Note-taking and knowledge bases
Obsidian: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Obsidian helps people write and organize Markdown notes. Users can link notes together, view their connections in a graph, arrange ideas on a canvas, and add functions through extensions. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $4 per month. Access and transparency score: 73/100, #2 of 14 in its category.
| Access | 30/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 23/40 |
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian helps people write and organize Markdown notes. Users can link notes together, view their connections in a graph, arrange ideas on a canvas, and add functions through extensions.
According to its documentation, Obsidian lets you:
- write and organize Markdown notes
- link notes together
- visualize connections in a graph
- arrange ideas on a canvas
- add functions through extensions
We file it under Note-taking and knowledge bases, the category of tools to organise notes and knowledge. The category lists 14 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Dynalist Inc., based in Canada.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: researchers, students, content writers, and project managers. The need it covers is simple to state: organise notes and knowledge.
Obsidian is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
- you must keep your data in Europe or on your own machine
Before deciding, run a trial on a real task and measure the time saved: it is the only criterion that really counts.
How much does Obsidian cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $4 per month (Sync Standard, billed annually, totaling USD 48 per year; free application), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is cheaper than the category median ($9 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed on your device (local processing).
Local processing is the most favourable case: your files do not leave your machine for the features concerned.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Obsidian runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android, and browser extension.
The interface is available in 9 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 73/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 30/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 23/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Obsidian against other tools in the note-taking and knowledge bases category:
Verdict
Obsidian is among the most accessible and transparent tools in its category.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Cheaper than its category median
- Public API
- Local processing available
- Available on many platforms
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $4 per month.
Where is Obsidian data stored?
According to the publisher, on your device (local processing).
Does Obsidian have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Obsidian?
In the same category: Recall, Glasp, Open Notebook, and Mem.
Obsidian or Recall: which one to choose?
Obsidian starts at $4 per month, Recall at $10 per month and our score is 73/100 for Obsidian and 78/100 for Recall. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score