Obsidian is one of the most powerful note-taking tools available, but it's quite a bit different from other options like Apple Notes, Evernote, and Bear. The change in interface can be jarring for newcomers, but there's a relatively new, immensely popular plugin that's changing the game: Notebook Navigator. This plugin can replace a lot of other plugins, and it shifts the interface to something that's a bit more familiar to most people than Obsidian's tag- and folder-based layout.

Beyond that, its built-in functionality renders a lot of other plugins unnecessary. Notebook Navigator's developer has integrated some of the most popular functions of other plugins into the main functionality of Navigator.

Its defining feature is a multi-pane layout

While Obsidian is a popular platform for taking notes, its tag- and folder-based layout is quite a bit different from Apple Notes, Bear, Evernote, and other platforms, and that can be jarring for newcomers. Notebook Navigator changes Obsidian's default appearance to something a bit more familiar: a multi-pane layout with an adjustable slider. On the far left, you'll see all of your folders, recently accessed files, tags, and much more. In the center, you'll see the notes in whatever repository you have selected (such as a folder or all notes with a given tag), along with a brief preview of the contents of that note. And on the far right side, you can see what note you currently have selected.

These features already replace several other plugins, like File Tree Alternative, Tags Overview, and Tag Explorer. The focus on recently accessed files keeps active projects in sight, while lesser-used notes remain tucked away but easily accessible. Notebook Navigator also offers a slew of customization options in its settings menu. You can change everything from the layout to sorting options to fine-tune Obsidian to your own workflow preferences.

Notebook Navigator's built-in search function is ridiculously powerful

But it can be made even better

Notebook Navigator's default search is a filter search, a "fast, lightweight search that filters files by name and tags within the current folder and subfolder." It's a great tool for finding anything inside your vault, and you can exclude specific tags, find untagged notes, and much more. But if you want something even more powerful, you can download the Omnisearch plugin. Notebook Navigator integrates Omnisearch into its primary search functionality, provided you have the plugin available to access.

And if you want to ditch your mouse entirely, Navigator's hotkey functionality is on another level. You can completely customize hotkeys by editing the data.json file inside Notebook Navigator's plugin folder and following a set structure. You can also add multiple keybinds for the same function if you want alternative inputs. The only thing to keep in mind is that keyboard sequences like "gg" aren't supported.

Your vault's appearance is completely in your control

Notebook Navigator works with multiple existing themes

Notebook Navigator operates a lot like a theme, in that it changes the full look of your vault — but it's not actually a theme, and you can install others on top of NN without an issue. In fact, Navigator even works with the Style Settings plugin to let you further customize the appearance of everything in your lineup. For example, in NN's General settings menu, you can choose a page to serve as a homepage (replacing the need for the dedicated Homepage plugin, by the way) that opens as soon as you open Notebook Navigator. You can also download icon packs to replace the default options in your navigation pane, adding a splash of color to the way you browse.

Right-clicking on a folder lets you change its icon, its color, and its background. You can choose to swap out the standard font color for something with a bit more flair — as I've done in the screenshot above — but you can also give a custom icon to anything you like, whether that's a folder or an individual note. I also have the AnuPpuccin theme installed on top of Notebook Navigator, but its features are minimal in comparison to what NN offers users right out of the box.

Notebook Navigator is a fantastic replacement, but it doesn't feel like Obsidian

It works well, but requires a change in mindset

Notebook Navigator replaces the standard Obsidian workflow, not enhances it. It's essentially a rough port of other models onto the Obsidian framework. For users who want to take advantage of Obsidian's extensive plugin library, that's a huge check in the plus column — but it requires a different approach to the workflow, especially since Navigator has its own specific commands for creating, moving, and deleting files. There's also a bit of a learning curve; the initial setup process can feel a bit overwhelming, as the settings menu is quite extensive.

The different look is the point

Notebook Navigator is designed for those who want the power of Obsidian with the feel of Evernote

If you've been a longtime Evernote (or Apple Notes, Bear, etc.) user, Notebook Navigator can make the transition to Obsidian a lot easier. Sure, it changes the look and feel of a few things, but overall, Obsidian remains the same, and Navigator doesn't restrict users from accessing the tools and functionality that make Obsidian so impressive. It's not for everyone; in fact, I don't plan to continue using it. I've worked with Navigator for a few weeks to get the feel for it, but I use Obsidian primarily because I don't love the look and feel of other note-taking apps. But for those that do, I can't recommend this plugin enough.

Notebook Navigator is, quite literally, a game-changer

My vault is a mess of plugins. It's the digital version of an old CRT with a half-dozen different classic consoles connected to it, but that's the way I like it. There's something endearing about the virtual chaos. But if you prefer a more minimalist approach, Notebook Navigator offers a cleaner alternative that can replace a slew of other plugins — and if it doesn't replace them, it works really well alongside them.