Obsidian is worth trying when you want a notes collection that remains a folder of readable files. The app stores notes as Markdown-formatted plain text in a local folder called a vault. Other text editors can open those files, which is a useful property for a long-running writing project.
The October 22, 2026 mobile changelog listed version 1.15.0 as a Catalyst release, including iOS voice capture and mobile PDF export. Catalyst is the early-access program. A feature in the Catalyst changelog can still be absent from the public release.
Begin with an ordinary folder
Make a small vault for one purpose, such as reading notes or planning a home project. Create a few notes and link related ones. Then open the folder in your computer's file manager so you understand where the material lives.
Keep the initial setup simple. A system that depends on choosing many extensions before you can write a paragraph is adding a task to the one you wanted to do.
This suits someone comfortable with files and folders who wants to build a personal reference collection. People whose main requirement is simultaneous editing with a large group should examine that workflow separately.
Separate the app from its add-ons
Obsidian's pricing page lists the app as free and describes Sync and Publish as optional services. Decide whether you need either after trying the local workflow. A local vault also needs a backup plan; keeping files on your device is not the same as keeping another safe copy.
Markdown portability is worth checking with the material you write. Create a note containing a heading, a normal web link and an attached image. Open the text file in another editor, then inspect the attachment's location in the vault. The text should be understandable without remembering an app-specific command.
A link between notes or a feature supplied by a community extension may behave differently outside Obsidian. Decide which elements must remain readable and which conveniences you can accept depending on the app. Community extensions do not necessarily produce interchangeable files.
Keep a copy of the vault when trying changes to a sync arrangement. A synchronized deletion can travel to another device, so the presence of two devices should not be your entire recovery plan.
Make a small decision before a large migration
Before a large migration, copy a few representative notes into the trial vault. Check how they look and how easily you can find and edit them.
The local folder is useful because you can see the files, but it also puts the storage location within your responsibility. Pick a folder you can identify and include in your normal backup. Avoid placing a vault inside another vault; Obsidian's documentation warns that local links may then fail to update correctly.
| Need | Decision to make |
|---|---|
| Notes on one device | Try the local app before adding a service |
| Several devices | Choose and test a sync arrangement |
| Public writing | Inspect Publish separately from private notes |
| New mobile feature | Check whether the release is public or Catalyst |
The October release's voice capture requires iOS 26 according to the changelog. If that is the feature drawing you to the app, check both the operating-system requirement and release availability. Someone using another platform should choose the notes workflow on its own merits.
Try restoring a copy of a test note from your backup before trusting it with important writing.
Put optional services into an annual budget
The pricing page lists Sync at $4 per user per month when billed annually, or $5 when billed monthly. That is $48 paid on an annual basis versus $60 across twelve monthly payments. Publish is listed at $8 per site per month annually, or $10 monthly: $96 versus $120 for a full year. These are the displayed U.S. dollar rates, before any applicable tax, not a promise that every Sync configuration has the same storage allowance. Check the service tier before paying.
A $25 one-time Catalyst license buys early access and community benefits. It is separate from both Sync and Publish. A person attracted by a Catalyst-only mobile feature should include that distinction in the cost, while someone satisfied with public releases can continue using the free app.
The local files also have two different kinds of content to preserve. Your note text lives in Markdown files; the vault's .obsidian folder holds preferences such as hotkeys, themes and community plugins. Obsidian's storage documentation says that folder can be hidden by the operating system. Copying the visible note text can preserve the writing without reproducing the full working environment. A migration or backup should account for which of those two results you need.
