What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a markdown note-taking app that stores everything in local folders. It provides bidirectional linking, a graph view, backlinks, and a large plugin ecosystem. The core app is free; syncing and publishing are paid add-ons.
Obsidian's Core Features
- Local markdown files
- Bidirectional links
- Graph view
- Plugin ecosystem
- End-to-end encrypted sync (paid)
Pros
- + App free for personal and commercial use, no time limit
- + Notes stored locally on device and accessible offline
- + Plain-text Markdown notes in open formats
- + Thousands of community plugins and themes via open API
Cons
- – Cross-device sync only via paid Sync add-on ($4/user/mo annual)
- – Web publishing only via paid Publish add-on ($8/site/mo annual)
- – Shared vault collaboration requires paid Sync service
Best suited for
Individuals wanting private, local-first notes, Researchers, students and knowledge builders, Users wanting long-term ownership of plain-text files