A second brain, for you, forever
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base and note-taking app that works on top of local Markdown files. Trustpilot: 4.3/5 from 8 reviews (all 5-star, but very small sample). Features bidirectional linking, graph view, and extensive customization. Free for personal use with optional paid sync ($4/mo) and publish ($8/mo) services.
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
First-time users struggle to adjust to Obsidian's interface, which isn't beginner-friendly. The flexibility comes at the cost of ease of use. Many users report using Obsidian 'wrong' for months before finding a setup that works. For average users, it's way too tinkery and complicated to use power features.
The customizable nature leads to plugin overload. Many plugins are buggy, poorly designed, or lack updates. Users frequently troubleshoot plugin conflicts or deal with plugins that break after Obsidian releases. The plugin ecosystem can be overwhelming to navigate.
Obsidian is built as a personal knowledge management tool with no real-time collaboration capabilities. Unlike Notion or Google Docs, you cannot work simultaneously with others on the same note. Collaboration requires paid Obsidian Publish add-on, which only shares, not collaborates.
Obsidian lacks a native task management system or project management features. Users must rely on external tools or complex plugin setups like Tasks and Dataview, creating fragmented workflows. Database functionality requires community plugins that don't always work together.
Unlike Notion or Evernote, there is no web version of Obsidian. You must download and install the app. This limits access from shared computers, Chromebooks, or situations where you can't install software. Your notes aren't accessible from a browser.
While Obsidian's search works for individual notes, it becomes limiting with larger vaults. It lacks advanced features such as Boolean operators, custom queries, or refined filters that power users need for extensive note collections.
Much of the default interface is plain and doesn't have an attractive working environment. While themes exist, achieving a polished look requires theme installation and configuration. Out of the box, it looks utilitarian compared to polished apps like Notion.
While the core app is free, syncing notes across devices requires Obsidian Sync at $4/month ($48/year). Free alternatives like iCloud or Dropbox have sync issues including corruption and file duplication. This catches users who assume 'free' means full functionality.
Obsidian's mobile app is functional but limited compared to desktop. The app often takes several seconds to load on large vaults with plugins. The mobile editing experience doesn't match desktop, frustrating users who need consistent cross-device workflows.
Users trying to avoid Obsidian Sync by using iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive report sync conflicts, file corruption, and duplication issues. iCloud on Windows is particularly unreliable. Self-hosted alternatives like Syncthing require technical setup.
Local-first: You own your data completely
All notes are stored as plain Markdown files on your device. No cloud lock-in, no data hostage situations. You can access and edit files with any text editor. Your notes remain yours forever, even if Obsidian disappears.
100% free for personal use with all features
The core application is completely free with no feature restrictions, no note limits, and no upsell pressure. Commercial license requirement was removed in 2025. Only optional sync ($4/mo) and publish ($8/mo) services cost money.
Powerful bidirectional linking and graph view
Create connections between notes with double brackets. The graph view visualizes your knowledge network. Backlinks show all notes that reference the current note. This creates a 'second brain' that mimics how human thought works.
Extensive customization through plugins and themes
Over 1,000 community plugins extend functionality. Themes change the entire look. CSS snippets allow granular customization. You can make Obsidian work exactly how you want - if you're willing to invest the time.
Fast performance with local files
Because files are local, Obsidian is fast even with large vaults. No waiting for cloud sync on every action. Works offline by default. Performance is notably better than cloud-based alternatives like Notion.
Privacy-focused with no data collection
The small bootstrapped team doesn't collect your data or sell to advertisers. End-to-end encryption available with Obsidian Sync. No VC pressure to monetize user data. Ideal for sensitive information.
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited (local)
Limitations: No built-in sync, No web access to publish, Must self-manage backups
Users: 1 user
Storage: 10GB total, 200MB per file
Limitations: Per-vault pricing, Cannot share with others
Users: 1 site
Storage: 4GB
Limitations: One-way sharing only, Not collaborative editing
Users: 1 user
Storage: N/A
Limitations: Not required for any features, Purely supporter benefit
Writers, researchers, and PKM enthusiasts
Obsidian excels at long-form writing, research, and personal knowledge management. Bidirectional linking, local Markdown files, and graph view make it ideal for building a 'second brain.'
Privacy-conscious users
Local-first storage means your notes never touch company servers (unless using optional Sync). No data collection, no analytics, end-to-end encryption available. Your data stays yours.
Power users who enjoy customization
If you enjoy tweaking tools to work exactly how you want, Obsidian's plugin ecosystem, themes, and CSS customization offer endless possibilities. The investment pays off for dedicated users.
Engineering teams
Excellent for technical documentation. Native Markdown, code blocks, Git-friendly files. Developers love the plugin ecosystem and local-first approach.
Researchers and academics
Powerful linking, citation plugins, and knowledge graph. Academics love building interconnected note systems for research.
Apple ecosystem users wanting simple sync
iCloud sync works but has reported issues with file duplication. Works well for many users but isn't as reliable as paid Obsidian Sync. Test carefully before committing.
Non-technical users wanting simple note-taking
Obsidian's learning curve is steep. If you just want to write notes without configuring plugins, themes, and workflows, simpler options like Apple Notes, Notion, or Bear will work better.
Teams needing real-time collaboration
Obsidian has no real-time collaboration. You cannot edit the same note simultaneously. For team knowledge bases, Notion, Confluence, or Slite are far better suited.
Users who need web access from any device
There is no web version. You must install the app. If you work from shared computers, Chromebooks, or need browser access, Notion or other cloud apps work better.
Marketing teams
No real-time collaboration, steep learning curve, no visual content management. Marketing teams need Notion or Google Docs for collaborative work.
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Users get caught in the customization rabbit hole - installing plugins, tweaking themes, building complex Dataview dashboards. They realize months have passed optimizing the tool rather than using it for actual work.
Users avoid the $4/month Obsidian Sync by using iCloud or Dropbox. After experiencing sync conflicts, duplicate files, or corrupted notes, they either lose work or end up paying for Sync anyway.
Users build extensive personal knowledge bases only to realize they need to share or collaborate with others. Obsidian's lack of real-time collaboration means rebuilding in Notion or similar tools.
Users set up complex plugin-dependent workflows on desktop, then discover mobile doesn't support many plugins and loads slowly. The cross-device experience doesn't match expectations.
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
Obsidian has no real-time collaboration. Sharing vaults via Git or cloud creates merge conflicts. When projects require working with others, users must switch to Notion, Confluence, or similar collaborative tools.
There's no web version. From a library computer, Chromebook, or work machine where you can't install software, your notes are inaccessible unless using Obsidian Publish (public-facing, not for editing).
Community plugins may conflict with each other or break after Obsidian updates. Power users with complex setups spend time troubleshooting instead of working. Some plugins get abandoned.
Large vaults with many attachments slow down sync, search, and startup - especially on mobile. The 10GB Sync limit may not be enough. Local storage benefits become a burden.
Notion
Users needing collaboration switch to Notion. Gain: real-time collab, databases, web access. Trade-off: slower, data in cloud, subscription cost.
Logseq
Users wanting outliner-style switch to Logseq. Gain: bullet-based organization, daily journals, open source. Trade-off: different paradigm, smaller plugin ecosystem.
Craft
Apple users switch for the polished native experience, beautiful design, and easier sync. Less customization but works great out of the box. Better mobile experience than Obsidian.
Bear
Apple users wanting simpler Markdown notes switch to Bear for its elegant design, easier tagging system, and seamless iCloud sync. Less powerful but much lower friction.
Capacities
Newer alternative combining Obsidian's linking with Notion's databases in a more approachable package. Good for users finding Obsidian too complex but wanting more than Notion.
Roam Research
Users wanting original networked thought tool. Gain: powerful queries, established community. Trade-off: expensive ($15/mo), web-only.
