What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a Markdown note app, local-first with plain text vaults, cross-platform, backlinks and graph view, plugins and themes, free core, paid Sync with end-to-end encryption.
Obsidian: Local-first notes that actually scale
Local Markdown, no lock-in
Obsidian stores everything as plain Markdown in a local “vault.” You’re not trapped in a database or someone’s cloud. Link notes with [[brackets]], surface backlinks, and get a graph view that’s more useful than pretty. It feels like a file system that grew cross-links and a memory.
Plugins that turn notes into a lab
The plugin ecosystem is the real engine. From Dataview dashboards to Tasks, Canvas, and spaced-repetition, you can bend notes into a research lab or a lightweight personal knowledge management (PKM) setup. Themes and hotkeys are deep without being precious. You opt in, piece by piece, and it runs offline on desktop and mobile.
Power comes with friction
Here’s the tax: setup and discipline. Expect knobs, YAML, and the occasional plugin rabbit hole. Official sync and publishing cost extra, and real-time collaboration is thin. If you want a quick scratchpad, look elsewhere. If you think in links and care about longevity, Obsidian earns its keep.
What features and use cases does Obsidian offer?
- Local-first, Markdown-based note-taking with vaults and folders
- Bidirectional links, backlinks, and graph view to map idea connections
- Powerful tagging, search, and filters for organizing knowledge
- Templates, daily notes, and Wikilinks for fast capture and structure
- Extensible via community plugins and themes; customizable hotkeys/workflows
- Cross-platform desktop and mobile apps; optional end-to-end encrypted sync
- Suited for personal knowledge management, research, and long-form writing
Prices
| Plan | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | free | Core app for individual use; unlimited notes and community plugins. |
| Commercial | $50/user/year | License for business/commercial use. |
| Sync | $8/month billed annually ($10 month-to-month) | End-to-end encrypted sync and version history across devices. |
| Publish | $16/month billed annually ($20 month-to-month) | Publish selected notes as a website; custom domain support. |
| Catalyst (Supporter) | from $25 one-time | Optional supporter license; access to Insider builds and badge. |
Prices may vary by region. We do not guarantee the accuracy of prices. For current information see: https://obsidian.md
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