Obsidian Review
Note-Taking Apps
Quick verdict: Best for linked, local-first knowledge bases. We recommend it when you want to own your files and link notes.
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About Obsidian
Sharpen your thinking.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Local-first
- Links
- Plugins
Cons
- Markdown only
- Sync paid
Our review
Obsidian stores notes as local Markdown files in a folder you choose. You link notes with [[wiki-style]] links and see a graph of connections. A large plugin ecosystem extends functionality. The core app is free; sync and publish are paid. You own your files and can use them with other tools. Best for building a personal knowledge base and those who prefer Markdown.
We recommend Obsidian when you want local-first, linked notes and do not need real-time collaboration in the same tool. For collaboration and databases, Notion is stronger. For capture and clipping, Evernote is simpler.
Key features
- Local files
- Graph
- Plugins
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- Yes. The core app is free; sync and publish are paid add-ons.
- Notes are stored in a local folder you choose; you own the files.
- Yes. Obsidian has a large community plugin ecosystem for themes, productivity, and more.
- Obsidian is local Markdown and linking; Notion is cloud-based with databases and collaboration.
- Yes. Obsidian has mobile apps; sync between devices may require a paid sync subscription.