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Is Obsidian Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Recommended
Obsidian: Obsidian is the best local-first note-taking tool.
Rating★ 4.4/5
Starting price$50/year
Best forUsers who want complete ownership of the
CategoryCloud Storage & Collaboration
Who Obsidian Is Worth It For
- ✓Users who want complete ownership of their notes with extensible functionality
- ✓Local files you own forever
- ✓Massive plugin ecosystem
- ✓Completely free for personal use
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for teams needing real-time collaboration on shared documents
- ✕Sync requires paid plan
- ✕No native collaboration
- ✕Plugin quality varies
Is Obsidian Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | $50/year |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How Obsidian Compares
| Obsidian | Capacities | Excalidraw | Miro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $50/year | $8.99/mo | Free | $8/member/mo |
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Recommended | Best Free Whiteboard | Best Collaborative Whiteboard |
| Free Tier |
AICores Verdict on Obsidian
Obsidian is the best local-first note-taking tool. Your notes are plain Markdown files you own forever. The plugin ecosystem is incredible.
AICores Editorial Review
Reviewed by AICores Editorial Team
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Obsidian worth the money?▼
Obsidian is the best local-first note-taking tool. Your notes are plain Markdown files you own forever. The plugin ecosystem is incredible.
Is there a free version of Obsidian?▼
No, Obsidian does not have a free version. The lowest plan starts at $50/year. Some alternatives in this category offer free tiers.
What are the best alternatives to Obsidian?▼
Capacities, Excalidraw, Miro are the top alternatives. Capacities is best for knowledge workers who want their notes naturally organized by information type and has a 4.7 star rating.
Who should NOT use Obsidian?▼
Obsidian is not ideal for teams needing real-time collaboration on shared documents. Common drawbacks include: Sync requires paid plan. No native collaboration.
Compare Obsidian head-to-head
See how Obsidian stacks up against the top alternatives.
Obsidian vs Capacities→