Processing
Local-first
How product activity is processed.
INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE
Obsidian
A local-first knowledge-base application that works directly with Markdown files stored in a user-selected folder.
- Desktop · Mobile
- Local-first
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Category
- Writing and transcription
Privacy at a glance
A quick view of the dimensions most useful for comparing this product. Unconfirmed facts stay explicitly unconfirmed.
Identity
Optional account
Whether an account is needed to use it.
Tracking
None detected
Reported analytics and tracking posture.
Ownership & source
Closed source
Availability of the product source code.
Offline support
Yes
Whether core use can continue offline.
Self-hosting
No
Whether you can run it on your own infrastructure.
What to know
Why it stands out
- Core notes are ordinary local Markdown files that remain usable without Obsidian services.
- Obsidian Sync offers end-to-end encryption by default for newly created remote vaults.
Trade-offs
- The main Obsidian application is proprietary rather than open source.
- Local vault files are not encrypted by Obsidian and depend on device or disk security unless the user adds separate protection.
- Community plugins execute third-party code and may access vault content according to their own behavior and policies.
Best for
People who want a flexible local Markdown knowledge base with optional encrypted sync.
Consider another option when
Users who require a fully open-source application or application-level encryption for local files.
Technical details
Complete privacy-profile dimensions, grouped for easier review. Each value is retained from the catalogue record.
4 groups · 18 dimensions
- Processing
- Local-first
- Storage
- Local device
- Offline support
- Yes
- Self-hosting
- No
- Data export
- Yes
- Data deletion
- Yes
Alternatives
Joplin
An open-source note and to-do application that stores data locally and can synchronize through user-selected services or Joplin Cloud.
View profile
Logseq
An open-source local-first outliner and knowledge base that works with user-controlled Markdown or Org-mode data.
View profile
Standard Notes
A cross-platform notes application that encrypts notes and files on the user's device before synchronization.
View profile
Evidence
8 public sources collected
- Obsidianobsidian.md · Product page · local Markdown workflow, product features, and service model
- Obsidian Sync security and privacyhelp.obsidian.md · Documentation · Sync encryption modes and local-vault encryption limitation
- Obsidian Privacy Policyobsidian.md · Privacy policy · account, website, and service data practices
View all 8 sources
- Obsidian licensing informationobsidian.md · Documentation · proprietary application licensing
- Obsidian Cure53 security auditobsidian.md · Security audit · independent application and Sync penetration testing and remediation review
- Obsidian Securityobsidian.md · Documentation · no-account and no-telemetry claims, security model, and audits
- Obsidian Terms of Serviceobsidian.md · Terms · software and optional service terms
- Obsidian pricingobsidian.md · Product page · free core application and paid optional services
Claim listing and corrections
Makers can request a listing claim, and anyone can submit an evidence-backed correction. Requests are reviewed before public profile information changes.