Obsidian

Overview

Obsidian is a note-taking and personal knowledge management app for people who want to keep notes as local files and shape their own system around them. It is strongest for offline, individual use; paid Sync and Publish services extend it to shared work and hosted pages, at added cost.

Open file formats and a large plugin ecosystem make Obsidian adaptable without requiring its paid services. The trade-off is that cross-device syncing and public-facing publishing are separate subscriptions rather than part of the free core.

Key features

Local notes and customization

Notes stay on the user's device and remain accessible offline. The free core app requires no sign-up and has no stated usage limits, making it a compelling fit for people who want control over where their notes live. Obsidian says its apps collect no telemetry and do not sell user data. Open file formats also reduce dependence on the app itself, while thousands of plugins and an open API let users customize their workflows. That flexibility rewards people willing to assemble their own setup; those seeking a ready-made structure may prefer another tool.

Canvas adds an open-ended workspace for research, brainstorming, diagrams and ideas. Obsidian can import notes from Notion, Airtable, Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, Apple Notes, Apple Journal, Google Keep, Bear, Craft, Roam Research, Logseq, Tomboy and Gnote.

Sync, sharing and publishing

Obsidian Sync uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption and provides version history. Standard covers one vault, 1 GB total storage, 5 MB maximum file size and one month of history. Plus raises those allowances to 10 vaults, 10 GB, 200 MB per file and 12 months of history, with storage upgradeable to 100 GB. The tiers make a meaningful difference for people with larger files or multiple vaults; Standard's caps may be restrictive for those users.

Shared vaults give teams real-time updates to shared files, so Obsidian can support collaborative work as well as personal notes. Publish turns notes into hosted sites, with themes, custom domains, password protection and SEO optimization. Its per-site pricing and hosting cap make it a more deliberate choice than a publishing feature bundled into the core app.

Pricing

The core app is free, with no sign-up required and no stated usage limits. Sync and Publish are optional paid services; Sync and Publish purchases qualify for full refunds within seven days. Students, faculty and nonprofit employees receive a 40% discount on both services.

Standard suits an individual who needs one synced vault and modest file allowances. Plus is the more capable fit for users managing several vaults, larger files or a longer version-history window. Publish is for users who want an Obsidian-hosted site; its allowance is per site, so multiple sites mean multiple site subscriptions. Catalyst and Commercial support the project rather than add core note-taking capacity, making them optional choices for supporters and organizations.

The free app gives up built-in Sync and hosted Publish, but not local notes or offline access. Sync is priced per user, whereas Publish is priced per site; those terms matter when budgeting for teams or multiple sites.

Platforms

Obsidian supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and a Chrome extension. Its offline local storage suits users who want notes available without a connection, while Sync is the paid route for keeping vaults coordinated across devices.

Who it's for

Obsidian is a strong choice for individual note-takers who value local files, offline access, privacy and the freedom to customize a personal knowledge system. Teams can use shared vaults for real-time updates, but should account for per-user Sync pricing. People who want hosted, password-protected pages can add Publish. It is less suited to anyone who expects syncing or publishing to be included free, or who prefers a preconfigured workflow to a plugin-based one.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Unrestricted free core: no sign-up or stated usage cap, with offline access to locally stored notes.
• More control over files and privacy: open formats help avoid lock-in, and Obsidian says it neither collects telemetry nor sells user data.
• Highly adaptable: thousands of plugins, an open API and Canvas support different research and note-taking workflows.
• Clear paid-service tiers: Sync Plus substantially raises vault, storage, file-size and history allowances over Standard.

Cons

• Sync and Publish cost extra: users wanting those services must budget separately from the free core.
• Standard has tight ceilings for heavier use: one vault, 1 GB, 5 MB per file and one month of history may not fit large or long-running projects.
• Publish is charged per site: users hosting several sites pay on a different basis from Sync's per-user pricing.

Alternatives

Logseq is worth considering for readers who want a free app for personal use across desktop, mobile and web platforms; its optional Sync Backer plan is a monthly donation for beta access.

SiYuan may suit readers looking for an open-source option, with most features free and a free trial available.

Supernotes is an alternative for readers who prefer card-based note limits and want an unlimited-card paid tier, listed at £6 a month billed £72 billed annually.

TheBrain offers a free app with unlimited thoughts, links and brains, plus private sync up to 1,000 thoughts and 100 MB of synced attachments.

Capacities has a free Basic plan with 5 GB of media uploads total and 100 MB of uploads per month afterward; consider it if those media allowances suit your use.

Mem Agent is another freemium option for readers considering a notes app with a free tier of 25 messages to Mem and 25 new notes per month.

Neoma offers a free Personal plan described as having every feature and platform, no account, no limits and no expiry.

NotesGraph is a free, open-source alternative with no registration and no tracking.

Browse more options in Personal Knowledge Management Software and Note-taking apps.

Verdict

Choose Obsidian if you want a private, offline-capable local notebook that you can shape with open files, plugins and Canvas. Its free core is the central reason to start; the main reason to look elsewhere is that syncing and publishing require separate paid plans, with limits that rise by tier.