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Build your second brain with bidirectional linked notes + interactive knowledge graph visualization - 100% free personal use, local-first Markdown privacy.
Editor's take: “SEO-focused AI writer with decent optimization features” — Sohail Akhtar
Reviewed by Sohail Akhtar
Lead Editor & Founder
What we like
Limitations
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free (personal) | $0 — the full app with all core features, community plugins, Canvas, and Bases. No sign-up, no usage caps. |
| Sync (add-on) | $5/month, or $4/month billed annually — end-to-end encrypted sync across your devices. |
| Publish (add-on) | $10/month, or $8/month billed annually — publish your notes as a website. |
| Commercial license | $50/user/year — optional since Feb 2025; using Obsidian for work is free, organizations buy it to support development. |
| Catalyst | One-time donation from $25 — early insider builds and community perks; unlocks no app features. |
Obsidian's core app is genuinely free for personal use — every feature (bidirectional linking, graph view, Canvas, Bases, 4,000+ community plugins) with no account required. Optional paid add-ons are Sync at $5/month ($4/month billed annually) for encrypted cross-device sync and Publish at $10/month ($8/month annually) for publishing notes to the web. A commercial license is $50/user/year (voluntary since Feb 2025 — using Obsidian at work is otherwise free), and Catalyst is a one-time donation from $25 that supports development without unlocking features.
Associated Tags
obsidian free download, knowledge graph notes 2026, bidirectional linked notes, personal knowledge management, markdown second brain free, obsidian plugins 2000+, zettelkasten software free, local first notes app
Who should use Obsidian?
Discover practical workflows and real-world scenarios where Obsidian delivers key solutions.
Researchers and writers building a linked knowledge base (second brain)
Developers keeping local, version-friendly Markdown documentation
Students organizing notes with backlinks and graph views
PKM enthusiasts wanting offline, private, plugin-extensible notes
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