ResourcesToolsObsidian
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Obsidian

productivity

Local-first knowledge base

productivitynotesmarkdownknowledge-basepkm
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Overview

Obsidian is a local-first note-taking app built on plain Markdown files, designed for personal knowledge management. It links notes into a graph and is highly extensible through community plugins, while keeping your data on your own device. Free for personal use, with paid add-ons for sync and publishing.

Knowledge graph

Link notes into a graph.

Local Markdown

Your files, your device.

Plugins

Extend with the community.

Quick Facts

Categoryproductivity
PricingFree for personal use; paid add-ons for sync and publish; commercial license
Founded2020
HQRemote
Websiteobsidian.md

Pros

Local-first, you own your files
Highly extensible with plugins
Powerful linking and graph view
Free for personal use
Plain Markdown, no lock-in

Cons

Sync and publish are paid add-ons
Steeper setup than simple notes apps
Plugin reliance for some features
Less built-in collaboration

Key features

Local Markdown files
Bidirectional links and graph view
Community plugins
Themes and customization
Optional sync and publish

Pricing

Personal

$0

Free for personal use

Add-ons

Paid

Sync and Publish

Best for

Personal knowledge

Build a linked notes vault.

Markdown notes

Write in portable plain text.

Research

Connect ideas in a graph.

Alternatives to Obsidian

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Notion

productivity

All-in-one workspace for notes, docs and wikis

freemiumView tool →

Compare Obsidian

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Notion vs Obsidian

Compare features, pricing and performance

Frequently asked questions

Is Obsidian free?

Yes, Obsidian is free for personal use, with paid add-ons for sync and publishing and a commercial license option.

What is Obsidian?

A local-first note-taking app built on Markdown files for personal knowledge management.

Does Obsidian store my notes locally?

Yes, notes are plain Markdown files stored on your own device.

Can I extend Obsidian?

Yes, through a large ecosystem of community plugins and themes.

How does Obsidian compare to Notion?

Obsidian is local-first and Markdown-based with no lock-in, while Notion is a cloud all-in-one workspace with databases and collaboration.

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