# Obsidian Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Obsidian the right Knowledge Management solution for you? Explore 44 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/236468/Obsidian/reviews --- Obsidian 4.8 (44) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/236468/Obsidian/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Obsidian Ease of use 4.0 Customer Service 4.3 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews MS Maggie S Intellectual Property InternLegal Services, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “It allows me to also share an entire database locally without the trouble of sharing permissions as seen on other platforms.“ July 20, 2025 DB Drew B Teaching AssistantEducation Management, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “I came to obsidium from a few disappointed attempts to use other apps, which would turn out to be TOO complicated or wouldn’t do what I needed or were just clunky.“ May 26, 2025 Ben L SAComputer Software, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Obsidian has a clean interface and everything is organized in markdown files.“ April 17, 2025 Stuart M Artistic DirectorWriting and Editing, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The community is overwhelming because the numerous plugins can get out of hand.“ September 26, 2024 NT Nivedita T CFOMechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “There are a lot of templets to choose from and it also has a ton of community plugins to customize and organise how we want it to look like. “ September 18, 2023 JC Jackie C Threat AnalystSecurity and Investigations, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Can be difficult to use if you're a first time user for organization/note taking users.“ March 31, 2025 GS Glen S DirectorStaffing and Recruiting, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “A learning curve, but plenty of info and demos out there to help.“ November 3, 2024 IC Ivy C AdminTelecommunications, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Setting up team collaboration isn't a walk in the park either – it lacks the seamless integration for smooth group work.“ December 8, 2023 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 44 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use 🧑‍💻 Owain W. Senior Developer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The one note taking solution" February 12, 2026 5.0 Really love it and use it on my phone and laptop for taking notes, writing blogs and generally organising my life! Pros Obsidian can be used 100% with zero cost. No paywalls or limitations which is a real plus. So many great software solutions limit what is possible after 30days. There are addons you can pay for but they aren't required. There are also hundreds of great community created plugins available to add even more functionality to the software Cons It can be difficult to first get started and understanding how your notes should be organised and there isn't any right or wrong way, so many options are available online. It can feel daunting to start but it's worth it. Switched from [Microsoft OneNote](https://www.capterra.com/p/227211/Microsoft-OneNote/)[Evernote Teams](https://www.capterra.com/p/154969/Evernote-Business/) I didnt like that my notes werent easy to transfer or store. Obsidian stores everything in markdown and on disk which is perfect. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer SA Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent note taking app for MacOS" April 17, 2025 4.0 Obsidian is a clean markdown note taking application. While not as fully featured compared to long time note taking apps like OneNote, Obsidian capabilities are more than enough for everyday usage. However the lack of sync in even the standard licensed version holds it back. Pros Obsidian has a clean interface and everything is organized in markdown files. This make it very easy to move around if you need to. Markdown is widely used in the development community and easy to learn. The UI is context aware and dynamically updates based on the formatting used. There are dark and light modes available and the app runs well on MacOS. Cons Even though I got a license for professional use, the biggest feature missing is sync across multiple devices. This is yet another paid feature which should be included in the standard licensing versus another monthly fee. Ultimately this is what blocks wider usage and adoption of Obsidian. While Markdown works well, there are certain constraints when it comes to formatting (no "/" characters in titles). It would be nice if there were some GenAI features such as summarization. Switched from [Standard Notes](https://www.capterra.com/p/234214/Standard-Notes/) i need more features and functionality for business use. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Customer support Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Obsidian review" May 4, 2025 5.0 Pros Obsidian is very flexible and user centric product. It's fast and increases my productivity while working with different documents. It's simple to customize to my own use, easy access to all commands and options. Cons It requires some time to adapt to it and learn the structure of the files, which increases the entry level of the users. Review Source CF Cyle F. Video Editor Media Production Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "The Notes App I've Been Looking For" March 5, 2025 5.0 Obsidian has radically transformed the way I organize personal and professional information. I'd been looking for an app that works this way for over a decade. While many of the features I was looking for I could have found if I'd discovered Markdown sooner, none of the other Markdown apps are as easy to use, as simple to customize, or as flexible across all my devices. The vast amount of well-designed community plugins really help set this app apart from the rest. If there's a feature you need, someone's almost certainly made a plugin for it. Pros Obsidian gives you control over all your notes. You can save your markdown files wherever you'd like, and depending on the devices you're using, you can create your own file syncing solution without paying for Obsidian's subscription (You'll need to pay for sync if you use iOS devices). If you decide to switch to another Markdown app, you can just move your files. I can access synced notes in my Google Drive from my desktop and my (Android) phone. Any vaults that don't need sync or that I'd prefer to keep offline can be stored in any folder on my computer that I choose. Cons Having to pay for sync if I want to access my notes on iOS is less than ideal, but I can't be upset about that since Obsidian makes DIY sync possible, and the only reason it doesn't work on iOS is because of how Apple designed that OS. That's not Obsidian's fault, and the optional subscription price is very reasonable anyway. Additionally, I’m just an individual using Obsidian for myself. I don’t need to collaborate with other users. Making this app work with multiple users might be more difficult. Alternatives considered [Bear](https://www.capterra.com/p/234336/Bear/)[Notion](https://www.capterra.com/p/186596/Notion/) Reason for choosing Obsidian Obsidian had all the features I wanted for the best price (free!) Switched from [Checkvist](https://www.capterra.com/p/158379/Checkvist/) Obsidian can do everything Checkvist can and more. Checkvist is great if you want something simple that you can access from any device, and you don't care about offline storage. If you need more control, Obsidian is the way to go. Review Source MS Maggie S. Intellectual Property Intern Legal Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Inclusive Organization and Workplace Application" July 20, 2025 5.0 Pros Obsidian provided me a workplace where all of my PDFs, word documents, website links, videos, images, and other files could be referenced without being opened in separate tabs. It allows me to also share an entire database locally without the trouble of sharing permissions as seen on other platforms. Cons Learning the commands to reference or input files has a curve, but once you have it down it never fails to work! Alternatives considered [OneDrive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161304/OneDrive/) Reason for choosing Obsidian OneDrive can share files, but often is very difficult to do so over many files at once. Switched from [Google Drive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161425/Drive/) Google Drive did not allow us to work in a completely confidential environment. Review Source FV Fabio V. Software engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Perfect second brain" May 29, 2025 5.0 Obsidian is the perfect second brain – a powerful tool for organizing thoughts and information. I use it to capture and review notes, and thanks to the Kanban plugin, I can effectively plan and manage my software development projects. Pros Obsidian is easy to install and seamlessly syncs data across Apple devices, including Mac, iPad, and iPhone. With a vast library of plugins, it’s highly customizable to suit your workflow. Using templates can significantly improve efficiency and usability. Cons 1.The free version does not support real-time collaboration. 2.You need to learn Markdown to use it effectively. 3.Files are stored locally, which is great for privacy, but requires manual backups. Switched from [Notion](https://www.capterra.com/p/186596/Notion/) After using Notion for a while, I switched to Obsidian – and it changed the way I think, write, and manage my knowledge. Review Source AK Alexander K. Copywriter Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Obsidian, my go-to, every-day note-taking tool" November 22, 2024 5.0 I’m using Obsidian every day for personal notes and private notes. Pros I like how I have the feeling of control when it comes to organizing my notes and therefore my “second brain”. Cons Sometimes I would like to a way to organize elements freely like in a Word document but I know that’s not the intended usage. Switched from [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) The Archive was getting slow when notes got very long, and in Obsidian performance is no longer a problem. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Artistic Director Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Best Notetaking App" September 26, 2024 5.0 Obsidian can take some getting used to but once you find your stride, it is such a powerful tool and customisable for your particlar ideosyncrasies. Pros Obsidian is the best notetaking app that I have used and the ability to connect notes and organise them into a personal wiki makes it very useful Cons The community is overwhelming because the numerous plugins can get out of hand. Alternatives considered [Notion](https://www.capterra.com/p/186596/Notion/) Reason for choosing Obsidian Offline and control of my own notes and documents were critical Switched from [Google Keep](https://www.capterra.com/p/233847/Google-Keep/) The limited capacity for formatting and review of notes Review Source HK HYUNJUN K. Senior Engineer Semiconductors Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My AI-Enhanced Zettelkasten: Two Years with Obsidian" June 8, 2025 5.0 I have used Obsidian daily for roughly two years, curating thousands of notes for knowledge management and academic research. The local vault model eliminates latency and data-leak anxiety, yet with Obsidian Sync I can pick up exactly where I left off on any device. Graph View plus inline backlinks surface hidden relationships, letting my thinking expand “link by link.” Adding Smart Composer supercharged my workflow—the AI can tighten prose, generate outlines, or distill dense papers in seconds. Through the community MCP plugin I chat with Claude over my entire vault, refining arguments and drafting sections of journal articles without leaving the editor. Overall, Obsidian has become the hub of my scholarly and professional life; every idea now starts—and often finishes—here. Pros Local-first architecture keeps every note on my device, so it is lightning-fast and far less exposed to security threats Zettelkasten-style bidirectional links let me grow an interconnected “second brain,” turning scattered ideas into a coherent knowledge graph Smart Composer plugin harnesses AI to summarize, refactor, and even spark unexpected insights inside any note Seamless Claude-powered MCP workflow allows natural-language querying across my vault, accelerating literature reviews and manuscript drafting Plain-text Markdown + a vibrant plugin ecosystem make it easy to move from quick jotting to polished academic writing in one tool Cons Steep learning curve: newcomers need time to grasp optimal folder structure, linking conventions, and plugin management Review Source DB Drew B. Teaching Assistant Education Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Rock solid. It’s taking app" May 26, 2025 5.0 I came to obsidium from a few disappointed attempts to use other apps, which would turn out to be TOO complicated or wouldn’t do what I needed or were just clunky. Linking files changed everything, for me. Pros It is easy to grasp and easy use. Markdown makes it easy to tailor your text without lots of screen clutter and the way it supports linking documents is a dream. I love that! Cons It does take a couple of tries to get used to how the screen presents on a phone compared to a desktop. Switched from [Notion](https://www.capterra.com/p/186596/Notion/) Obsidium was easier to use, more intuitive. Review Source JC Jackie C. Threat Analyst Security and Investigations Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Obsidian Review" March 31, 2025 5.0 Amazing product that is a game-changer in this industry. Pros Easily take and organize notes to streamline thoughts. Cons Can be difficult to use if you're a first time user for organization/note taking users. Review Source JG Julie G. owner Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Obsidian has been a game changer" September 26, 2023 5.0 I've started using Obsidian to brainstorm novels. Before I was trying to use file cards, but that just got too confusing. I always felt like I had to keep the entire story in my head at once, which is impossible. Now I can put all the pieces into Obsidian and focus on one part at a time without worrying about losing track of the rest. Pros When I discovered Obsidian, my life changed. Not only is it a great way to keep track of all my research, but I can also use it for journaling, brainstorming, and even household management. It's a real pleasure to use, and has changed how I think about information management. Cons There are so many community plugins available that it can be overwhelming. The good news is, you don't have to use them if you don't want to. It's just so easy to go down that rabbit hole and try out new things. Review Source DM Daniela M. editor Design Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "mi experiencia usando Obsidian " November 30, 2023 5.0 me ayudo a tener todos mis proyectos y mi informacion en un solo lugar y dejar de usar tantas aplicaciones y programas para una cosa y para otra cosa encontre todo en uno aqui. Pros puedes tener todo en un solo lugar la organizacion , resumen de libros , tu dia a dia no hay por que usar otras app lo encuentras todo en uno . Cons al principio no es muy intuitivo usar lo y cuesta trabajo aprender lo al principio pero despues ya es my facil. Review Source LD Lohith D. Manager Retail Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Time to Build your second brain " January 11, 2023 5.0 Pros Until I discovered obsidian I never knew the concept of second brain and why would we need one. After researching a lot on it, had many tools on hand that can be used to build one for my own.Finally settled on obsidian just for it's privacy and future proof. This tool just uses plain markdown text files to create your notes. This makes your notes future proof as the usability of files are not depending upon the software itself. The files can be opened by any notepad software.The main reason I chose obsidian over others is this helps you to create more rather than copy notes.Not to mention their linking feature which helps you to link various ideas which in turn results in creating a new idea. Cons sync across devices is payable one. You can find a workaround for this but still I prefer to choose obsidian sync and am fine to pay for it as I feel that I support their development. Review Source NT Nivedita T. CFO Mechanical or Industrial Engineering Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "One of the best productivity tool to organize work. " September 18, 2023 4.0 It was a wonderful application to connect my notes, data, and reports together. It has every data organised and easy to access. It increases productivity to huge aspects. Pros The best thing about Obsidian is Links. It helps connect notes and ideas. There are a lot of templets to choose from and it also has a ton of community plugins to customize and organise how we want it to look like. Cons Obsidian has a learning curve. If a person can learn and use it to it's full potential, then he/she can redeem it's full benefits. Review Source OT Olivia T. Student Education Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "A Good Offline Notes App" November 30, 2024 4.0 I truly like Obsidian. There was a small learning curve and I was intimidated at first because it looked complex. However, it's pretty easy to use once you understand some of the commands. Pros I love that it's a offline note app so, I'm able to see my files on my computer. Cons Sometimes I have to look up what commands to use. For example, there isn't a button to underline words. I have to do the HTML