I’ve tried various note-taking apps, including Evernote, Google Keep, and Microsoft OneNote. Then I tested Obsidian, and even though it took some time to learn, it quickly stood out. I like the various themes to choose from and the freedom it gives me when editing my notes. With the large variety of Community Plugins to choose from, there’s always something new to learn. My notes are in a plain Markdown file I control and can back up to any location. Quick Switcher opens any note faster, and with Templates, I save time by easily using the same starter.

Options like Graph View give me a bigger picture of my notes and help me come up with ideas I might not have thought of otherwise. I like how I can switch to any note with interlinking, without wasting time finding it in the sidebar. It lets me write, link, and move on.

Graph View turns scattered notes into a map

Reveal connections, surface context, and add the missing link

One of my favorite features is Graph View. I like how I can visualize the notes as nodes and see which ones are related. If I need to open a note, I can click the node without having to look it up in the sidebar. I can also zoom in or out and drag to pan for a better view of my notes. When you hover over a node, you can see the relevant notes. A line connects the notes with links.

Graph View is also customizable. By clicking on the cogwheel, you can adjust the size of the nodes, the threshold, and add arrows to the connected nodes. The Forces option offers more customization, letting you control how close the nodes are to each other. You can even have some fun with the Time-lapse animation and see the creation from your first to your last note.

A plugin library that keeps growing

Categories that span writing, tasks, and more

There are more than 2,600 community plugins you can choose from in Obsidian. There is a tool for practically anything, and often several tackle the same idea. So, it's easy to choose one that has the features you need. Some are paid, but many great free plugins can fill in the gaps of the core Obsidian setup and give you a richer, more complete experience.

I use a mix of plugins myself, including Calendar, TimeKeep, Audio Notes, and the popular Make.md. Some plugins are easier to use than others, and depending on the plugin you choose, Obsidian offers a dedicated support or documentation page to help you get the most out of it. After installing the plugin, open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + P. Type the name of the plugin and choose from one of the listed commands to start using it. For example, after I installed Make.md, I choose from a long list of options.

Link anything, see everything

Links and backlinks surface context as you write

I greatly appreciate any app feature that cuts steps. One such feature in Obsidian is the use of links and backlinks within my notes. This lets me add cross-note links across my notes, so I don’t have to retype the same information. These links let me quickly navigate between related notes, so I skip sidebar hunts.

I include backlinks in my notes because the Backlinks' pane on the target note automatically lists each reference, so connections appear in both directions. Over time, that makes it easy to spot duplicates so that I can clean things up. Obsidian lets me view links in different ways by clicking the three-dot menu and choosing the Backlinks in document option. I can also click the chain-link icon in the top-right corner to view it in the sidebar. If I ever need to remove a link, I only need to press Delete, no extra steps.

Make Obsidian fit your work

Obsidian is the app I use daily because it has everything I need. Graph View gives me a quick overview of how my notes are shaping up, and the links connect important ones. Backlinks help me understand how my notes are connected. When I add a link, the target note shows where it’s referenced, so related ideas meet in the same place.

Thanks to the Command Palette, I can quickly see all the actions a plugin has to offer. I find this helpful because it looks for commands even if I’m not sure of their exact name. This was a really helpful feature when I just started using it. Obsidian has various features to keep me busy for quite some time.