Obsidian

Obsidian is a local-first notes app. Files stay on disk as Markdown. Rechecked 2026-08-17: obsidian.md still sells a free catalog app, plus paid add-ons on obsidian.md/pricing. This page used to quote 1.5 million MAU, 43 minutes a day, and 1,000 plugins as if they were audited. Those figures are not on the pricing page we opened, so they are out.

If you want a hosted knowledge base instead of files in a vault, compare Notion-class tools separately. If you want an AI coding agent, use Claude Code or GitHub Copilot, not this notes app.

Key Features

• Local Markdown vault: Open the folder in any editor. Sync method is yours unless you buy Obsidian Sync.
• Wikilinks and graph view: Still the product's signature, not an AI feature.
• Optional commercial license: Required only if you use Obsidian for work at a company with two or more people.
• Add-ons: Sync, Publish, and officially listed AI credits.
• Plugins: Community plugins exist. Do not treat "1,000+" as a live first-party count.

Use Cases

• Researchers and writers who want files they can grep and git.
• Teams of 2+ that must buy the commercial license.
• People who want Sync or Publish without moving the vault to a proprietary database.

Limitation: Sync/Publish/AI are add-ons, not the free app. We did not invent an MAU. Commercial license is per user, not a shared seat pool we verified.

Pricing

obsidian.md/pricing on 2026-08-17. Annual first, monthly in parentheses.

Getting Started

1. Download the app from obsidian.md.
2. Create a local vault.
3. Add Sync only if you want official encrypted sync.
4. Buy the commercial license before you use it at work with a colleague.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Obsidian free?

The catalog app is free for personal use. Work at a 2+ person company needs the commercial license.

Do I have to use Obsidian Sync?

No. Git, iCloud, or another folder sync still works.

Is there a built-in AI plan?

Yes, as a listed add-on. It is not the core notes product.

Alternatives

• NotebookLM: Hosted notebook if you do not want a local vault.
• Claude Code: If the job is a repo, not a zettelkasten.
• ChatGPT: Hosted chat if you only need an assistant, not files.

Tips

1. Quote $50 / $4 / $8 / $10 from the pricing page, not plugin-count folklore.
2. Keep the vault in git if Sync is optional for you.
3. Recheck AI credit meters. They are add-on line items.

Conclusion

Obsidian is still the local Markdown vault with optional Sync, Publish, and AI. Start at obsidian.md/pricing, then decide whether you need a license or just the free catalog app.