v
vas
Pros: It is very intelligent
Cons: they should provide tutorials to ramp up your skills and introduce features step-by-step
Reviews on G2
13 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
- Best for
- Researchers, writers, and knowledge workers who want full ownership of their notes in plain files, and who enjoy customizing their tools. The right pick for anyone who has outgrown Apple Notes/Evernote and wants a PKM system that will still be readable in 20 years.
- Price
- Free plan available, paid tiers above. Compare plans
Key facts
- Private knowledge base with markdown
- Your notes, fully offline and yours
- Extensible with 1000+ plugins
Pros
- Local-first privacy
- Extensible plugins
- Graph view
Cons
- Sync costs extra
- Steep learning curve
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a knowledge base that works on local Markdown files. Link notes together to build a personal wiki. Graph view visualizes connections between ideas. Hundreds of plugins extend functionality. Your notes stay in plain text files you own. The second brain that lives on your device, not someone else's server.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
Louis Corneloup Source obsidian.md ↗
Ratings Across the Web
4.5 (12 reviews)
Obsidian holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 12 reviews across G2, last checked August 23, 2026.
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
- Markdown notes
- Backlinks
- Graph view
- Daily notes
- Templates
- Canvas
- Plugins
- Themes
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Oct 3, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
+3 more Show less
|
| Sync | $4 / user/month |
+2 more Show less
|
| Publish | $8 / site/month |
+2 more Show less
|
| Commercial | $50 / user/year |
|
Is Obsidian worth the price?
Great value
Obsidian core app is genuinely free with no feature gating, every note-taking and knowledge management feature works without paying.
The optional paid services (Sync at $4-5/month, Publish at $8-10/month) are the only revenue sources. This makes Obsidian one of the most honest pricing models in productivity software: you own your data (plain Markdown files stored locally), and you pay only for convenience services.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Sync ($4-5/month) is almost mandatory for multi-device users. While you can use free alternatives (iCloud, Google Drive, Git), they introduce sync conflicts that Obsidian Sync solves with end-to-end encryption and proper conflict resolution. Most serious users end up paying for Sync
Publish ($8-10/month per site) has no free tier, if you want to publish notes to the web through Obsidian, you pay. Alternatives like Quartz (free, open-source) can publish Obsidian vaults but require technical setup
The Commercial license ($50/user/year) is required for companies with 2+ employees using Obsidian for work. Many small teams overlook this requirement. It unlocks no additional features, it is purely a licensing compliance cost
No built-in collaboration beyond Sync shared vaults. Real-time multiplayer editing requires third-party solutions. Teams needing Google Docs-style collaboration will find Obsidian inadequate without significant workarounds
Mobile app (iOS/Android) is free but less capable than desktop. Complex plugins often do not work on mobile, and the editing experience is more limited
Educational discount (40% off Sync and Publish) requires verification for students, faculty, and nonprofit employees. The discount is generous but not automatically applied
How Obsidian's pricing compares
At $4/user/mo, Obsidian is mid-range of its 6 comparable direct competitors ($3.22 to $14.99/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly, per user. Pricing checked Oct 3, 2026.
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Obsidian FAQ
How does Obsidian ensure the privacy and ownership of my notes?
Obsidian works on local Markdown files, meaning your notes are stored directly on your device rather than on a third-party server. This local-first approach ensures you maintain full ownership and privacy of your plain text files.
What is the primary benefit of Obsidian's graph view feature?
Obsidian's graph view visualizes the connections between your linked notes, helping you understand the relationships between your ideas. This feature allows users to explore and discover insights within their personal knowledge base.
How does Obsidian compare to Notion for knowledge management?
Obsidian differentiates itself from Notion by operating on local Markdown files, prioritizing user ownership and privacy. Unlike Notion, Obsidian emphasizes building a personal wiki with interconnected notes stored directly on your device.
What kind of user would benefit most from using Obsidian?
Obsidian is best for users who prioritize data ownership, privacy, and a highly customizable note-taking experience. It caters to individuals looking to build a personal knowledge base with interconnected ideas and extensive plugin functionality.
What are the potential drawbacks or challenges when starting with Obsidian?
Obsidian has a steeper learning curve compared to some other note-taking tools, which might require more time to master. Additionally, synchronization across devices is an extra cost, as it's not included in the free tier.
What is the pricing model for using Obsidian?
Obsidian is available on a free tier, allowing users to access its core note-taking and knowledge base features. Paid plans are offered for those who require more extensive usage or additional features, such as synchronization.
Can Obsidian's functionality be expanded beyond its core features?
Yes, Obsidian's functionality can be significantly extended through its hundreds of available plugins. These plugins allow users to customize and enhance the software to fit their specific workflow and needs.
Source: obsidian.md