app·Apps & Software

Obsidian

A local-first notes app that stores your vault as plain Markdown files on your device.

BUDGET FRIENDLYLOCAL-FIRSTOFFLINEPRIVACY-FIRST

Setup guide · 25–40 min

Visit Obsidian →

Quick facts

Price model: Freemium
Starting price: Free for personal use
Best for: Household notes and lists · School and work research · Daily journaling
Replaces: Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes with paid storage
Platforms: MacWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid
Last verified: 2026-06-22

Why it's listed

Your notes live on your machine as Markdown you can open anywhere—no subscription required to think and write.

Obsidian turns your notes into a personal knowledge base with backlinks, graph view, and hundreds of community plugins. The core app is free for personal use; optional Sync and Publish are paid add-ons if you want cloud sync or a public site.

The catch

Jump to setup guide ↓

Sync, Publish, and some team features cost extra; plugin quality varies and can add complexity.

How to set up Obsidian

A local vault on your main device, synced without Obsidian Sync subscription, using files you own forever.

Time: 25–40 min
Difficulty: Easy
Verified: 2026-06-22

Before you start

Pick one primary device to start (Mac or Windows is easiest)
Choose a vault folder location you back up (not Desktop-only)
Decide sync path: Syncthing (free), iCloud/Dropbox folder, or single-device only for now

Install and create a vault
Download Obsidian from obsidian.md. Choose Create new vault → store it in Documents/Obsidian or similar. This folder is plain .md files—you can leave Obsidian anytime.
Turn off optional paid prompts
Skip Obsidian Sync and Publish during setup unless you want them. Core note-taking is free for personal use. Settings → Account — you don't need to sign in for local notes.
Set daily-driver preferences
Settings → Editor: enable readable line length if you like. Pick a theme under Appearance. Enable Daily notes or Templates only if you'll use them—avoid plugin sprawl on day one.
Add one useful core plugin
Settings → Core plugins → enable Daily notes OR Templates (not both yet). Learn the default before adding community plugins.
Sync without Obsidian Sync (Syncthing path)
Install Syncthing on two devices. Share your vault folder as a synced folder on both. Wait for Initial Scan to finish before editing the same note on both devices. See our Syncthing setup guide for details.
Back up the vault
Copy the vault folder to an external drive or backup tool weekly. Your notes are files—Time Machine, Restic, or any backup that includes Documents works.

Troubleshooting

Duplicate notes after sync: Two sync tools on the same vault (e.g. iCloud + Syncthing). Use one sync method only.
Plugin broke the app: Restart in Safe mode (hold Shift on launch) and disable community plugins.
Vault won't open on phone: Obsidian Mobile needs the vault reachable via sync or local copy—set up sync first, then install mobile.

Keep it working

Review community plugins quarterly—disable what you don't use
Don't edit the same note simultaneously on two devices until sync shows Up to date
Export annually: vault is already Markdown; optional PDF exports for archives

Official docs: help.obsidian.md/