Obsidian
Review · Documentation & Knowledge · Freemium
About Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain Markdown files. Its bi-directional linking creates a network of connected notes—a personal knowledge graph.
Unlike cloud-based tools, Obsidian stores notes locally as Markdown files. This means you own your data completely and can access it without internet. The app is essentially a viewer for your text files, ensuring your knowledge is future-proof.
Plugins extend Obsidian's capabilities—there are hundreds for everything from calendars to Kanban boards to mind maps. For personal knowledge management (PKM) enthusiasts building a "second brain," Obsidian is the tool of choice.
Our Take on Obsidian
Verdict: Obsidian is a local-first, Markdown note-taking app with linked notes, plugins and complete ownership of your files. It's excellent for individual knowledge work: research, writing, personal wikis. It's a weak fit as a shared team wiki. And it's free, including for commercial use. The optional commercial licence ($50/user/year) is a way to support the project, not a requirement.
Pricing
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| App (personal and commercial use) | Free |
| Commercial licence (optional) | $50/user/year |
| Sync (across devices) | $4/mo annual, $5 monthly |
| Publish (public site from notes) | $8/mo annual, $10 monthly |
You can skip Sync by storing your vault in iCloud, Dropbox or Git. Sync adds end-to-end encryption and version history.
Where Obsidian shines for remote workers
- Your files, your folders. Plain Markdown that never locks you in.
- Linked thinking. Backlinks and graph view for connecting ideas.
- Works offline, which matters on flights and unreliable connections.
- Plugin ecosystem for tasks, calendars and templates.
Where it falls short
- Not built for team collaboration. No real-time co-editing or permissions like Notion or Confluence.
- Setup and plugins take time to tune.
- Sync is a paid add-on if you want automatic syncing across devices.
Choose Obsidian if
- You want a personal knowledge base you fully own
- You work offline often, or prefer Markdown
Avoid Obsidian if
- You need a shared team wiki. Use Notion or Confluence
More in documentation tools.
Sources (checked 2026-10-09)
Key Features
- ✓Bi-directional links
- ✓Graph view of note connections
- ✓Local Markdown files
- ✓500+ community plugins
- ✓Custom themes
- ✓Canvas for visual thinking
Pricing
App
$0 (incl. commercial use)
- • Local Markdown files
- • Plugins
Sync
$4/mo (annual)
- • Encrypted sync
- • Version history
Publish
$8/mo (annual)
- • Publish notes as a site
Other Documentation & Knowledge Tools
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Obsidian free?
Yes, Obsidian is completely free for personal use with unlimited notes and all core features. Paid services include Sync ($5/mo) and Publish ($10/mo).
Does Obsidian sync across devices?
Obsidian stores notes locally. For sync, you can use Obsidian Sync ($5/mo), iCloud, Dropbox, or other file sync services.
What is Obsidian used for?
Obsidian is used for personal knowledge management, research notes, journaling, and building connected knowledge bases using bi-directional linking.
Quick Verdict
Markdown-based note-taking with bi-directional linking for personal knowledge
92/100 · Excellent
Pros
- ✓Your data stays local
- ✓Extremely customizable via plugins
- ✓Fast and lightweight
Cons
- ✗Sync requires paid add-on
- ✗Steeper learning curve
- ✗Less collaborative than cloud tools
Compare With