Compare Obsidian Web Clipper and Urban VPN Proxy: 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.
Urban VPN Proxy offers a free VPN service with additional integrated functions such as adblocking. There are only concerns about the comprehensive data collection.
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
  • IP Address Masking: Allows users to change their IP location to any of the 77 available countries.
  • Ad-Blocking: Protects against annoying ads and mining websites.
  • Encryption: Complies with the latest OpenVPN standards for secure browsing.
  • No Additional Software Required: Easy installation as a browser extension.
  • Free Service: Offers a vast network of 530+ VPN servers without a subscription fee.
Our Rating
8.5
7.4
Total users
278,335
6,463,814
Total ratings
526
56,408
Average rating
4.7 ⭐
4.4 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.83
297 ratings
200.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
4.63
53.0K+ ratings
5.0M+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.4
4.38
20 ratings
50.6K+Users
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.4
4.05
946 ratings
1.3M+Users
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.9
4.89
209 ratings
27.7K+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.2
3.86
2.5K+ ratings
154.7K+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.

8.0

Several features are included in the free Urban VPN Proxy. The most obvious is IP address masking, which allows VPN access to servers in over 80 countries.

vpn

An adblocking function is also integrated as an add-on, which reduces unwanted advertising while surfing and also protects against mining websites.

adblocking

However, advanced security features such as a kill switch or multi-hop connections, which are available in some premium VPNs, are missing here, probably due to the free version.

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.

5.5

The performance of Urban VPN Proxy was good at the beginning of the tests, the connection speed and server availability were also okay, but could be even better in our tests. Especially at peak times, when the server load is high, you notice a sharp drop in speed.
After longer testing, the connection drops and throttled speeds became more and more frequent at peak times. The performance may still be sufficient for occasional users, but those who need a stable connection will not find what they are looking for with the free extension.

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.

8.0

The design of Urban VPN Proxy is clear and simple. Every user is immediately shown the basic functions and these can be switched on and off directly as required.
The design could be a little more customizable and generally look a little more modern.

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.

8.0

Urban VPN Proxy is free and has a good price-performance ratio. With access to over 530 servers without a subscription fee, it's perfect for any basic user. You also get additional functions such as adblocking for free.

However, it should be noted and clear to everyone that you “pay” for the use by saving your tracked data through the extension.

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.

9.0

Urban VPN Proxy is a very easy-to-use tool overall. The installation process is quick and uncomplicated, and you can start establishing a VPN connection immediately after installation. Every user should have no problems with it, only the performance problems can cause some users to despair.

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.

6.0

Urban VPN Proxy offers basic encryption according to OpenVPN standards. Due to the VPN function, you initially browse the websites anonymously. At the same time, however, the service collects precisely this web browsing data for itself. The data is collected in an anonymized format. The browser extension also lacks a clear no-logs policy and other advanced security functions, which also affects the rating in this category.

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.

Urban VPN Proxy is a perfect choice for those looking for a free VPN service with basic features.


It stands out for its ease of use and offers a wide range of server locations.
The only drawback is the extensive data collection. After all, this is explicitly pointed out several times before use and active consent is required.


Overall, the service offers good value for money. However, if you want to use a VPN because of the anonymity on the Internet, you will have to use a different option due to the extensive data collection.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Obsidian Web Clipper and Urban VPN Proxy, Obsidian Web Clipper came out on top, scoring 8.5.

Urban VPN Proxy is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 56k+ reviews, but Obsidian Web Clipper outperformed it in our review. User reviews for Obsidian Web Clipper reflect our findings, while we rate Urban VPN Proxy lower than users do.

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.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.



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