Obsidian is as simple or complex as you make it

As an Obsidian user, I often notice people mentioning how they want a simple, cross-platform note taking tool but not Obsidian because it’s too complex.

I feel it’s a branding issue. Especially a lot of bloggers and influencers create super complex systems (partly because it’s easier to make content of complex than simple systems) and “you absolutely need these 25 plugins” pieces.

But Obsidian is only as complex as you make it.

At its core, Obsidian is a text editor with live Markdown rendering.

If you want simple notes tool, you can use it to create notes and write to them in plain text or Markdown. You can make one long note or multiple smaller ones. You can store them all in one folder or have as many folders as you want.

In my opinion, it’s even crucially important to start simple and keep it that way until you notice a need for something more complex. Gradually introducing new features and plugins means you will not get overwhelmed by the software.

I like Obsidian’s design. It allows you to start quickly and make notes but it has a very high ceiling so it will grow with your notes and needs.

If you’re looking for a good, simple cross-platform notes app, I think you should give Obsidian a go and not install any plugins or follow any influencer guides. Just start writing notes and see if the UX feels good for your flow.