Obsidian: The Best Notes App You've Never Heard Of

I've used many note-taking apps over the years and most were all OK. I recently tried Obsidian and I’m all in. After bouncing between Word Docs, Google Keep, OneNote,  Evernote, and countless others, I stumbled upon something that fundamentally changed how I think about capturing and organizing information.

Most of us settle for whatever came pre-installed on our devices, but here's the thing: your notes are too important for "good enough." Whether you're a student cramming for finals, a professional juggling multiple projects, or just someone who wants to remember where they put their brilliant ideas, the right tool makes all the difference.

Free Doesn't Mean Basic

Obsidian costs exactly zero dollars to get started, which immediately sets it apart from premium offerings like Notion or Roam Research. But don't mistake free for limited. This app rivals tools costing $10+ per month, and here's why that matters to your wallet and your workflow.

The magic happens with plugins. Think of Obsidian as a Swiss Army knife where you can add new tools as you need them. Want a calendar view? There's a plugin. Need task management? Plugin. AI chat with your notes? You guessed it. I've customized mine with (too many, I might have a problem) plugins that turned it into exactly what I need for many uses.

Your Data Stays Yours

Most note-taking apps store your thoughts, ideas, and sensitive information on servers owned by big tech companies. They can read it, analyze it, or even lose it if their servers go down.

Obsidian takes a different approach. Your notes live on your computer, in simple text files you can open with any program. If Obsidian disappeared tomorrow (which it won't), you'd still have all your notes. Try saying that about your Google Docs or iCloud Notes.

Why It Beats Everything Else

Microsoft Word or even Google Docs are overkill for quick notes and terrible for organization. Your phone's default app? Please. It's like using a crayon when you need a precision pen.

Obsidian bridges the gap perfectly. It's faster than Word, more organized than Docs, and infinitely more powerful than basic text files. Plus, it handles everything from quick thoughts to complex research projects without breaking a sweat. Once you see what linking notes can do for you, you’ll never go back.

Markdown: Your New Best Friend

Don't let the word "markdown" scare you off. It's just a simple way to format text using symbols you already know. Want something bold? Put two asterisks around it. Need a heading? Add a hashtag.

The beauty is in the simplicity:

• You can learn it in about ten minutes.

• Markdown files work everywhere. Your notes aren't trapped in Obsidian's format

• You can make simple notes without learning markdown

• There’s a plugin  to give you a formatting toolbar

Local Files, Global Access

Obsidian stores everything locally, but that doesn't mean you're stuck at one computer. You can sync your notes across devices using services like iCloud, Dropbox, or Obsidian's own sync service. I access my notes seamlessly from all my devices using my own privacy focused syncing.

Tech Tip

Start simple with Obsidian. Create your first note, experiment with basic markdown formatting (try bold text and # headings), and resist the urge to install plugins immediately. Spend a week getting comfortable with the basics before exploring customizations. Your future self will thank you for building solid habits first.

Obsidian Quick Start

Essential first steps:

• Download Obsidian (obsidian.md)

• Create a new vault (fancy word for folder)

• Write your first note using plain text

• Try basic markdown: bold, italic, # Heading

• Link notes together with [[double brackets]]

Jim Hundley - accentinspired.com, 727-346-6020