Obsidian Review: The Best Note-Taking App? My Honest Take

Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets both casual and advanced users link ideas and customize their workspace. By using a networked thinking approach and a Markdown-based workflow, it has gained a loyal following among productivity enthusiasts, researchers, and creators.

But is it worth the hype, or are there better options? In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is Obsidian? 
• Its standout features
• How it works
• Comparison with Lindy for different use cases
• Pros and cons of Obsidian
• Who should and shouldn’t choose it
• Setup tips and best practices

Let’s first define Obsidian.

What is Obsidian?

Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge management app that stores all your work as plain-text Markdown files on your device. It’s designed for users who want complete control over their information, with the flexibility to customize workflows through plugins, themes, and advanced linking between notes.

You can create notes that connect, building a network of ideas you can explore visually through its graph view. Obsidian stores everything locally, so you can work offline without a cloud service.

To summarize it, Obsidian is a private, extensible workspace for people who want more structure and flexibility than most standard note-taking or knowledge management apps offer.

Key features

Obsidian includes backlinks, a graph view, and plugins that build a connected knowledge base. Here’s how they help:

• Markdown-based storage: Every note is a plain-text Markdown file saved locally. This gives you long-term portability and control over your work.
• Bidirectional links and backlinks: Linking two notes creates an instant backlink, letting you navigate relationships between ideas without manual indexing.
• Graph view: This feature visualizes connections between your notes, making it easier to spot patterns or gaps.
• Plugin ecosystem: Thousands of community plugins let you extend the app for task management, spaced repetition, publishing, and more.
• Themes and interface customization: You can adjust layouts, colors, and typography to fit your workflow.
• Obsidian Sync: It’s a paid add-on that enables encrypted, cross-device syncing so your data stays private and secure. 
• Obsidian Publish: A hosting service that turns your notes into a public or private website.
• Mobile apps: The app works on iOS and Android, with full access to vaults, plugins, and themes.

These features let Obsidian adapt to use cases from personal journaling to large-scale research projects.

Next, we’ll look at how to create and manage your Obsidian notes from scratch.

How does Obsidian work?

Obsidian works by storing your notes as Markdown files in a vault, which the app reads to let you create, link, and explore connected notes. Below is the step-by-step process:

1. Download the app and create a vault.
2. Add notes in Markdown format.
3. Link notes with [[double brackets]] to build relationships.
4. Use the graph view or search to explore your content.
5. Install plugins to add functions like task management or publishing.

Let’s look at an example: A student can create lecture notes for each class, link them to topic summaries, and quickly see how concepts connect using the graph view. The same setup works for writers, researchers, or professionals organizing complex projects.

This workflow is simple to start, but it scales well as your Obsidian notes grow. Let’s now compare Obsidian with another tool that takes notes and can automate workflows using those notes.

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Obsidian vs Lindy: What’s the difference?

Obsidian excels at creating and linking notes in a private workspace, while Lindy can capture notes as part of its broader automation features.

With Lindy, you can summarize meetings, log updates in CRMs, or generate quick follow-ups from your notes. So while Obsidian is only focused on notetaking, Lindy is automating notetaking tasks and much more. 

Here are the major differences between them:

Where each fits best:

• Obsidian note-taking works if you want a private, customizable space for research, writing, or organized notes.
• Use Lindy if you need digital assistants that automate note-taking and related tasks like generating note summaries, updating CRMs, or managing repetitive business tasks.

Some people combine the two. They write their research and notes in Obsidian and send them to Lindy to create content, extract data, send summaries via email, and update project tracker apps.

Let’s now break down Obsidian’s strengths and weaknesses so you can decide if it matches your workflow.

Obsidian pros and cons

Obsidian has clear strengths that make it stand out in the note-taking app space, along with limitations you should consider before committing. Let’s look at what works and what doesn’t:

What works

• Full data ownership – Your notes are local Markdown files, so you control where they’re stored and how they’re backed up.
• High customization – Thousands of community plugins and themes let you adapt the app to your workflow.
• Offline-first – You can view, edit, and search notes without an internet connection.
• Networked linking – Bidirectional links and backlinks make it easy to build a connected knowledge base.

Where it falls short

• Steep learning curve – New users may feel overwhelmed by features and customization options.
• No native real-time collaboration – Sharing requires the Publish add-on or file syncing. It doesn’t support multiple people editing at once.
• Mobile editing – While the mobile apps work well for reading and light editing, heavy writing is smoother on a desktop.
• Requires add-ons to unlock full potential – Obsidian is free, but you’ll need add-ons like Sync and Publish to take full advantage of the platform. That adds to the price you pay for the app. 

These pros and cons will matter differently depending on your needs. If Obsidian’s strengths match how you work, it can be a long-term solution. 

Next, we’ll look at who should consider using it and when it might be better to explore an alternative.

Should you use Obsidian? Our take

You should use Obsidian if you want offline control, linked ideas, and local Markdown storage. It’s especially useful for users who value linking ideas and building a personal knowledge base over quick, out-of-the-box simplicity.

Obsidian is perfect for

• Developers who want a customizable, plugin-rich workspace
• Knowledge workers who prefer private, connected notes
• Writers managing complex storylines or research
• Students organizing class materials
• Entrepreneurs or CEOs who want a personal system to capture ideas, research, and strategic notes

Skip Obsidian if you

• Need real-time, multi-user collaboration
• Prefer minimal setup with pre-built workflows
• Work mostly on mobile devices

Next, we’ll go over the steps to get started if you decide to give Obsidian a try.

How to get started with Obsidian in 5 steps

You can start creating Obsidian notes in minutes. Follow these steps to set up your first vault and start with note-taking:

1. Download and install the app on your desktop or mobile device.
2. Create a new vault or select an existing folder of Markdown files.
3. Add your first note using basic Markdown formatting for headings, lists, and links.
4. Link related notes with [[double brackets]] to build connections.
5. Explore community plugins for extra features like calendars, task management, or publishing.

Pro tip: Start with a small, focused set of notes. Once you’re comfortable, expand your vault and experiment with plugins to customize your workflow.

Let’s explore some best practices next to help you keep your vault organized and avoid common pitfalls.

Obsidian best practices

Good habits help keep your obsidian notes organized and easy to work with as your vault grows. Here’s what you should know about:

Essential practices

• Organize with a mix of folders and tags so you can browse and search effectively.
• Use daily notes to build a consistent writing and review routine.
• Check backlinks regularly to spot useful connections you might have missed.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Installing too many plugins at once can slow the app and complicate workflows.
• Skipping backups of your vault risks data loss if your device fails.
• Don’t overcomplicate your structure early. Keep it simple until you know what works.

With these habits, Obsidian stays fast, reliable, and useful over time. Next, let’s wrap up with a clear recommendation and when an alternative might make more sense.

Bottom line on Obsidian

Obsidian is a reliable note-taking tool for anyone who wants a private, customizable space to organize ideas. Its offline access, plugin ecosystem, and data ownership make it a long-term option for personal and professional use.

It’s not the best fit if you need instant collaboration, automation, or prefer a guided, minimal-setup app. In those cases, alternatives like Lindy, Notion, or other knowledge management software may suit you better.

If its strengths align with your workflow, Obsidian can become the foundation for a powerful, connected knowledge base. If Obsidian’s approach doesn’t fit, there are plenty of Obsidian alternatives that may suit your workflow better. 

Try Lindy: Your note-taking and automation app

Lindy is an affordable AI platform that lets you create your own note-taking AI agents that can automate related tasks like generating summaries and sending them to Slack channels. It’s a great alternative to Obsidian and other note-taking apps. 

You’ll find pre-built templates and 4,000+ integrations to choose from.  

Lindy helps automate your workflows with features like: 

• AI Meeting Note Taker: Lindy joins meetings from Google Calendar. It records the conversation, creates transcripts, and writes structured notes in Google Docs. After the meeting, Lindy can send Slack or email summaries with action items and can even trigger follow-up workflows across apps like HubSpot and Gmail.‍
• Drag-and-drop workflow builder for non-coders: You don’t need any technical skills to build workflows with Lindy. It offers a drag-and-drop visual workflow builder. ‍
• Send follow-up emails and keep everyone in sync: Lindy agents can send follow-up emails, schedule meetings, and keep everyone in the loop by triggering notifications in Slack by letting you build a Slackbot. 
• ‍Integrates with major apps: Lindy connects with your favorite tools like Airtable and Salesforce, keeping all your training data in one place.‍
• Supports tasks across different workflows: Lindy handles website chat, lead generation, and content creation. You can create AI agents that help reduce manual work in training, content, and CRM updates.‍
• Cost-effective: Automate up to 40 monthly tasks with Lindy’s free version. The paid version lets you automate up to 1,500 tasks per month, which is a more affordable price per automation compared to many other platforms. 

Try Lindy free and automate up to 40 tasks with your first workflow.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Obsidian cost?

Obsidian is free for personal use, with paid plans for sync and publishing features starting at $8 per month. Commercial licenses for businesses start at $50/year per user.

Does Obsidian work offline?

Yes, Obsidian works offline. Your notes are stored locally as Markdown files, and the app is fully functional without an internet connection.

Is Obsidian better than Notion?

Obsidian is better than Notion for note-taking that emphasizes privacy, offline use, and flexible linking between ideas. Notion is stronger for real-time collaboration and structured databases.

What’s the learning curve like?

Obsidian has a moderate learning curve, with basic, easy-to-understand features. The advanced features, however, demand some time to master. Most new users need time to learn linking, plugins, and organization strategies. 

What are the best Obsidian plugins?

Some of the best Obsidian plugins include:

• Dataview – Turns notes into queryable databases
• Calendar – Adds a visual calendar for daily notes
• Kanban – Manages projects with boards
• Templater – Automates recurring note formats

Is Obsidian open-source?

Obsidian’s core app itself is not open-source. However, its plugin ecosystem and API are open, so developers can create a wide variety of open-source plugins and themes.

What’s the best AI assistant to pair with Obsidian?

An AI platform like Lindy can complement Obsidian by automating tasks outside the app, such as processing research sources, drafting summaries, or updating related systems. Obsidian can remain the primary vault for storing and organizing content.