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

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.
TimeOWare helps you track and manage your online time easily. With its simple design and easy website blocking, TimeOWare is a valuable tool for enhancing digital well-being.
Key Features
  • 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
  • Time Tracking: Easily see how much time you spend on each website.
  • Daily Usage Stats: Get a clear overview of your daily online activity.
  • Website Blocking: Block distracting sites with a simple click.
  • Privacy-Focused: No data is transmitted; everything stays on your device.
  • Open Source: Check out the code on GitHub for transparency.
Our Rating
8.5
8.5
Total users
278,335
216
Total ratings
526
3
Average rating
4.7 ⭐
5.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.83
297 ratings
200.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
3 ratings
216Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.4
4.38
20 ratings
50.6K+Users
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Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.9
4.89
209 ratings
27.7K+Users
-
Safari
-
-
Features
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.

7.0

TimeOWare offers basic functions for checking the time spent on websites. These include time recording on websites, where the percentage of total time taken up by each website is displayed directly in real-time in a statistic.

statistics

Another feature is the blocking of websites. Websites can easily be blocked manually if you think that you no longer want to use this website. Here we would like to see the manual blocking of websites.

block websites

However, it lacks advanced features such as detailed analytics or customizable alerts that some users may find useful. Nevertheless, the core features are well implemented and serve the main purpose of improving digital well-being.

Performance
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.

9.0

TimeOWare works reliably, with no noticeable slowdowns or performance issues during use.
The extension runs in the background and provides real-time updates on time spent without affecting browser speed.

Design
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.

7.5

The design of TimeOWare is clear and intuitive, making it easy to find your way around immediately. All available functions can be used directly. The minimalist interface ensures that users are clearly shown which websites may pose problems for their digital well-being. In our tests, however, we found that there could be a little more customization options to adapt the displays to our own needs.

Value for Money
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.

9.0

As a completely free tool, TimeOWare offers excellent value for money as it provides essential time management features at no cost whatsoever.
The open-source nature of the extension also adds value as it allows users to review and modify the code if desired.
The only reason it doesn't get full marks is that some features offered by competitors are not yet available.

Ease of Use
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.

8.5

TimeOWare is easy to use, with little set-up time.
Once installed, it starts tracking time immediately. Likewise, the limited settings are self-explanatory and should be easy for anyone to understand.

settings

In our tests, we noticed that if several tabs are opened next to each other, they are also added up in the extension at the same time. The total number of hours is therefore higher than the actual number in the browser. This can be somewhat confusing for new users.

total time
Security & Privacy
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.

10

TimeOWare is characterized by security and privacy, as it does not transmit any user data to the outside world and all information is only stored offline on the user's device.
This privacy-focused approach is a key benefit for users who are concerned about data security. Users can also check the code used on GitHub themselves if they have any concerns.

Conclusion

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.

TimeOWare is a great choice for anyone who wants to manage their online time more effectively and realize how much time is spent on websites.

Its simple design and privacy-focused approach make it, in our opinion, a standout option in the time management space.

We felt in testing that a little more customization and even more features could further improve the extension. Overall, however, we think TimeOWare is already a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their digital well-being.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Obsidian Web Clipper and TimeOWare, all extensions performed equally well, each scoring 8.5.

Obsidian Web Clipper is the most widely used, with over 278k users and 526+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Obsidian Web Clipper reflect our findings, while we rate TimeOWare lower than users do.

Notably, TimeOWare has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 5.00, which is even higher than our rating of 8.5.

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? Obsidian Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 8.7. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Need top performance? TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 9. 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, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Obsidian Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 9.7. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • If you hate complicated tools, TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 8.5. 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, TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, Obsidian Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.5.

There's no single winner, so check the categories above to find your best fit.