- What you get with free Obsidian
- Free Obsidian vs the optional extras
- Do you need a commercial licence for work?
- The catch: syncing between devices isn't included
- How to start with Obsidian for free
- Using Obsidian for business notes
- What the supporter licences give you
- Who free Obsidian suits
- Deleting your Obsidian account
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Obsidian is free. Obsidian's licence overview says it's free for all purposes, including personal, commercial and non-profit use, with no account needed to download it, and the only extras are optional Sync and Publish add-ons and optional supporter licences.
Obsidian is a note-taking app that stores your notes as plain files on your own device. It's built for keeping a personal knowledge base, writing drafts and linking project notes together. What makes it stand out is that the free version isn't a cut-down plan. You get the whole app. The things you can add on are services that run on Obsidian's servers, and one licence that's now entirely optional.
What you get with free Obsidian
Obsidian's plans page sums it up as free without limits, no sign-up required and no strings attached. Its licence overview adds the detail:
- Free for any purpose, including personal use, commercial use, non-profit and charitable organisations, educational institutions and government departments.
- No account needed to download and use it.
- Your data stays local. Obsidian says notes are saved on your device and not sent to its servers.
- Your content is yours. You keep ownership of everything you create.
Free Obsidian vs the optional extras
| What you want | Free Obsidian | Optional add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Write and link notes | Yes | Not needed |
| Use it for work | Yes | Commercial licence is optional |
| Sync notes across devices with end-to-end encryption | Not built in | Obsidian Sync |
| Version history and shared vaults | Not built in | Obsidian Sync |
| Publish notes as a website | Not built in | Obsidian Publish |
| Early access to beta versions | No | Catalyst licence |
| Priority support | No | Sync or Publish |
Do you need a commercial licence for work?
No. This is the detail worth knowing if you run a business. Obsidian's FAQ asks whether you have to have a commercial licence for commercial use, and answers no. Obsidian says you're not required to get one, though it encourages organisations using it for work to do so, to help keep Obsidian independent.
Obsidian describes itself as fully user-supported, which is why the licences exist. They're a way to back the team, not a gate on features.
The catch: syncing between devices isn't included
Because your notes live on your device, free Obsidian doesn't move them between your laptop and phone by itself. Obsidian's answer is Sync, which it lists with end-to-end encryption, version history and the ability to collaborate on shared vaults. Its licence page says Sync data is encrypted and inaccessible to Obsidian's staff.
If you'd rather not add Sync, you can keep your vault, which is just a folder of files, in a folder that another tool you already use syncs. Obsidian doesn't need an account for that, because it simply opens the files.
Publish is the other add-on. It turns chosen notes into a website, with a customisable theme, graph and full text search. Obsidian says Publish data is hosted on its servers, so it's the one place your notes do leave your device, and only the ones you choose.
How to start with Obsidian for free
- Download Obsidian from obsidian.md. There's no sign-up step.
- Create a new vault and choose where the folder lives on your computer.
- Make your first note and link it to another with double square brackets.
- Browse the plugins section if you want extra features built by the community.
- Decide later whether you want Sync or Publish. You can use Obsidian fully without either.
Using Obsidian for business notes
Since it's free for commercial use, Obsidian works well as a private business notebook. A few ways it fits small businesses:
- A client folder with one note per client, linked to meeting notes and proposals.
- A content ideas vault where every blog idea links to the research behind it.
- Standard operating procedures that link to each other, so a new assistant can follow the trail.
- A swipe file of emails and headlines you like, tagged by topic.
Because the files are plain text on your own machine, you also keep a copy that doesn't depend on any company staying in business. If you're still choosing between note apps, my guide to the best note-taking apps compares it with the main options, and my list of Obsidian alternatives covers tools with sync built in.
What the supporter licences give you
Obsidian offers two optional licences. The Catalyst licence is a one-time supporter licence for individuals, and Obsidian says it includes early access to beta versions, community badges and exclusive channels. The Commercial licence is an annual licence for organisations that want to back development and be listed as a featured organisation. Neither adds core features to the app.
Who free Obsidian suits
Free Obsidian suits writers, consultants and business owners who want private, linked notes they fully own, and who are happy to handle syncing themselves or add Sync later. It's an especially good fit if you care about where your data lives.
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It's a weaker fit if you want real-time collaboration with a team in one shared workspace out of the box, which is where Sync's shared vaults or a cloud notes app come in.
Deleting your Obsidian account
Obsidian says you only need an account for add-on services or supporter licences, and you can permanently delete that account at any time. Your notes aren't affected, because they live in your own vault folder.
My verdict: Obsidian is free for everyone, including for work, and there's no hidden plan holding features back. Start free, keep your notes local, and only add Sync when you need your notes on more than one device.
Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian free for commercial use?
Yes. Obsidian's licence overview says it's free for all purposes, including commercial use. A Commercial licence is optional and not required.
Do I need an account to use Obsidian?
No. Obsidian says downloading and using it doesn't require an account. You only need one for add-on services or supporter licences.
Is Obsidian Sync free?
No. Sync is an optional add-on service. Free Obsidian keeps notes on your device and doesn't sync them between devices by itself.
Where does Obsidian store my notes?
On your own device. Obsidian says your data is saved locally and not sent to its servers, unless you choose to use Sync or Publish.
What is the Obsidian Catalyst licence?
It's an optional one-time supporter licence for individuals. Obsidian says it includes early access to beta versions, community badges and exclusive channels.
Can I delete my Obsidian account?
Yes. Obsidian says you can permanently delete your account at any time. You only need one for add-on services or licences.
