allowing users to get the most out of the tool without extensive training.

8.0

Basic usage is straightforward - just click the extension icon and select what to save. The highlight feature is intuitive and works well. However, setting up custom templates requires some technical knowledge. The learning curve for advanced features can be steep. The documentation could be more comprehensive for new users.

Security & Privacy
8.7

The tool takes security seriously, implementing robust data encryption to protect user information. The privacy-focused design ensures that user data is handled responsibly. The company maintains transparency about data handling practices through a clear privacy policy. Regular security updates help maintain a secure environment. While the security measures are solid, some users might want more control over their data sharing preferences.

9.5

The extension maintains excellent privacy standards. All data is stored locally in your Obsidian vault. No data is collected or shared with third parties. The extension doesn't require any special permissions. The code is open source, allowing for community review. The developer has a clear privacy policy.

Conclusion

Matter is a well-designed tool for increasing productivity. Its ability to change the way we consume content from text to speech is particularly ideal for those who need to process information quickly.

The free version offers enough functionality for casual users, while the premium features offer significant added value for power users.

Although there are some areas for improvement, Matter's core functionality and ease of use make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their reading and listening experience.

The Obsidian Web Clipper is a powerful, privacy-friendly tool for saving web content. Its integration with Obsidian makes it particularly valuable for users of the note platform.

The current focus is still on issues with clipping certain content types and occasional performance issues, which need to be resolved. The robust features and commitment to privacy make it a top choice for storing web content once the issues are resolved.

For Obsidian users looking to improve their web research workflow, this extension is a must-have tool that delivers on its promise while maintaining user privacy and data control.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Matter and Obsidian Web Clipper, Matter came out on top, scoring 9.

Obsidian Web Clipper is the most widely used, with over 272k users and 508+ reviews, but Matter outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, Obsidian Web Clipper has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.69, which supports its strong performance in our review.

In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Matter stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Obsidian Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.
  • Need top performance? Matter stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Obsidian Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Obsidian Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 8.9. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Obsidian Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9.7. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.3.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Matter stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Obsidian Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Obsidian Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.

If you want a quick recommendation, Matter is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.