Obsidian

Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge-work app whose core software is free and requires no sign-up. Notes stay on the user's device and remain accessible offline; open file formats, an open API and thousands of plugins support customized workflows. Canvas provides an open workspace for research, brainstorming, diagrams and ideas. Shared vaults let teams work on shared files with real-time updates. Obsidian is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and as a Chrome extension. Sync adds synchronization and version history. Sync Standard costs $5 a month billed annually per user and includes one vault, 1 GB storage, a 5 MB maximum file size and one month of version history. Sync Plus costs $10 a month billed annually per user, with 10 vaults, 10 GB storage, a 200 MB maximum file size and 12 months of history. Publish is $10 a month billed annually per site, with up to 4 GB hosting per site. Publish supports themes, custom domains, password protection and SEO optimization. Obsidian says its apps do not collect telemetry or sell user data, and Sync uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption.

Obsidian's free core app centers on local notes, open formats and customization. Sync and Publish add separate paid services with specified storage, file-size and hosting limits.

Obsidian suits people who want locally stored notes and a customizable knowledge-work setup. Teams needing shared files, or users who want hosted pages, can consider its separate sharing and Publish options.

Overview

Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge-management app built around files kept on your own device. It suits people who want control over their notes and room to shape a personal workflow. Its free core is compelling; syncing and publishing are optional paid services with meaningful limits.

Open file formats reduce dependence on Obsidian, while import support covers Notion, Airtable, Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, Apple Notes, Apple Journal, Google Keep, Bear, Craft, Roam Research, Logseq, Tomboy and Gnote. Thousands of plugins, an open API and Canvas—a workspace for research, brainstorming, diagrams and ideas—make it adaptable, though users who want a ready-made, tightly managed system may prefer a more prescriptive app. Obsidian was founded in 2020 and describes itself as independently developed and user-supported. See Personal Knowledge Management Software and Note-taking apps.

Key features

Local notes and customization

The core app is free without limits or a sign-up requirement. Notes stay on the user's device and remain accessible offline; the stated 1 GB storage cap applies to Sync Standard, not the local app. Obsidian says its apps collect no telemetry and do not sell user data. Open formats are a practical safeguard for people wary of being locked into one product, and plugins and the API let users tailor workflows. That flexibility comes with a tradeoff: the value depends on how much setup and customization a user wants to do.

Sync, sharing and history

Obsidian Sync uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption. Standard covers one synced vault, 1 GB total storage, files up to 5 MB and one month of version history. Plus raises those allowances to 10 vaults, 10 GB, 200 MB per file and 12 months of history; storage can be upgraded to 100 GB. Shared vaults support team work on shared files with real-time updates. Standard is a constrained fit for large attachments or long history needs; Plus is the more capable choice, but still has a stated storage ceiling unless upgraded.

Publishing

Obsidian Publish turns notes into a hosted site, with themes, custom domains, password protection and SEO optimization. Its plan includes up to 4 GB hosting per site. That makes it relevant for users who want a public or access-controlled site from their notes, but it is a separate cost from the free app and Sync.

Pricing

The core app is free, with no sign-up and no stated usage limit. Paid services are separate: Sync Standard costs $4 per user per month when billed annually or $5 monthly; Sync Plus costs $8 per user per month annually or $10 monthly. Publish costs $8 per site per month annually or $10 monthly. Sync purchases and Publish purchases qualify for full refunds within seven days. Students, faculty and nonprofit employees receive a 40% discount on Sync and Publish.

Standard is the lower-cost sync option, but its single vault, 1 GB, 5 MB file cap and one-month history limit make it a poor match for extensive media or archives. Plus is better for multiple vaults, larger files and longer recovery history; its storage can be upgraded to 100 GB. Publish is priced per site and includes up to 4 GB hosting, so it fits site publishing rather than simply keeping notes in sync.

Other paid plans support the product rather than add core note features: Catalyst is a $$25 one-time payment for beta access, community badges and exclusive channels. Commercial is $50 a year and supports development, with featured organization eligibility. The maker also describes Obsidian as 100% user-supported.

Platforms

Obsidian is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, as well as a Chrome extension. Offline access suits work away from a connection, while Sync is the paid option for keeping vaults synchronized across devices.

Who it's for

Obsidian is a strong fit for individual note-takers and researchers who value local files, offline access, open formats and extensive customization. Teams can use shared vaults with real-time updates, while writers who want a hosted site can add Publish. It is less suitable for someone who wants sync and publishing bundled into the free app, or who prefers a fixed workflow over configuring plugins and tools.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free core has no sign-up or stated usage limit, and local notes remain available offline.
• Pros: Open formats, import support, plugins and an open API give users meaningful control over how they organize and extend their notes.
• Pros: Sync adds end-to-end encryption, version history and real-time shared-vault updates for teams.
• Cons: Sync and Publish are separate paid services, so the free app alone does not provide those capabilities.
• Cons: Sync Standard's 1 GB storage, 5 MB file cap and one-month history may be restrictive; larger allowances require Plus.
• Cons: Publish hosting is capped at 4 GB per site, and it is billed per site rather than per user.

Alternatives

Choose Mem Agent if its freemium model and browser extension, iOS, macOS, web and Windows support better match your devices. Reflect is an option for readers looking for an app described as open source, with a listed plan at $10 a month billed annually. RemNote may suit readers whose needs align with its free plan's annotated PDF, image occlusion, handwritten document, file and AI-credit allowances. SiYuan is worth considering if you want an open-source option with Android, browser extension, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows platforms.

TheBrain offers a free app plan with unlimited thoughts, links and brains, plus private sync up to 1,000 thoughts and 100 MB of synced attachments. Logseq is a free option for personal use, with a $$5 monthly recurring donation plan that includes Sync beta access. Neoma offers a free Personal plan described as including every feature and platform, with no account, limits or expiry. Supernotes is an alternative with a free Starter plan capped at 100 cards and a listed Unlimited plan at £6 a month.

Verdict

Choose Obsidian if you want a free, offline-first notes app that keeps files local and open while giving you room to customize your system. Its main strength is control without a required subscription; its main compromise is that cross-device Sync and hosted publishing cost extra and impose separate quotas. Look elsewhere if those paid services or the work of building your own workflow outweigh the appeal of local, extensible notes.