Obsidian

Obsidian is a flexible, local-first note-taking app built on Markdown with a knowledge graph and AI plugins for connected thinking.

Overview

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking and knowledge management app that stores notes as local Markdown files. It is known for its bidirectional linking and knowledge graph, which help users build connected webs of ideas. While its core is free and local, a rich plugin community adds AI features like text generation, summarization, and smart search.

Because your notes live on your own device, Obsidian offers strong privacy and control. It supports extensive customization through themes and plugins, and its graph view visualizes connections between notes. For users who value data ownership and connected thinking, Obsidian is a top choice.

Obsidian is a local-first Markdown knowledge base defined by bidirectional links and a visual knowledge graph. A vast plugin community adds AI generation, summarization, and search while users keep full ownership of their data. For writers and researchers who value privacy, customization, and connected thinking, Obsidian offers unmatched flexibility as a personal knowledge system.

Key Features

• Local-first Markdown notes with full data ownership
• Bidirectional linking and knowledge graph visualization
• Extensive plugin ecosystem including AI tools
• AI-powered text generation, summarization, and search via plugins
• Deep customization with themes and community plugins
• Backlinking and graph view for connected thinking
• Works offline with cross-device sync options

Pricing

Obsidian’s core app is free for personal use. Paid plans add optional services like device sync and publish, and community AI plugins may have their own pricing. Commercial use requires a paid license.

Who Is It For

Obsidian is designed for writers, researchers, and thinkers who want a private, customizable knowledge base with connected notes. It is ideal for users who value data ownership, Markdown, and building a personal knowledge graph.

FAQ

Is Obsidian free to use?

Yes. Obsidian is free for personal use, with core note-taking and linking features at no cost. Optional paid add-ons cover sync and publishing, and commercial licenses are available.

Does Obsidian offer an API?

Obsidian is extensible through a rich plugin API, letting developers build custom features, including AI tools. It also offers paid sync and publish services for sharing notes.

How does Obsidian compare to alternatives?

Obsidian offers more privacy, customization, and connected thinking than cloud tools like Notion or Evernote. It is Markdown-based and local-first, appealing to power users who want full control over their notes.

Are my notes private in Obsidian?

Yes. Obsidian is local-first and stores your notes as Markdown files on your own device, so you retain full ownership and privacy. A rich plugin community adds AI and other features, and optional paid sync and publish services are available.