Notes · Ranked 5 of 9 in Best note-taking apps
What is Obsidian?
Short answer
Obsidian is a note-taking app from Dynalist Inc, best for local-first Markdown notes with plugins. It has a free plan (app free; sync and publish are paid add-ons); paid plans start at $4 / mo.
| Fact | Obsidian | Notes median (8 tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, app free; sync and publish are paid add-ons | 8 of 9 have one |
| Entry price | $4 / mo | $2.50 / mo |
| Top plan | $8 / mo | $9 / mo |
| 1st year | $48 | $30.00 |
| Paid plans | 3 | 3 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | — |
What does Obsidian do?
Obsidian covers these jobs, as listed on Dynalist Inc's pricing and feature pages.
- Local Markdown vaults
- End-to-end encrypted Sync
- Publish notes as a site
- Version history
- Team shared vaults
How much does Obsidian cost?
Free, then $4 / mo to $8 / mo.
| Plan | Price | Billed monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | — |
| Sync Standard | $4 / mo | — | — |
| Sync Plus | $8 / mo | — | — |
| Publish | $8 / mo | $10 / mo | per site |
What are the best Obsidian alternatives?
Closest on first-year cost: Craft, Goodnotes, Notability.
| Alternative | Free plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Craft | Yes | $5 / mo |
| Goodnotes | Yes | $11.99 / yr |
| Notability | Yes | $11.99 / yr |
Is Obsidian better than Goodnotes?
Obsidian is best for local-first Markdown notes with plugins; Goodnotes for handwritten notes and PDF annotation. First year: $48 vs $11.99.
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian pricing | obsidian.md/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare