Obsidian

Obsidian is a private note-taking and knowledge management app with local Markdown notes, links, graph view, Canvas, plugins, themes, sync and publishing.

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Overview

Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge management app built around local Markdown files, links, and flexible organization. It is designed for people who want a private workspace for personal notes, research, journaling, project planning, or a broader knowledge base.

The core app is free without limits and stores notes on your device, with optional paid services for syncing notes across devices and publishing notes to the web. Obsidian also supports plugins, themes, Canvas, graph view, and open file formats so users can shape the app around their own workflow.

Features

Local plain-text notes

Store notes as local Markdown files on your device so they remain accessible offline and under your control.

Connected note taking

Connect ideas with links, tags, backlinks, and a graph view to reveal relationships across a vault.

Canvas for visual thinking

Use Canvas to lay out research, brainstorming, and diagrams in an open workspace.

Plugins, themes, and API

Extend Obsidian with thousands of plugins, themes, and an open API to adapt the app to different workflows.

Obsidian Sync

Sync notes across devices with end-to-end encryption, version history, selective sync, and shared vaults.

Obsidian Publish

Publish notes as a website with custom domains, themes, password protection, SEO features, and mobile-friendly pages.

Use Cases

Private personal notes
Write personal notes, journal entries, and long-form ideas in a private workspace that stays on your device and works offline.
Research and knowledge management
Build a linked knowledge base for research, reference material, and project planning using notes, backlinks, graph view, and Canvas.
Cross-device access with Sync
Keep files in sync across phones, tablets, laptops, and even a server while preserving end-to-end encryption and version history.
Publishing notes to the web
Turn a set of notes into a published wiki, documentation site, or digital garden with themes, custom domains, and password protection.
Shared vault collaboration
Share a vault with a team that needs collaborative access while keeping company data private and controlled through Sync.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Free without limits and no sign-up required for the core app.
Notes are stored locally as plain text Markdown files.
End-to-end encryption is available for Sync.
Thousands of plugins and themes make the app highly adaptable.
Publish supports custom domains, password protection, and SEO-friendly sites.

Cons

Sync and Publish are separate paid add-ons rather than part of the free app.
Some collaborative and web-publishing workflows depend on optional services, not the core app alone.

FAQ

Is Obsidian free to use?

No. The pricing page says Obsidian is free without limits and does not require sign-up.

Do I need Sync to use Obsidian?

Obsidian Sync is optional. The product notes say your notes are stored locally on your device, and Sync adds encrypted synchronization across devices.

What is Obsidian Publish for?

Obsidian Publish is an optional add-on that lets you turn notes into a website, such as a wiki, knowledge base, documentation site, or digital garden.

Can teams use Obsidian together?

Yes. The site says shared vaults are supported in Sync, and Publish and Sync both mention team collaboration or shared use cases.

What is the refund policy?

Obsidian Sync and Publish are refundable within 7 days of purchase, while Catalyst, Commercial, and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable.