Obsidian

A notes app that works on a plain folder of Markdown files.

Instead of OneNote, Google Keep, Notion

obsidian.md

Screenshot from obsidian.md, taken 2026-10-23, shown to help you recognise the tool. It belongs to its maker. Ask us to remove it.

Obsidian's best decision is that your notes are just Markdown files in a folder on your own computer, so if the company disappeared tomorrow, every note would still open in any text editor. The app runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS, and it is free, with paid sync and publishing.

Obsidian scores a 5 on lock-in and longevity, a 4 on footprint and delivery and a 3 on self-direction and power. It scores full marks on Lock-in and Longevity.

The app itself is closed source, so Power suffers, and the plugin ecosystem can turn note-taking into a hobby of configuring note-taking. Sync and publishing are paid add-ons, though free alternatives work fine.

Having it means a folder of Markdown files that you can open in any text editor, with or without the app.

What stands out

• Your notes are plain Markdown files in a folder on your own computer
• Still opens in any text editor if the company disappears
• Sync and publishing are paid extras, and the app is closed source

For comparison, we also reviewed Microsoft Word (15/30) as a benchmark.