Obsidian review
Local-first markdown notes app with bi-directional links — favored by writers who own their files.
Last updated
Best for
- → Writers who want to own their files as plain markdown
- → Researchers and non-fiction authors building knowledge graphs
- → Anyone tired of cloud-only note apps
Obsidian — Pros
- Files live on disk as plain .md — fully portable
- Hugely active plugin ecosystem
- Fast even with thousands of notes
- Works offline by default
Obsidian — Cons
- Steep learning curve for plugin-heavy setups
- Sync between devices is paid (or DIY)
- Not made for real-time collaboration
Notable features
- Bi-directional links and graph view
- Plugin ecosystem
- Canvas (visual whiteboard)
- Templater and Dataview workflows
- Cross-platform desktop and mobile apps
Ready to try Obsidian?