Table of contents
Obsidian.md
A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.
A startup from the United States.
A startup from the United States.
Local-first
Obsidian stores your notes locally on your device, giving you full control over your data and enhancing privacy.
Markdown Support
Obsidian uses Markdown, making it easy to format text and compatible with many other text editors and tools.
Bidirectional Linking
You can create bidirectional links between notes, which helps in building a knowledge graph and navigating related information more easily.
Customizability
Obsidian is highly customizable with community plugins, themes, and various settings to fit different workflows.
Graph View
Provides a visual graph view of your notes and their connections, aiding in understanding relationships and discovering insights.
Offline Access
Since the notes are stored locally, you can access and edit them without an internet connection.
Promote Obsidian.md. You can add any of these badges on your website.
Perhaps you know someone who swears by Obsidian, it may seem like a cult of overly devoted people for how passionate they are, but it's not without reason
I've been using Obsidian for over 3 years, at a point in my life when I felt I had to handle too much information and I felt like grasping water not being able to remember everything I wanted, language learning, programming, accounting, university, daily tasks. A friend recommended it to me next to Notion (of which he is a passionate cultist priest) and I reluctantly picked it and fell in love almost immediately.
Obsidian seems very simple, like a notepad with folder interface, similar to Sublime Text, but the ability to link files together in a Wiki style allows you to organize ideas in any way you want, one file may lead to a dozen or more ideas that are related
If you want to do something specific, Obsidian has a plethora of community created plugins that expand the functionality, in my case, I use obsidian to organize my classes both as a teacher and as a student, using local databases, calendars, dictionaries, slides, vector graphic drawings, excel-like tables, Anki connection, podcasts, and more
I've been using Obsidian for more than a year. It's been great. I think it offer a great balance of control, flexibility and extensibility. What is more, you own your own data, that's been a must-have feature for me. I just can't imagine putting all my knowledge into something that I don't have control over.
I think two of the most popular alternatives that people consider are Logseq and Roam Research. Although Logseq is a bit different, it's considered compatible with Obsidian. Supposedly, you can use them with a shared database (files. Both use simple text files for storage). I tried that once, a few months ago. It worked, yet it messed up a bit my Obsidian files ยฏ_(ใ)_/ยฏ.
Overall, Obsidian.md is an excellent tool for users looking for a versatile and powerful note-taking application. Its unique features such as backlinking, markdown support, and robust customization options make it a favorite among knowledge management enthusiasts.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if Obsidian.md is good.
Check the traffic stats of Obsidian.md on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of Obsidian.md on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of Obsidian.md's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of Obsidian.md on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about Obsidian.md on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Option 2: Dedicated markdown app.Typora, Obsidian, or similar. Better editing experience, but now you're context-switching between your code editor and your docs editor. Copy-pasting paths, losing mental context, duplicating effort. - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
Obsidian is the storage. A desktop app that opens any folder of markdown files and adds links, search, and a graph view on top. Your files stay on your disk. No cloud unless you turn it on, no proprietary database, no export step. If you want your notes back, you already have them. - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
For viewing and navigating, Obsidian handles large markdown libraries well: graph view, tag search, template plugins. VSCode works too if you'd rather stay in your dev environment. Both read the same folder with no conversion needed. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
Choose a local Markdown tool like Obsidian, Logseq, Foam, or Tolaria to store all your knowledge as plain .md files you own and control. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
Before we get started, I want to note that all of my coordination files live in an Obsidian vault, Kiro Brain, a dedicated directory that gets loaded as context when agents spawn. Here is the structure and I'll further explain the files as we go:. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
Download and install the latest version of Obsidian. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
I'd say Affine or Obsidian. Obsidian is built on-top of just markdown files, so you can do whatever you want with them. E.g. If you need multiplayer editing you could use 3rd party solutions or even something like HedgeDoc. Affine is more closer to Notion and self-hostable. Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ Affine: https://affine.pro/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
I would recommend Obsidian to new users. I've been using Zim Wiki for years; back then there was nothing better available and I now can't be bothered to migrate formats. https://obsidian.md/ https://zim-wiki.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
I needed a solution - a digital Zettelkasten folder or "second brain" vault seemed to solve that problem, so I built one in Obsidian. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
Keep a discovery log: Consider maintaining a simple text file or using a tool like Obsidian to track interesting sites you discover. This creates your own personal index of the small web and helps you remember gems you might otherwise forget. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
Obsidian doesn't "just happen" to use Markdown - the entire point of the app is that it writes to markdown. The URL is literally http://obsidian.md. The "notes save to your filesystem" is a concept directly lifted from Obsidian. Saying they're "not comparable" just doesn't make sense. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
The system I use for note-taking today is a combination of PARA, Evergreen Notes and 4 Buckets System that I ended up merging after a lot of iterations. This post is part 1 of a 3-part series on my PKM setup using Obsidian, how I got there and how it's used daily. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
The Brain: Obsidian (My local knowledge base where the AI reads/writes). - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
For early drafts, planning, and personal notes, Obsidian has become my default workspace. The linking system makes it easy to map large topics before formalizing them. Half of my documentation ideas start here before they ever make it into a platform. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
Iโve been using the Zettelkasten method with Obsidian to take notes, connect ideas, and build a personal knowledge system. In this post, Iโll share how Iโve set it up, why it works for me, and how itโs helped me think more clearly and creatively. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
Joe uses Apple Shortcuts for startup/shutdown routines โ dictating daily checklists directly into Obsidian to clear his mind and capture tasks. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
Obsidian has become my long-term memory. Itโs a knowledge management app built around plain-text Markdown files. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
Regex Replace is a plugin for Obsidian that allows you to run regex-based search and replace operations directly inside the editor. It comes with a convenient modal dialog, live preview of matches, and a preset system to save, overwrite, and delete commonly used regex operations. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
Want receipts? The Obsidian community is full of devs who swear by their vaults. Logseq and Notion have similar cult followings. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
Every dev eventually needs a second brain. Thatโs where Obsidian comes in. Itโs a note-taking app built around Markdown files, but its graph view and plugin ecosystem make it special. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
So instead of dumping these into a CMS by hand, I decided to repurpose my Obsidian vault into a searchable wiki I can embed on my blog. Since everything is already in Markdown and includes metadata in frontmatter, I could skip the copy-paste slog and get straight to building something useful. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
Obsidian.md, a feature-rich tool in the domain of knowledge management and personal note-taking, garners significant attention from a diverse user base, spanning developers, writers, and researchers. Known for its ability to create a "second brain," it is celebrated for empowering individuals in managing their unique knowledge ecosystems.
Obsidian is fundamentally structured around plain text Markdown files, local storage, and extensibility through community-developed plugins. This architecture allows users to build and maintain personal knowledge bases offline, ensuring data privacy and security. Unlike cloud-reliant alternatives (e.g., Notion), Obsidian offers complete access to and control over data, which appeals to users who prioritize autonomy and security.
The application promotes a nonlinear approach to note-taking, enabling users to interlink notes seamlessly through backlinks and visualizations in a graph view. This capability creates a dynamic web of ideas, facilitating deep connections and insights.
Flexible Note Management: The use of Markdown and local vaults allows for a flexible and personalized note-taking experience.
Plugin Ecosystem: The thriving community develops plugins that significantly enhance Obsidian's functionality, catering to niche requirements and expanding core capabilities. This has positioned Obsidian as a playground for productivity enthusiasts eager to customize their workflow.
Data Privacy and Offline Availability: With user data stored locally, Obsidian ensures users maintain sovereignty over their informationโan essential feature for many privacy-conscious users.
Cross-Platform Accessibility: Available on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), Obsidian facilitates a consistent user experience across different devices, even though mobile apps remain in development.
While Obsidian offers remarkable flexibility and customization, it has a steep learning curve, particularly for users unfamiliar with Markdown or advanced note-linking features. As pointed out by some reviews, tools like Skiff or Standard Notes might offer a more intuitive experience for typical note-taking without such complexities.
Moreover, Obsidian's real-time collaboration capabilities lag behind those of some competitors, such as Roam Research and Notion. Although plugins can ameliorate this, users seeking robust collaborative features might look elsewhere.
Overall, the perception of Obsidian is largely positive, particularly among those valuing a robust, extensible, and customizable note-taking tool. Users are drawn to how Obsidian allows them to create a resilient, personal knowledge system capable of evolving alongside their needs.
Many users integrate Obsidian into broader productivity systems. For instance, developers often pair Obsidian with task management tools like OmniFocus, creating a harmonious workflow for organizing both tasks and knowledge resources.
Obsidian.md stands out within the crowded field of note-taking applications, offering a unique proposition for those who cherish flexibility, control, and a deep connection between ideas in their workflow. Its ever-evolving nature, powered by community contributions, positions it as a cornerstone tool for knowledge workers navigating the complexities of modern personal information management. As bi-directional note-taking and PKM tools grow in popularity, Obsidian's approach will likely continue to garner admiration and extend its influence.
Do you know an article comparing Obsidian.md to other products?
Suggest a link to a post with product alternatives.
Is Obsidian.md good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Obsidian.md here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
Obsidian is the gold standard for long-term knowledge. No vendor lock-in, incredibly fast, and the graph view actually helps find connections in my research that I'd otherwise miss. Use it daily for my project docs.
It can be the memory for your brain to work off of.
Best note-taking app, very customizable.
Agreed. What is more, it has one of the most polished UIs + a great mobile app.
The most scalable and future proof notetaking program.