Obsidian

• Source: https://obsidian.md (proprietary)
• License: Proprietary (free for personal use)
• Alternatives: Logseq, Notion, Roam Research, Joplin
• Status: RIP — not open source, but top choice if FOSS isn't a requirement

Features

• Local-First Markdown: Notes stored as plain .md files — no proprietary format
• Bidirectional Linking: [[wiki-style]] links with a knowledge graph visualization
• Canvas: Freeform visual board for arranging and connecting notes
• Rich Plugin Ecosystem: 1,000+ community plugins (Excalidraw, Dataview, Templater, etc.)
• Themes & Customization: Extensive CSS theming and layout options
• WebDAV Sync: Works with Nextcloud for self-hosted mobile sync

Core Plugins Used

• Unique note creator

Community Plugins

• Excalidraw

File Sync for Phone

1. Install Obsidian app
2. Install Nextcloud app
3. Install FolderSync app (if Obsidian can't access Nextcloud files directly)
4. Set up two-way sync between a Nextcloud vault directory and the directory accessible by the Obsidian app