Obsidian
Private Markdown notes stored as local files
FreeDocs3 impressions
Obsidian is a free alternative to Evernote.
Obsidian is a free, local-first Markdown note-taking app that lets you build a personal knowledge base.
- for
- Individuals and teams who want private, offline-first note taking and knowledge management.
- pricing
- freemium
- license
- open source
Key features
- Local Markdown files — Notes are stored as plain-text Markdown files on your device, giving you full ownership.
- Bidirectional linking — Create links between notes to build a personal wiki and see connections in a graph view.
- Canvas workspace — An infinite canvas for brainstorming, diagramming and visual research.
- Extensible plugins — Thousands of community plugins and an open API let you customize the app to fit any workflow.
- Obsidian Sync — End-to-end encrypted sync across devices with version history and selective file sync.
- Obsidian Publish — Turn a vault into a fast, SEO-friendly public website or digital garden with custom themes.
- Collaboration — Shared vaults let multiple users edit notes together while keeping data private.
Use cases
- Personal knowledge base and Zettelkasten note taking.
- Team documentation and shared project vaults.
- Creating a public digital garden or documentation site.
- Brainstorming and visual planning with the Canvas feature.
Obsidian pricing
- Sync$4USD/user, per month, billed anEnd-to-end encryption · Version history · Shared vaults · Priority support
- Sync$5USD/user, per month, billed moEnd-to-end encryption · Version history · Shared vaults · Priority support
- Publish$8USD/site, per month, billed anInstant publishing · Custom themes · Graph and full-text search · Priority support
- Publish$10USD/site, per month, billed moInstant publishing · Custom themes · Graph and full-text search · Priority support
- Catalyst$25USDone-timeEarly beta access · Community badges · Exclusive channels
Obsidian vs alternatives
 Obsidian |  Notion |  Joplin |  BookStack |  Wiki.js | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Local-first markdown knowledge base | All-in-one cloud workspace | Open-source encrypted notes | Self-hosted documentation wiki | Node-based collaborative wiki |
| Pricing | Freemium | Subscription | Free | Free | Free |
| DevHunt upvotes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Launched | — | — | — | — | — |
- Obsidian vs Notion: Notion is a cloud-based workspace with built-in syncing, while Obsidian stores notes locally.
- Obsidian vs Joplin: Joplin is an open-source note app with local Markdown files but lacks Obsidian’s graph and plugin ecosystem.
- Obsidian vs BookStack: BookStack is a self-hosted wiki focused on documentation, whereas Obsidian is a desktop-first personal knowledge base.
- Obsidian vs Wiki.js: Wiki.js offers a Node.js wiki platform with web UI, while Obsidian provides a local Markdown editor with rich linking features.
Obsidian FAQ
Do I have to pay for commercial use?+
No, commercial use is not required to be paid, though a commercial license is encouraged for organizations.
Can I buy licenses for someone else?+
Yes, you can purchase Obsidian Credit and send it to friends, family, or coworkers to cover any license or service.
What is the refund policy?+
Full refunds are available within 7 days for Sync and Publish; Catalyst, Commercial licenses, and Credit are non-refundable.
How is my data stored and protected?+
Notes are stored locally; when using Sync, data is encrypted with AES-256 end-to-end encryption and Obsidian does not collect telemetry.
Are there discounts for education or nonprofits?+
Students, faculty, and nonprofit employees receive a 40% discount on Sync and Publish.
Summarized by DevHunt from obsidian.md · Oct 7, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
About this listing
DevHunt lists Obsidian because developers expect to find it next to the tools in its category. It did not launch on DevHunt. Work on Obsidian? Message us to claim this listing.
