Obsidian
Local-first markdown notes with backlinks and a large plugin ecosystem.
Obsidian stores notes as plain markdown files on your disk. Nothing is locked in a vendor database, which matters for a knowledge base you expect to keep for a decade — placement prep, research notes, engineering journals.
Backlinks and the graph view turn scattered notes into a connected reference. The plugin ecosystem covers spaced repetition, task management and Git-based versioning.
What it's genuinely good at
- Plain markdown files you fully own
- Backlinks build a genuine knowledge graph
- Works entirely offline
- Deep plugin ecosystem
Where it falls apart
- Setup is a rabbit hole; plugin sprawl is real
- Sync across devices costs extra unless you self-host
- Mobile editing is fine but not delightful
Alternatives to Obsidian
Who should use Obsidian
- Long-lived study and research notes
- Engineers keeping a work journal
- Anyone burned by a notes app shutting down
What it costs
Free for personal use; official Sync about $4/month and Publish about $8/month, both optional if you use Git or a cloud drive.
Frequently asked
Obsidian or Notion?
Notion for collaborative databases and team wikis; Obsidian for a private, durable, offline knowledge base you own.
How do I sync for free?
Keep the vault in a Git repository or a cloud-synced folder — both are common community setups.