If you’ve heard about Obsidian and wondered what the fuss is about, here’s the short version: it’s a note-taking app that links your ideas together the way your thinking actually works. Unlike Notion or Evernote, it stores your notes as plain text files on your own computer, so there’s no cloud lock-in, and the core app is free.
This guide shows you how to get started in five steps, even if you’ve never used a note app beyond the one that came with your phone. Prices for optional services change, so check obsidian.md for current details.
The ideas behind Obsidian come from the Zettelkasten method, a note-taking system associated with the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann, who is widely credited with producing a very large body of published work with it. Instead of filing notes in rigid folders, you link them by idea. Over time your notes start connecting in ways a folder tree wouldn’t show you. Many people have a working setup within an hour.
Quick Overview: 5 Steps
| Step | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Download and install Obsidian | 5 minutes |
| 2 | Create your first vault | 5 minutes |
| 3 | Write your first notes | 15 minutes |
| 4 | Link your notes together | 10 minutes |
| 5 | Build a simple structure | 15 minutes |
What Makes Obsidian Different?
Most note apps organize information in folders, like filing cabinets. Obsidian organizes it through connections. Any note can link to any other, creating a web of related ideas.
The other key difference is storage. Your notes are Markdown files on your own device, with no proprietary format. If Obsidian disappeared tomorrow, your files would still open in any text editor. That isn’t the case with every note app. The trade-off is that you’re responsible for backups, so keep your vault in a folder that’s backed up or synced.
For remote workers who want a durable knowledge base, Obsidian is a good entry point. If you already use Notion for project management, see the Notion vs Obsidian comparison to decide how the two fit together, or browse our Notion templates guide.
5 Steps to Start Using Obsidian
Step 1: Download and Install
Go to obsidian.md and download the free version for your operating system (Mac, Windows, or Linux). The core app is free for personal use and doesn’t require an account. Installation takes a couple of minutes. Obsidian also sells optional paid services for syncing across devices and publishing notes online. You don’t need either to start.
Step 2: Create Your First Vault
A vault is a folder on your computer where your notes live. When you first open Obsidian, choose “Create new vault,” give it a simple name like “Notes,” and pick a location. A folder in Documents is fine, and you can move it later. Don’t overthink it. The goal is to start, not to design the perfect system before you’ve written a single note.
Step 3: Write Your First Notes
Press Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on Mac) to create a new note. Obsidian uses Markdown, a simple way of formatting with symbols. # Heading makes a heading, **bold** makes bold text, and - item makes a bullet. You’ll pick it up in about ten minutes.
For your first notes, don’t try to build a system. Capture things that matter to you: an idea from a book, notes from a meeting, something you want to remember. Structure comes later.
Step 4: Link Your Notes Together
To link one note to another, type [[ and start typing a note’s name. Obsidian suggests matches, and you pick one to create a clickable link. Open Graph View to see a visual map of your notes and how they connect. As the vault grows, patterns appear: topics you keep returning to and ideas that connect in unexpected ways. Start linking early, even with ten notes.
Step 5: Build a Simple Structure
After 20 to 30 notes you’ll want some organization. Resist elaborate folder systems. A simple starting structure:
- Inbox: where new, unprocessed notes land
- Notes: permanent notes on topics you care about
- Projects: notes tied to active projects
- Archive: finished projects and outdated notes
Everything else can be handled with links and tags. This four-folder layout is a lightweight cousin of the PARA method, which you can adopt later if you want more structure.
Built-In Features Worth Learning First
Graph View
A visual map of your notes and their connections. It helps you spot gaps and clusters in your thinking.
Backlinks
Every note shows which other notes link to it, so you rediscover related ideas you’d forgotten.
Quick Switcher
Press Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on Mac) to search and open any note by name. Once you have a lot of notes, this becomes your main way to navigate.
Templates
Build reusable note structures for meeting notes, book summaries, and weekly reviews. Templates pair well with a weekly review.
A Starter Note Template
Here’s a simple structure for a note about something you read or learned. Copy it into a template:
- Title: the idea in one sentence
- Source: where it came from and the date
- In my own words: two or three sentences
- Why it matters: how it connects to your work
- Links: two related notes, written as [[note name]]
Writing in your own words is what makes a note useful later. If you want a full method for turning notes into output, read our guide to building a second brain.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Building the perfect system before writing any notes. You can’t design a knowledge system with no knowledge in it. Write first and organize later.
Installing too many plugins too soon. Obsidian has hundreds of community plugins, and beginners often install 20 before writing 20 notes. Start with the core app and add plugins only for a specific need.
Writing notes that are too long. Atomic notes, with one idea each, link better and are easier to reuse. If a note covers five things, split it.
Collecting without connecting. Saving articles you never process turns the vault into a pile. Add one sentence about why you saved it, and link it to something.
Is It Easier Than It Looks?
Obsidian has a reputation for complexity, mostly from power users showing off elaborate setups. The basic workflow is three things: create a note, write something useful, link it to related notes. Do that consistently and your vault grows in value. If you’re comparing options first, our roundup of the best note-taking apps for remote workers covers alternatives.
Download it today, create a vault, write three notes, and link them together. That’s the whole starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Obsidian really free?
The core app is free for personal use. Sync and Publish are optional paid services that many users never need.
Is Obsidian better than Notion for beginners?
It depends on the use case. Notion is better for structured projects, databases, and team collaboration. Obsidian is better for personal knowledge and thinking. Many remote workers use both.
Do I need to know Markdown?
No. Plain text works fine. Learning basic Markdown takes about ten minutes and makes the app more useful.
How many notes do I need before it’s useful?
It works as a plain note app from the start. The linking features tend to feel more valuable as your vault grows, often after a few dozen connected notes.
Can I use Obsidian on my phone?
Yes, there are iOS and Android apps. To sync between devices, use Obsidian’s paid Sync service or a free alternative such as iCloud, Dropbox, or Syncthing.
About the author: Alex is a software developer who has worked remotely for three years. He started Deep Focus Daily to document the productivity systems that actually survive real remote work — not the advice written for offices that no longer exist. Learn more about Deep Focus Daily →