Obsidian
A powerful, local-first knowledge base that uses Markdown files to create a personal knowledge graph, emphasizing linking, and extensibility via plugins, including AI ones.
Price: Freemium
Categories:Most Useful AI ToolsAI Tools for Students
Description
Obsidian is a versatile note-taking and knowledge management application that operates directly on a folder of local Markdown files. It's designed for building a 'second brain' by allowing users to create connections between notes, visualize these relationships as a graph, and rapidly navigate their personal knowledge base. Unlike cloud-based solutions, Obsidian offers complete control over your data, as all notes are stored locally in plain text files. Its extensibility through a rich plugin ecosystem and custom CSS themes makes it highly adaptable for various workflows, from academic research and writing to personal journaling and project management, appealing strongly to power users and those valuing data ownership. Many community plugins integrate AI functionalities for enhanced note-taking.
How to Use
1.Download and install the Obsidian desktop application.
2.Create a new 'vault' (a folder on your computer) to store your notes locally.
3.Start writing notes using Markdown syntax, creating new files for each topic or idea.
4.Link notes together using '[[double brackets]]' to create internal connections between your thoughts.
5.Explore your knowledge graph in the 'Graph View' to visualize relationships between your notes.
6.Customize Obsidian with community plugins (including AI-powered ones) and themes to extend functionality and tailor it to your workflow.
Use Cases
Personal knowledge managementAcademic research and writingCreative writing and draftingProject planning and task organizationDaily journaling and reflective practiceLearning and studying complex subjectsBuilding a 'second brain' for long-term memoryContent creation and idea incubation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Local-first storage ensures complete data ownership and privacy.
- Powerful linking capabilities for building a personal knowledge graph.
- Highly extensible with a vast ecosystem of community plugins and themes, including AI integrations.
- Markdown-based for future-proof and portable notes.
- Free for personal use, offering robust features without cost.
Cons
- Can have a steeper learning curve for new users unfamiliar with Markdown or graph-based note-taking.
- Syncing notes across devices requires third-party cloud services or a paid Obsidian Sync subscription.
- No built-in real-time collaboration features for teams, primarily an individual tool.
Pricing
Personal Use: Free
Includes all core features, community plugins and themes
Commercial License: $50 (one-time purchase)
Required for commercial use (e.g., using Obsidian for work-related tasks)
Obsidian Sync: $10/month (billed annually) or $12/month (billed monthly)
Provides end-to-end encrypted syncing across all devices and version history for your vault
Catalyst (Support Obsidian Development): $25, $50, $100, or $200 (one-time donation)
Provides early access to insider builds and supports development
No free trial for paid services, but the core application is free to use
Refund policy: Not explicitly stated, typically no refunds for digital services like Sync after purchase.
FAQs