# Obsidian

A local-first notes app that stores everything as plain Markdown files on your device — free with no feature paywall, plus optional paid Sync and Publish add-ons.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** Free
- **Open source:** no
- **Official site:** https://obsidian.md/
- **Available via:** Homebrew, Direct
- **Requirements:** macOS 12 or newer (Homebrew cask requirement)
- **Maker:** Erica Xu & Shida Li (Obsidian co-founders)

## Kitsmith's take

The flagship “second brain” pick for a reason: notes stay as plain Markdown files you own, not a proprietary database, and the core app has no feature paywall found at verification time. Sync (end-to-end encrypted cross-device sync) and Publish (turn notes into a website) are optional paid add-ons layered on top, not required to use Obsidian itself — and the company’s own manifesto says it’s self-funded, with no outside investors.

## Features

- **Local-first Markdown files:** Notes are stored as plain-text Markdown files on your own device, not a proprietary database.
- **Linking & graph view:** Link notes together and visualize the connections in an interactive graph.
- **Community plugins:** Thousands of community-built plugins and themes extend the app.

## FAQ

**Is Obsidian free?**

Yes, the core app is free with no feature paywall found at verification time. Optional paid add-ons (Sync, Publish) are separate.

**Who makes Obsidian?**

Erica Xu and Shida Li, who co-founded the project; the company says it’s self-funded with no outside investors.

**Does Obsidian lock in my notes?**

No — notes are stored as plain Markdown files on your own device, so they stay portable.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/obsidian/