Obsidian pricing: how far the free plan goes
Obsidian’s core app is free for personal and commercial use. Optional Sync comes in Standard and Plus plans; Publish and support licenses are separate purchases. Compare annual totals, storage and shared-vault conditions using official prices checked September 9, 2026.
Is Obsidian free to use?
Yes. The core app is free, including commercial use. You do not need Sync, Publish or Simple Memo to create and edit notes in a local vault.
Sync is an optional official service for device syncing; Publish is an optional web publishing service. Catalyst and commercial licenses support development. Official pricing and free-use conditions
Obsidian, syncing, and Simple Memo have separate costs
Choose a sync method that supports your operating systems and vault location. Besides Obsidian Sync, iCloud is an option between Apple devices; the official guide lists caveats when Windows is involved. Sync methods by device
Simple Memo is a separate app. Its purchase does not include Obsidian Sync or replace cross-device syncing. Select a destination in supported integration settings and verify that the first note reaches the intended file. See Simple Memo’s pricing FAQ for its own free allowance and paid plans.
The shortest path from a spoken note on iPhone into your vault is in the four-route comparison (no plugin needed).
Prices: compare the annual total
These are official US-dollar list prices. The monthly equivalent of an annual plan is not a monthly charge. Annual totals below equal the listed monthly equivalent ×12. Check billing period, currency and the final amount at checkout.
| Plan | Annual / one-time (USD) | Monthly (USD) | Purpose / base allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Free | Free | Create and edit local notes for personal or commercial use. |
| Sync Standard | $4 / user / month equivalent $48 / year | $5 / user / month | 1 vault; 1 GB total; files up to 5 MB |
| Sync Plus | $8 / user / month equivalent $96 / year | $10 / user / month | 10 vaults; 10 GB total; files up to 200 MB |
| Publish | $8 / site / month equivalent $96 / year | $10 / site / month | Publish notes on the web; separate from Sync. |
| Catalyst | $25 / one-time purchase | No monthly plan | Support development, early access to beta builds and other benefits. |
| Commercial license | $50 / user / year | No monthly plan | Optional support; not required for commercial use. |
Sources: official pricing and the two Sync plans (checked September 9, 2026). USD list prices are not fixed JPY prices; an old exchange-rate conversion would not establish today’s charge.
Discounts and refunds
The official pricing page offers a 40% Sync and Publish discount for students, faculty and nonprofit employees; check application and eligibility conditions before purchase. Sync and Publish offer full refunds within seven days of purchase. Catalyst, commercial licenses and Obsidian Credit are non-refundable.
Choose Sync Standard or Plus by storage needs
| Condition | Standard | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Remote vaults | 1 | 10 |
| Total storage | 1 GB | 10 GB (upgradeable to 100 GB) |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB | 200 MB |
| Note history | 1 month | 12 months |
| Connected devices | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Shared vaults | Supported; each collaborator needs Sync. | Supported; each collaborator needs Sync. |
Storage is combined across the account’s vaults and includes attachments and version history. The 1 GB allowance is not reserved for text alone. Extra Plus storage is an upgrade; 100 GB is not included in the base $8 annual-equivalent / $10 monthly price. Official plans and storage limits
Older attachment versions are retained for two weeks on either plan. This differs from the one-month / twelve-month note history. Official history retention periods
Check your vault count, current total size, and largest PDF or image first. Standard is worth considering for one vault with files within 5 MB; compare Plus if you need multiple vaults or larger attachments. Anticipated future growth alone does not require starting with the higher plan.
What the free plan actually covers
The mobile and desktop apps, creating/editing notes, and using vaults. Individual community plugins and external services can have their own terms.
Want automatic sync across devices? Sync. Want to publish notes as a public site? Publish. Want to support development or try betas? Catalyst. Using it at work in an organization? A commercial license (recommended, not required).
If you want an iPhone capture entry point
Another app is optional if direct entry in Obsidian already works for you. For Simple Memo, configure your recipient and supported integrations, then use a short test to check email arrival and saving into the intended note separately. Follow the setup and first-note checks.
After downloading, configure a supported destination and verify that you can find the note. Simple Memo’s own pricing determines its free allowance and paid plans.
On desktop? Scan with your phone
Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian free to use?
Does annual Obsidian Sync charge me $4 each month?
How do Standard and Plus differ?
How much does Obsidian Publish cost?
Can everyone use a shared vault on one person’s subscription?
Are discounts or refunds available?
Do I need Catalyst to unlock note-taking features?
Scope of this comparison
This comparison uses official pricing, Sync plans and help checked September 9, 2026. Annual totals are calculated from the listed monthly equivalents. It does not report a new purchase test of Sync/Publish or a physical-device test of shared vaults. The author develops Simple Memo, a separate app.
Related pages
References & data sources
- Obsidian pricing
- Obsidian Sync plans
- Sync plans and storage limits
- Collaborate on a shared vault
- Sync notes across devices
- Back up your Obsidian files
- Simple Memo - for Obsidian — App Store — App Store download page
Obsidian is a trademark of Dynalist Inc. This site is independent of the Obsidian project; Simple Memo - for Obsidian is an independent app by Yurica Inc. Prices are subject to change — always confirm current amounts on the official site (obsidian.md/pricing).