Obsidian
An app that links your notes and keeps them as files on your device.
What Obsidian does
Obsidian is a free note-taking app for building a personal knowledge base. Your notes are plain Markdown files stored on your own device, and you link them together so ideas connect. It runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, and paid add-ons handle syncing and publishing.
Obsidian is for people who like to think in connected notes. You write in plain text with Markdown, link one note to another, and over time you get a web of ideas you can browse instead of a pile of separate files. That makes it a good fit for research, studying, writing projects and the classic second brain.
Your notes live in a folder on your own device, not on someone else's server. That means they work offline, you can open them with any text editor, and you are never locked into one company. The core app is free with no limits, including for work.
The tradeoff is setup. Syncing between your phone and computer is a paid add-on called Sync, unless you set up your own sync another way. Sharing with other people is limited, and each collaborator on a shared vault needs their own Sync subscription. If you want a ready-made team workspace, Obsidian will feel like work. If you want notes you fully own and can shape to your taste, it is a strong pick.
Alternatives to Obsidian
Who it's for
Skip it if: Teams that want to edit the same notes together in real time. People who want sync between devices without paying or setting it up.
Pricing
Free planThe app itself is free with no limits. If you want Obsidian to sync your notes between devices, Sync costs $5 a month or $4 a month billed yearly. Publishing notes as a website is $10 a month or $8 a month billed yearly.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free with no limits, even for work
- Your notes are plain files you can take anywhere
- Works fully offline
- Sync is end-to-end encrypted when you choose it
Watch out for
- Syncing across devices costs extra
- Collaboration is limited and every collaborator pays for Sync
- Takes some time to set up the way you like
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Questions people ask
Is Obsidian free?
Yes. The app is free with no limits, even for work. You only pay if you want add-ons like Sync or Publish.
Does Obsidian work offline?
Yes. Your notes are files on your own device, so you can read and write them without an internet connection.
How do I sync Obsidian between my phone and computer?
The easiest way is Obsidian Sync, which costs $5 a month ($4 billed yearly) and is end-to-end encrypted. You can also set up your own sync with another service.
Can I share Obsidian notes with a team?
Only in a limited way. Shared vaults work through Sync, and each person needs their own Sync subscription.