Obsidian

Obsidian is a versatile and private note-taking app designed to adapt to individual thinking styles. It supports open file formats for durability, ensures data privacy by storing information locally, and offers extensive customization options. From personal journaling to managing complex knowledge bases, Obsidian provides tools to organize ideas effectively while prioritizing user independence and security.

Founded in	2020
Location	🇨🇦 Canada
Founders	Erica Xu, Shida Li

Features

Plans

Free

Free forever

◈All app features

◈No account or sign up required

◈Themes, plugins and API

◈Community support

Commercial use

$50 USD Per user, per year

◈Commercial use license

◈14-day free trial

◈Priority support

Add-ons (Sync)

$4 USD Per user, per month, billed annually

◈Sync notes across devices

◈End-to-end encryption

◈Version history

◈Priority email support

Add-ons (Publish)

$8 USD Per site, per month, billed annually

◈Publish notes to the web

◈No technical knowledge required

◈Graph view and outline

◈Priority email support

Early access - Catalyst

$25+ USD One-time payment

◈Support development

◈Early access to beta versions

◈Special community badges

◈Access to VIP channel

Refund Policy

Obsidian offers a full refund within 7 days of purchase for services like Obsidian Publish and Obsidian Sync, but does not provide refunds for Catalyst licenses or Obsidian Credit.

Ratings

trustpilot(4.0/5)

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capterra(4.8/5)

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producthunt(4.9/5)

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Ai Opinion

✦

AI Rating(4.7/5)

Based on reviews from various sources, obsidian.md earns a 4.7/5 stars rating.

What users like: Easy, intuitive and clutter-free interface, ability to use it locally, extensive variety of plugins, multiple flexible pricing options, customizable interface, boosts productivity, enhances learning, customizable workspace, excellent mobile app, active community with a wide range of add-ons, fast note-taking, fuzzy filename matching, full-text search, tags, markdown and hosting all your notes on your own computer.

What users don't like: Slight learning curve, requires regular maintenance, no inherent support for collaboration, lack of proper bibliography/citations management, performance drops in large vaults, slow navigation between different notes, no web version, no seamless integration for team collaboration, no good solution to annotate PDFs, search can be terrible if the search term is more than one word.

Conclusion: Obsidian stands out for its unique linking feature and customization options, making it a standout choice for note-taking and knowledge management.

Sources:

theprocesshacker.com

softwareadvice.com

techrepublic.com

Expert Opinion

✎

Expert Rating(4.6/5)

I recently tested Obsidian, a powerful markdown-based note-taking application designed to help users organize and connect their ideas effectively. Here is my detailed review:

Obsidian excels in its ability to create a networked knowledge base through bidirectional linking, allowing users to connect notes seamlessly. This feature transforms the way information is organized, making it ideal for personal knowledge management, research, and creative projects. The app's Graph View visually maps these connections, offering a unique perspective on how ideas relate to one another.

The platform is highly customizable, with an extensive plugin ecosystem that enables users to tailor the app to their specific needs. From Kanban boards for project management to advanced search functionalities, the plugins enhance productivity and flexibility. Additionally, Obsidian's **local-first approach** ensures that your data remains private and accessible offline, which is particularly appealing for those concerned about data security.

Obsidian's interface is clean and intuitive, with support for themes and layouts that can be adjusted to suit individual workflows. Its real-time markdown rendering makes writing straightforward and distraction-free. However, users unfamiliar with Markdown may face a slight learning curve initially. Despite this, the app's design encourages active learning and creativity by fostering connections between ideas.

While Obsidian is free for personal use, some features like cloud synchronization and publishing require paid add-ons. The lack of a web-based version may also be limiting for users who prefer browser-based tools. Moreover, the absence of collaboration features makes it less suitable for team projects.

In conclusion, Obsidian is an outstanding tool for individuals seeking a robust and customizable note-taking solution. Its innovative linking system and vast customization options make it stand out in a crowded market of productivity apps. While it may not cater to everyone—particularly those who need rich-text formatting or collaboration—it remains a top choice for personal knowledge management and creative workflows.