{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "nuanyue": "https://www.nuanyue.com/ns#"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/obsidian/#software",
  "name": "Obsidian",
  "description": "A local-first note-taking app that keeps your notes as plain Markdown files in a folder you own, with optional paid sync and publishing.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/obsidian/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/obsidian/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Dynalist Inc.",
    "url": "https://obsidian.md/"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://obsidian.md/"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "1.13.7",
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:obsidian",
    "slug": "obsidian",
    "name": "Obsidian",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "note-taking app",
    "description": "A local-first note-taking app that keeps your notes as plain Markdown files in a folder you own, with optional paid sync and publishing.",
    "shortDescription": "Local-first Markdown notes, with optional paid sync.",
    "answer": "Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files in a folder on your own disk rather than in a vendor's database, so a vault stays readable by any text editor whether or not Obsidian is installed. On top of those files it adds links between notes, a graph view, canvases and a community plugin directory. The app is free for personal use with no sign-up and no note limit; syncing across devices and publishing notes to the web are separate subscriptions. It suits people who want their notes to outlive the app that wrote them.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/obsidian/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/obsidian.json",
    "categories": [
      "productivity"
    ],
    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
    ],
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": true,
    "pricing": "freemium",
    "pricingDescription": "The app is free with no sign-up and no note limit. Obsidian Sync is $4 per user per month and Publish is $8 per site per month, both billed annually; a commercial licence is $50 per user per year.",
    "currentVersion": "1.13.7",
    "openSource": false,
    "website": "https://obsidian.md/",
    "documentation": "https://help.obsidian.md/",
    "download": "https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/download/v1.13.7/Obsidian-1.13.7.dmg",
    "developer": {
      "name": "Dynalist Inc.",
      "website": "https://obsidian.md/"
    },
    "icon": "/apps/obsidian.png",
    "features": [
      "Vault of plain Markdown files stored on local disk",
      "Wiki-style links between notes plus a graph view",
      "Canvas for arranging notes spatially",
      "Community plugin directory",
      "Optional end-to-end encrypted sync between devices",
      "Publishing notes to the web as a site"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Keeping notes as Markdown files in a folder you own",
      "Linking notes together and exploring them in the graph view",
      "Arranging notes spatially on a canvas",
      "Extending the editor with community plugins",
      "Publishing a set of notes to the web as a site"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Free for personal use with no sign-up and no limit on the number of notes.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Notes are plain Markdown files in a local folder, so a vault stays readable without Obsidian.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Obsidian Sync encrypts synced data end-to-end with AES-256, so the vendor cannot read it.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The developer states the apps collect no telemetry and that user data is never sold.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "Syncing across devices requires an Obsidian Sync subscription of $4 per user per month, billed annually.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Publishing notes to the web is a separate subscription of $8 per site per month.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Catalyst and commercial licences and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable; the 7-day refund window covers only Sync and Publish.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "A commercial licence is requested for workplace use, even though Obsidian states it is not required.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "People who want their notes to outlive the app that wrote them",
      "Users who prefer plain Markdown files on disk over a hosted database",
      "Anyone who wants a note app that is free for personal use with no sign-up and no note limit"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Users who expect built-in cross-device sync — syncing requires an Obsidian Sync subscription at $4 per user per month",
      "Anyone who wants web publishing included rather than a separate $8 per site per month subscription",
      "Teams that want a hosted workspace rather than files on each person's disk"
    ],
    "limitations": [
      "Syncing across devices is not included; it requires the paid Obsidian Sync subscription",
      "Publishing notes to the web is a separate paid subscription",
      "Catalyst licences, commercial licences and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable; only Sync and Publish can be refunded within 7 days",
      "The build's CPU architecture is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks"
    ],
    "firstUse": {
      "installation": {
        "value": "Download a .dmg from obsidian.md and drag the app to Applications; no account or payment is required.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "firstLaunch": {
        "value": "Create a vault by choosing a folder on disk — the vault is the folder, not an account.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "systemIntegration": {
        "value": "Because a vault is a folder of Markdown files, other editors, sync tools and backup software can operate on it directly.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "appleSilicon": {
        "value": null,
        "status": "unknown"
      }
    },
    "updates": [
      {
        "version": "1.13.7",
        "date": "2026-10-04",
        "summary": "Current macOS release published on the official GitHub release channel.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "Is Obsidian free?",
        "answer": "Yes for personal use. The app has no sign-up and no limit on notes. Obsidian Sync costs $4 per user per month and Publish costs $8 per site per month, both billed annually, and both are optional.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does Obsidian store my notes on its servers?",
        "answer": "No. Notes are stored locally on your device. Data is transmitted only if you subscribe to Obsidian Sync, which encrypts it end-to-end with AES-256.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Do I need a commercial licence to use Obsidian at work?",
        "answer": "No. Obsidian states a commercial licence is not required, but encourages organisations to buy one at $50 per user per year to keep development independent.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "What is the latest Obsidian version?",
        "answer": "1.13.7 for macOS.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "notion",
        "type": "compared_with",
        "reason": "Both are general-purpose note workspaces, but Notion stores content in a hosted database while Obsidian keeps Markdown files on disk.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "logseq",
        "type": "alternative",
        "reason": "Both build a linked knowledge base from local files; Logseq is outline-first where Obsidian is document-first.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "joplin",
        "type": "alternative",
        "reason": "Both keep notes in a local-first store, but Joplin is open source and offers end-to-end encrypted sync without a paid tier.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "craft",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both are Mac note apps with structured documents, but Craft is a hosted subscription product rather than a folder of files.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "typora",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both edit Markdown on macOS, but Typora is a single-file editor with no vault graph or plugin ecosystem.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "obsidian:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://obsidian.md/",
        "title": "Obsidian — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "obsidian:developer",
        "type": "developer",
        "url": "https://obsidian.md/",
        "title": "Dynalist Inc. — developer website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "obsidian:documentation",
        "type": "documentation",
        "url": "https://help.obsidian.md/",
        "title": "Obsidian — documentation",
        "trustLevel": "C",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.isA",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "isA",
        "value": "note-taking app",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
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        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.supportsPlatform",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
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          "macOS"
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        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
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        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.officialWebsite",
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        "predicate": "officialWebsite",
        "value": "https://obsidian.md/",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
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        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.listedInCategory",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "listedInCategory",
        "value": [
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        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.pricingModel",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "pricingModel",
        "value": "Freemium",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
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        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.developedBy",
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      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.ownership",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.currentVersion",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "currentVersion",
        "value": "1.13.7",
        "status": "developer-stated",
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      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.hasFeature",
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          "Wiki-style links between notes plus a graph view",
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      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.usedFor",
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        "id": "software:obsidian.audienceFor",
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        "id": "software:obsidian.audienceNotFor",
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        "value": [
          "Users who expect built-in cross-device sync — syncing requires an Obsidian Sync subscription at $4 per user per month",
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        ],
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      },
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        "id": "software:obsidian.limitation",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
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          "Syncing across devices is not included; it requires the paid Obsidian Sync subscription",
          "Publishing notes to the web is a separate paid subscription",
          "Catalyst licences, commercial licences and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable; only Sync and Publish can be refunded within 7 days",
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        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.advantage.0",
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        "status": "developer-stated",
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        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
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        "id": "software:obsidian.advantage.1",
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        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.advantage.2",
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        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.advantage.3",
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        "value": "The developer states the apps collect no telemetry and that user data is never sold.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
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        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.drawback.0",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Syncing across devices requires an Obsidian Sync subscription of $4 per user per month, billed annually.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "obsidian:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.drawback.1",
        "subject": "software:obsidian",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Publishing notes to the web is a separate subscription of $8 per site per month.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
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        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:obsidian.drawback.2",
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        "value": "Catalyst and commercial licences and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable; the 7-day refund window covers only Sync and Publish.",
        "status": "verified",
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        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      },
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        "id": "software:obsidian.drawback.3",
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        "value": "A commercial licence is requested for workplace use, even though Obsidian states it is not required.",
        "status": "verified",
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        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-04"
      }
    ],
    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}