Notes that stay on your device
Each note is a text file in a folder on your computer. It opens without internet and stays readable even without Obsidian. Nothing is sent to a server unless you turn on an online service.
AI tools · Documents and presentations
Obsidian pricing, use cases, and first steps
Obsidian is a note-taking app. Your notes are plain text files stored in a folder on your computer: nothing goes to the internet by default. You link notes to each other to find your ideas again. Obsidian has no built-in AI assistant: AI is added through plugins, which you choose and set up yourself.
Obsidian has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Obsidian, $0. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
ObsidianYour notes as plain files, on your device, linked together- Vendor
- Obsidian, operated by Dynalist Inc. (Canada)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Obsidian, $0
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What Obsidian does
Who it’s for: people who take a lot of notes (project tracking, research, meeting summaries) and want to keep them on their own device, without depending on an online service.
Link your notes and see the graph
You create a link from one note to another by typing [[. Obsidian then shows, for each note, all the notes that cite it, and draws a graph of your linked notes.
Bases: your notes as a table
A base shows a set of notes as a table, a list, cards, staged columns (kanban), or a map. You sort and filter using the information recorded in each note.
Also
- Canvas: a large whiteboard
- Web Clipper: save a web page
- AI through plugins
- Sync: your notes on all your devices
- Publish: put notes online
Obsidian pricing
Obsidian publishes its prices in dollars. Students, teachers, and nonprofits get a 40% discount on Sync and Publish.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Recommended to start | $0 | Everyone, work included |
| Sync Standard | $4 per month, billed yearly ($5 billed monthly) | Getting your notes on your phone |
| Sync Plus | $8 per month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly) | Several vaults, large files |
| Publish | $8 per site per month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly) | Putting notes online |
| Commercial license | $50 per user per year | Companies that want to support the vendor |
What the free plan includes
The whole app, on desktop and phone, with no account and no limits, including for professional use. Plugins, the Web Clipper, Canvas, and Bases are free. Only the online services are paid.
Nova’s advice
Pay nothing to start: the free app is complete. Get Sync Standard only on the day you want your notes on your phone. For AI, budget separately for the subscription to the assistant you connect.
A first try, in 5 minutes
Your data. Your notes stay on your device: Obsidian does not receive them and collects no personal data and no usage statistics.
What it does less well
- No AI is provided. You have to install a plugin, choose a provider, and sometimes enter an API key: it is doable, but it is not a beginner’s task.
- Plugins are written by third parties and do not update on their own. On a work computer, your IT team may refuse them.
Create two linked notes and move between themObsidian- Create a note called “Client A, carpentry” and write three lines about this client.
- Create a second note called “October 3 meeting.” In the text, type [[ then choose the client’s note.
- Click the link while holding ⌘ (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows): the client’s note opens.
- In the right sidebar, open the “Backlinks” tab: you see every note that mentions this client.
- Press ⌘ + O or Ctrl + O and type a few letters: you find any note without the mouse.
Alternatives to Obsidian
Notion
If you prefer an online workspace shared with the team, with an AI assistant already built in.
Gemini Notebook
To ask questions of a set of documents without installing or configuring anything.
AnythingLLM
To query your documents with an AI model that runs on your computer.
Ollama
The tool to install to connect a local model to an Obsidian plugin.
Frequently asked questions about Obsidian
How much does Obsidian cost?
Obsidian: $0; Sync Standard: $4 per month, billed yearly ($5 billed monthly); Sync Plus: $8 per month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly); Publish: $8 per site per month, billed yearly ($10 billed monthly); Commercial license: $50 per user per year. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Obsidian for free?
Yes. The whole app, on desktop and phone, with no account and no limits, including for professional use. Plugins, the Web Clipper, Canvas, and Bases are free. Only the online services are paid.
What happens to my data with Obsidian?
Your notes stay on your device: Obsidian does not receive them and collects no personal data and no usage statistics.
What are the alternatives to Obsidian?
Notion: If you prefer an online workspace shared with the team, with an AI assistant already built in. Gemini Notebook: To ask questions of a set of documents without installing or configuring anything. AnythingLLM: To query your documents with an AI model that runs on your computer. Ollama: The tool to install to connect a local model to an Obsidian plugin.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.