Productivity Review

Obsidian Review

Local-first knowledge base built on markdown — your notes are future-proof plain text files.

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star4.5(6,780+ reviews)

thumb_upPros

check_circleYour data stays on your device
check_circlePowerful linking and graph view
check_circleMassive plugin ecosystem
check_circleCompletely free for personal use

thumb_downCons

cancelLearning curve for new users
cancelNo built-in collaboration
cancelMobile sync requires paid plan
cancelRequires manual setup for advanced features

Core Capabilities

checkLocal markdown files — no vendor lock-in

checkBidirectional linking between notes

checkGraph view for visualizing connections

check1000+ community plugins

checkCustom themes and CSS

checkCanvas for visual thinking

checkObsidian Sync and Publish (paid)

Pricing

Free / $10/mo (Sync)

Starting price

About Obsidian

Obsidian is a local-first note-taking and knowledge management tool that stores everything as plain markdown files on your device. It features bidirectional linking, graph view for visualizing note connections, and a rich plugin ecosystem. Obsidian is ideal for researchers, writers, and anyone who wants full ownership of their notes without vendor lock-in.

Best For

Personal Knowledge Management

Build a second brain with bidirectional links and graph visualization connecting all your notes.

Research and Writing

Organize research notes with markdown and link them together for easy cross-referencing.

Pricing Plans

Personal

Free

✓Unlimited notes
✓All core features
✓Plugins and themes

Sync

$10/mo

✓End-to-end encrypted sync
✓Version history
✓All devices

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Obsidian free?

Yes, Obsidian is completely free for personal use. Paid add-ons include Sync ($10/mo) and Publish ($8/mo).

Can I use Obsidian without internet?

Yes, Obsidian works entirely offline since all notes are stored locally as markdown files on your device.