Obsidian

Markdown-based knowledge management you actually own.

★★★★½ 4.7 / 5
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At a glance

Rating
★★★★½ 4.7/5
Pricing
Free for personal use; Sync from $4/mo
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, Ios, Android
Best for

Researchers, writers, and knowledge workers building a long-term second brain

Our take

Obsidian stores your notes as plain Markdown files on your own machine. That sentence alone is enough for a certain kind of user. Add bi-directional linking, a graph view, a vast plugin ecosystem, and the fact that it’s free for personal use, and you have one of the most powerful thinking tools currently available. The catch: it doesn’t sync by default unless you pay for Obsidian Sync or set up your own cloud folder.

Key features

  • ✓Local-first plain Markdown files
  • ✓Bi-directional linking and graph view
  • ✓2,000+ community plugins
  • ✓Canvas for visual thinking
  • ✓Mobile apps with optional sync

What we like

  • ✓You own your data forever
  • ✓Free for personal use
  • ✓The plugin ecosystem is unmatched
  • ✓No lock-in

What could be better

  • ✗Sync costs extra (or requires DIY setup)
  • ✗Mobile experience is good, not great
  • ✗Plugins can fragment your workflow

Ready to try Obsidian?

Most people get value within the first hour.

Get started with Obsidian →

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