Note-taking is a useful way to keep your thoughts organized, whether you’re studying for school, working on a project, or jotting down this week’s ideas.
Obsidian AI is the tool for making notes even better, as it can use AI to help connect ideas, find what you are looking for, and write notes faster.
Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets you link your notes together, making them a web of ideas, and the “AI” portion comes from plugins that add intelligent features, like the ability to chat with your notes or summarize them.
It’s great for students, writers or anyone who wants to centralize their thoughts.
What Is Obsidian AI ?
Obsidian AI isn’t a separate app it’s the combination of Obsidian, a note-taking app, with AI plugins that make it smarter.
Obsidian lets you write notes and link them together, so you can see how your ideas connect, like a map of your thoughts.
For example, if you take a note on “space travel” and another on “rockets,” you can link them up and Obsidian will show you how they’re related.
The AI part bounces in from extensions like Smart Connections, CoPilot or AI Assistant, which enable you to summarize your notes or generate ideas, or even chat with your notes to find the answers.
Obsidian AI review is a keyword that people use to search because they want to know whether the tool is any good. They are great because help you think better and save time, they say.
Consider having many notes for a school project, and all you need is an overview of them, Obsidian AI does that by giving a summary, so you don’t have to re-read everything.
What is the Obsidian Web Clipper?
Obsidian Web Clipper is an official extension for Obsidian, made available late 2024 to allow you to save web content direct into your Obsidian vault.
A vault is essentially a folder where you will find all your notes, and Obsidian allows you to link your notes/concepts to each other almost like a web of ideas.
The Web Clipper functions with most browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and even mobile browsers such as Firefox for Android.
Its allows you to save whole web pages, snippets of text, or simply the core of an article, and everything becomes what’s called a Markdown file, simple text files that Obsidian uses.
How to Use Obsidian AI
Using Obsidian AI is easy, even if you’re new to note-taking apps. Here’s how to get started, including the Obsidian AI login process that people often search for:
- Download Obsidian: Go to the Obsidian website (obsidian. md) and install the app on your phone or desktop computer. It is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux and is free to use.
- Set Up a Vault: When you first open Obsidian it will prompt you to create a “vault,” which is basically a folder for your notes. Give it a name, such as “My School Notes,” and decide where it will be stored on your computer.
- Plugins Sign Up: There’s no specific Obsidian AI login: you log into Obsdian when you open the app. To add AI features, head to “Settings,” then “Community Plugins,” and disable “Safe Mode.” Look for plugins named “Smart Connections /CoPilot” and install.
- Add an API Key : Many ai plugins (like CoPilot) need to connect to an AI model, such as ChatGPT, so it might require sending an API key and website request to work, which might charge a fee (a few cents per run). You can obtain a free API key from such services as Gemini, but take caution with sensitive material, as some plugins send your notes to third-party servers.
- Kindly Use AI: Upon installation of the plugin, utilize AI capabilities. For instance, with Smart Connections, you can use AI to search through your notes to find related ideas. With CoPilot, you can converse with your notes, such as asking, “What did I write about space travel?”
Obsidian AI is ideal for new users because it’s free to get started, and you can add AI features as you become more comfortable. It’s also private your notes remain on your device unless you plug in a cloud-based Ai.
Features of Obsidian AI
Obsidian AI integrates the power of Obsidian’s note-taking with AI plugins to ease your work. Here are some key features:
- Obsidian AI integrates the power of Obsidian’s note-taking with AI plugins to ease your work. Here are some key features:
- Link Your Ideas: Create interconnections between your notes, as if they are part of a network, to visualize how the new information you are learning fits within the context of your other knowledge.
- Graph View: Visualise how the notes are related to each other like a big picture of your thoughts.
- AI Summaries: Reduce long notes into summaries with plugins like AI Assistant, THis also saves your time.
- Idea Generation: Use the AI to generate new ideas, such as topics for a school essay or a video script.
- Chat with Notes: With plug-ins like CoPilot, you can ask questions of your notes, like “What did I write about last week?”
- Offline Mode: One of the nice things about using Obsidian is that it works offline (you could use the local graph feature along with it)—this also goes for some AI plugins, like Smart Connections.
- Free Plan: Obsidian is free, but may require an API key for some AI features and that can cost a few bucks.
Obsidian AI Pricing
| Plan/Service | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian App (Personal Use) | Free forever | Full app with note-linking, graph view, and community plugins. No account needed. |
| AI Plugins (Basic Use) | Free (with your own API key) | Use AI plugins like Smart Connections or CoPilot, but you need your own API key. |
| AI Plugins (With Costs) | Varies (e.g., $0.05-$0.25 per query) | Some plugins, like CoPilot, use paid APIs (e.g., ChatGPT). Costs depend on usage. |
| Obsidian Sync (Standard) | $4/month (billed annually) | Sync notes across devices with 1 GB storage, end-to-end encryption, version history. |
| Obsidian Sync (Plus) | $8/month (billed annually) | Sync with 10 GB storage (up to 100 GB for $16/month), shared vaults, priority support. |
| Obsidian Publish | $8/month (billed annually) | Publish notes online with graph view, no technical skills needed. |
| Catalyst License | $25+ (one-time payment) | Early access to beta versions, VIP badges, supports Obsidian’s development. |
| Commercial License | $50/user/year | For businesses with 2+ employees, includes priority support, 14-day free trial. |
7 Free Alternatives to Obsidian AI
If Obsidian AI isn’t right for you, there are other free tools that can help you take notes and use AI to make them smarter.
Here are 7 alternatives, with their features in bullet points, and why I’m comparing them to Obsidian AI.
1. Notion with Notion AI
Notion is a popular app that combines notes, tasks, and databases in one place. Notion AI adds smart features to help you write and organize better.
Features of Notion with Notion AI
- Notes and Databases: Write notes and organize them into tables or lists, like a digital notebook.
- Notion AI: Summarize notes, generate ideas, or even write drafts for you, like an essay outline.
- Collaboration: Share your notes with friends or classmates to work together.
- Free Plan: Use Notion for free with unlimited notes, but Notion AI costs $10/month after a free trial.
- Templates: Use pre-made templates for school, work, or personal projects.
Why Compare Notion to Obsidian AI?
I chose Notion because it’s a popular note-taking app like Obsidian, and Notion AI adds similar smart features, like summarizing and idea generation.
Obsidian AI is better for linking notes and working offline, while Notion is great for teamwork and organizing different types of content, like tasks and notes together.
2. Logseq: Link Your Notes with AI Plugins
Logseq is a free note-taking app that lets you link your notes, similar to Obsidian, and has AI plugins to make it smarter.
Features of Logseq
- Linked Notes: Connect your notes like a web, just like Obsidian.
- AI Plugins: Use plugins like Logseq Copilot to chat with your notes or generate ideas.
- Journal View: Write daily notes in a journal format to keep track of your thoughts.
- Free and Open-Source: Use it for free, and it works offline.
- Flashcards: Turn your notes into flashcards for studying.
Why Compare Logseq to Obsidian AI?
Logseq is a good comparison because it’s free, works offline, and lets you link notes, just like Obsidian.
Both have AI plugins to add smart features, but Logseq focuses more on journaling and studying, while Obsidian AI is better for building a big network of ideas.
3. Capacities: Networked Thought with AI
Capacities is a note-taking app that helps you connect your ideas in new ways, and it has AI features to make your notes smarter.
Features of Capacities
- Concept Maps: See your notes as a map, like Obsidian’s graph view.
- AI Assistance: Use AI to summarize notes or suggest related ideas.
- Tagging System: Organize your notes with tags to find them easily.
- Free Plan: Use it for free with unlimited notes, but some AI features need a paid plan ($10/month).
- Media Support: Add pictures, videos, or links to your notes.
Why Compare Capacities to Obsidian AI?
I picked Capacities because it’s similar to Obsidian with its focus on connecting ideas, and it has AI features to help you work faster.
Obsidian AI is better for privacy since it works offline, while Capacities is more visual and good for creative projects.
4. Craft: Beautiful Note-Taking with AI
Craft is a note-taking app that’s great for writers and creatives, and it has AI features to help you write better.
Features of Craft
- Distraction-Free Writing: Write in a clean, beautiful interface with no distractions.
- AI Writing Assistant: Use AI to suggest ideas, fix grammar, or write drafts.
- Organize with Folders: Keep your notes in folders to stay organized.
- Free Plan: Use it for free with basic features, but AI and advanced features need a paid plan ($5/month).
- Share Notes: Share your notes as a link or PDF with others.
Why Compare Craft to Obsidian AI?
Craft is a good match because it’s a note-taking app with AI features, like Obsidian AI, but it focuses on a beautiful design and writing experience.
Obsidian AI is better for linking ideas and working offline, while Craft is great for writing long notes or articles.
5. Evernote with AI: Classic Note-Taking with Smart Features
Evernote is a well-known note-taking app that recently added AI features to help you organize and write better.
Features of Evernote with AI
- Web Clipping: Save articles or websites directly into your notes.
- AI Search: Use AI to find notes faster, even if you don’t remember the exact words.
- Note Organization: Sort your notes into notebooks and tags.
- Free Plan: Use it for free with up to 50 notes, but AI features need a paid plan ($14.99/month).
- Cross-Platform: Access your notes on any device, like your phone or computer.
Why Compare Evernote to Obsidian AI?
I chose Evernote because it’s a popular note-taking app like Obsidian, and its AI features help with searching and organizing, similar to Obsidian AI.
Obsidian AI is better for linking notes and privacy, while Evernote is great for saving web content and accessing notes anywhere.
6. Anytype: Private Note-Taking with AI
Anytype is a free, private note-taking app that lets you organize your ideas and has AI features to make your work easier.
Features of Anytype
- Linked Notes: Connect your notes like a web (like in Obsidian).
- AI Recommendations: Utilize AI to provide suggestions or condense your notes.
- Privacy First: Your notes reside in your device, it works offline.
- Free Plan: Use it for free, with no limits for notes.
- Custom Blocks: Add different types of content, like text, images, or tables, to your notes.
Why Compare Anytype to Obsidian AI?
Anytype would be a good comparison because it is free, private and enables linking of notes just like Obsidian.
While both have AI functionality, Obsidian AI has a wider variety of its plugins, while Anytype stays minimalistic in its design with a focus on privacy.
7. Reflect: AI-Powered Journaling
Reflect is a note-taking app that’s great for journaling and has AI features to help you write and reflect on your thoughts.
Features of Reflect
- Daily Journal: Reminders for daily notes.
- AI Writing Assistant: Get the suggestive ideas from your AI textual content writing assistant or summarize the entries of your journal.
- End-To-End Encryption: Notes at Your Disposal Day or Night
- Free Plan: Use it for Free, Basic features, AI and Anything Advanced, Paid plan [$10/month]
- Mood tracking: A way to add your mood to your notes to better see how you’re feeling over time.
Why Compare Reflect to Obsidian AI?
I chose Reflect because it’s a note-taking app with AI features, similar to Obsidian AI, that is more focused on journaling and personal reflection.
Obsidian AI works better for NOTE taking from a wide range of topics, and Reflect is excellent for everyday writing and reflecting on your day.
Conclusion
or those looking to take smart notes, Obsidian AI is a wonderful tool for newbies. It’s cost-free to begin, permitting you to crosslink your ideas, and it uses AI behind the scenes to make your work more quickly, like by summarizing notes or recommending concepts.
It’s great for doing school projects, planning videos or simply keeping your thoughts organized. The only downside is that some of the AI plugins require an API key, which might cost a little, and some send your data to external servers, so be careful with sensitive information.
