Obsidian is a note-taking app for writers, researchers and small teams who want their notes kept locally on their own device. The catch, as of Oct 2026, works in your favour: the app is free without limits and with no sign-up, even for work, and only the paid Sync and Publish add-ons change what it can do.
Obsidian's pricing page has more on it than you'd expect from a free app, and that's where people get muddled. I read Obsidian's own pricing page, and most of what's listed there is optional, including the licence that sounds as if you'd need it for work.
Obsidian's add-ons and licences, with what each one costs
| Plan | Price | What's included | The limit that bites |
|---|---|---|---|
| The app | Nothing to pay | Free without limits, no sign-up required, notes stored locally on your device | Syncing and publishing need the paid add-ons |
| Sync | 4 dollars per user a month billed annually, 5 billed monthly | Notes synced across devices, end-to-end encryption, version history, shared vaults, priority support | Charged per user |
| Publish | 8 dollars per site a month billed annually, 10 billed monthly | Notes published to the web with no technical knowledge needed, customisable theme, graph and full text search, priority support | Charged per site |
| Catalyst | 25 dollars, one-time payment | A way to support Obsidian, with early access to beta versions, community badges and exclusive channels | Non-refundable |
| Commercial | 50 dollars per user a year | A way to support development and become a featured organisation | Optional, and non-refundable |
Prices as listed on Obsidian's pricing page in US dollars, as of Oct 2026, check the vendor's page before you buy.
You don't need a licence to use Obsidian at work
This is the part that surprises people. The page asks the question outright, whether you have to pay for commercial use, and the answer is no. You aren't required to buy a Commercial licence. Obsidian encourages organisations that use it for work to buy one, at 50 dollars per user a year, to help keep the company independent, but it's support rather than a condition of use.
The Catalyst licence works the same way. It's 25 dollars as a one-time payment, and what you get is early access to beta versions, community badges and exclusive channels. Nice to have, and a kind way to back a tool you rely on, but it doesn't change what the app does day to day.
The only two things you'd pay for because you need them are Sync and Publish. Sync is 4 dollars per user a month billed annually, or 5 billed monthly, and keeps the same notes on all your devices. Publish is 8 dollars per site a month billed annually, or 10 billed monthly, and puts your notes on the web.
Two more details are worth knowing before you buy. Refunds are available within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked, for Sync and Publish only; Catalyst, Commercial and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable. And students, faculty members and nonprofit employees get 40 percent off Sync and Publish.
What Obsidian does, and where your notes live
Obsidian is a place to write and link notes, and the big difference is where they're kept. The page says your data is stored locally on your device, which makes it inaccessible to Obsidian, and that the apps don't collect telemetry data. That means your notes are files you own, not rows in someone else's database. If you want the same notes on your phone and laptop, Sync adds that with end-to-end encryption, which the page describes as AES-256, plus version history and shared vaults for working with others. If you want to share notes publicly, Publish turns them into a website with a theme you can change and a graph and full text search for readers.
If you're putting together a writing setup around it, my list of content creation tools worth paying for covers the paid side, and you can pair your notes with ChatGPT prompts for content creation when you're drafting.
Who Obsidian suits, and who'd be happier elsewhere
It's a good fit for:
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- Writers, researchers and small teams who want notes stored on their own device at no charge.
- People who only need one device, or who'll add Sync when they need the same vault on several.
- Anyone who'd like to use a free tool for work without worrying about a licence.
It's a weaker fit for:
- People who want cloud sync built in for free, as Sync is a paid add-on.
- Anyone who wants a public notes website at no charge, since Publish is paid per site.
- Teams expecting a hosted shared workspace straight out of the box.
Obsidian verdict for writers and small teams
I'd download it and start writing, because there's nothing to lose: no sign-up, no limits and no licence needed even if you use it for work. Only pay when you hit a real need. That's usually Sync, once you want your notes on more than one device, and you've got 7 days to change your mind. If you're a student, in a faculty role or working for a nonprofit, ask for the 40 percent discount first. The Commercial and Catalyst licences are there if you want to support the team, and that's a choice, not a cost of using it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian free for commercial use?
Yes. Obsidian's pricing page says you aren't required to pay for a commercial licence. It encourages organisations to buy one, at 50 dollars per user a year, as support.
How much is Obsidian Sync?
Sync is 4 dollars per user a month billed annually, or 5 dollars billed monthly, as listed on Obsidian's pricing page.
Can I get a refund on Obsidian?
Sync and Publish can be refunded within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked. Catalyst licences, Commercial licences and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable.
Does Obsidian have a student discount?
Yes. Students, faculty members and nonprofit employees get 40 percent off Sync and Publish.
