--- title: Obsidian canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/obsidian/ category: Note-Taking Apps points: 71 rank: 3 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Obsidian Free note app that keeps notes as Markdown files on your own disk, with paid end-to-end encrypted sync. 71 points out of 100. #3 of 10 note-taking apps. Vendor: Obsidian. Website: https://obsidian.md/ - The app is free for personal and commercial use, with no account needed [12]. - Notes are Markdown text files in a folder on your disk, so other editors can open them [5]. - Sync costs $4 a month billed yearly, or $5 billed monthly, with end-to-end encryption on by default [1][6]. - Apps run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android; the download page lists no web app [3]. - Shared vaults take up to 20 people, but two people cannot edit the same note live [7]. Verdict: Obsidian suits people who want notes as plain Markdown files that stay readable outside the app [5]. The app is free, and paid Sync adds end-to-end encryption and version history [1][6]. The catch: there is no free official sync, no web app listed, and no live co-editing [3][7][11]. Best for: People who want their notes as plain files they own. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | 15/18 | The download page lists apps for all five systems and no web app [3]. | | Systems | Works offline | Yes | 7/7 | Notes are stored on your device, so you can open them even offline [4]. | | Your data | Notes as plain files | Yes | 10/10 | Notes are Markdown plain-text files in a folder on your disk; other editors can open them [5]. | | Your data | Export everything to Markdown or HTML | Yes | 6/6 | Every note is already a Markdown file in your vault folder [5]. | | Your data | End-to-end encryption | Yes | 8/8 | Sync uses end-to-end encryption by default; Obsidian says it cannot read your data [6]. | | Your data | Open source | Not published | 0/6 | Obsidian does not say the app is open source; only the Web Clipper's code is public [10]. | | Features | Web clipper | Yes | 5/5 | The free official Web Clipper works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and other browsers [10]. | | Features | Linked notes | Yes | 5/5 | The Backlinks core plugin shows every note that links to the active note [9]. | | Features | Real-time collaboration | No | 0/5 | Obsidian says it does not yet support live editing of the same file [7]. | | Features | Tables and databases | Yes | 5/5 | Bases shows notes as tables, cards, lists or kanban boards, with properties you can sort and filter [8]. | | Features | Handwriting and drawing | Not published | 0/5 | | | Price | Free sync | No | 0/10 | Official Sync is paid; the free app syncs only through other tools such as iCloud or Syncthing [1][11]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $4/mo | 10/10 | Sync Standard, $4 a month billed yearly [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [1][12] | $0 | | Sync Standard | $4/month, billed yearly [1][2] | $4 | | Sync Plus | $8/month, billed yearly [2] | $8 | | Publish | $8/month per site, billed yearly [1] | $8 | Students, faculty and non-profit staff get 40% off Sync and Publish. Sync and Publish can be refunded within 7 days [1]. ## Strengths - Notes stay as Markdown files on your disk, readable by other apps [5]. - Sync is end-to-end encrypted by default, so Obsidian says it cannot read your notes [6]. - Bases shows notes as tables, cards or boards you can sort and filter [8]. - The Backlinks core plugin lists every note that links to the open note [9]. - The official Web Clipper is free and works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge [10]. ## Limits - Official sync is a paid add-on; free sync means setting up iCloud, Git or Syncthing yourself [1][11]. - Obsidian does not support live editing of the same file by several people [7]. - The download page lists desktop and mobile apps but no web app [3]. - Sync Standard holds 1 GB and keeps one month of version history [2]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Obsidian says it is 100% supported by its users, not investors [13]. ## Sources 1. [Pricing - Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/pricing), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Obsidian Sync](https://obsidian.md/sync), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Download Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/download), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [How Obsidian stores data - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/data-storage), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Security and privacy - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/Obsidian+Sync/Security+and+privacy), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Collaborate on a shared vault - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/Obsidian+Sync/Collaborate+on+a+shared+vault), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Introduction to Bases - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/bases), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Backlinks - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/plugins/backlinks), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Obsidian Web Clipper](https://obsidian.md/clipper), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Sync your notes across devices - Obsidian Help](https://obsidian.md/help/sync-notes), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [License Overview - Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/license), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [About - Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/about), Obsidian, accessed 2026-10-08