Obsidian

Notes built around connected ideas

Obsidian is a productivity and note-taking app for people who want to organise information as a connected collection of Markdown notes. It suits students, researchers, writers, developers and anyone building a personal knowledge base rather than keeping isolated reminders. Notes can be linked together, making it easier to move between related topics and develop a structured reference library over time.

Plain-text files and flexible organisation

The app works with a folder of plain-text Markdown files, giving your notes a format that is readable outside the app and suitable for long-term use. This local file approach is useful for users who want direct control over their information instead of relying on a proprietary note format. Obsidian can remain simple for everyday writing, while its linking system supports more detailed research and project work.

Tools for exploring and customising notes

• Linked notes: Connect related pages to create a more useful structure for ideas, projects and reference material.
• Graph view: See relationships between notes in a visual map and spot groups or connections across your collection.
• Plugins and themes: Extend the app and adjust its appearance with community-created additions.
• Mobile controls: Custom toolbars, quick actions and tablet sidebar pinning make common commands easier to reach on touch devices.

A capable app with a learning curve

Obsidian offers a focused workspace that can stay uncluttered for basic notes but provide deeper options when needed. Its Markdown-based workflow and wide customisation range may take time to learn, especially for users accustomed to conventional note apps. The Android listing has a 4.05-star rating from 15,733 reviews and records 1,000,000+ installs. Obsidian is developed by Dynalist Inc.