Obsidian – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Obsidian

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2021

89%

WISE Score

4.5

App Store

A powerful, distraction-free note-taking app that turns your scattered thoughts into an interconnected knowledge system.

Obsidian

app

Everyone, 2021

89%

WISE Score

4.5

App Store

A powerful, distraction-free note-taking app that turns your scattered thoughts into an interconnected knowledge system.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Obsidian is one of the good guys in the app ecosystem. It's a serious productivity tool that respects your time, your data, and your brain. No algorithmic nonsense, no venture capital growth-hacking, just a well-designed note-taking system that happens to be really powerful.

That said, it's not for everyone. If your teen doesn't already have a burning desire to organize their thoughts or build a study system, they'll open it once and never touch it again. But for the kid (or parent) who wants to get serious about managing information—whether for school, creative projects, or just life—this is gold. It teaches you to think in systems and connections, which is increasingly valuable.

The local-first approach means it's genuinely safe and private, and the one-time purchase model (for sync) is refreshingly honest. If you're looking for an alternative to Google Docs that actually helps you think, not just type, this is it.

Age Fit

Best for high schoolers and adults who already have a reason to organize information—students with serious study needs, writers, researchers, or anyone building a personal knowledge base. Younger kids won't find it interesting unless they're unusually self-directed.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A clean, distraction-free tool for organizing thoughts and building knowledge. No social comparison, no algorithmic feeds, no dark patterns. It's essentially a digital notebook that respects your attention and encourages focused, intentional work.

Imaginative

Markdown-based knowledge management with graph view visualization lets users build interconnected webs of ideas in whatever structure makes sense to them. The open-ended nature means it can be a journal, project planner, creative writing tool, study system, or anything else. Community plugins and themes add endless customization.

Safe

Works entirely on local files with no cloud requirement, no ads, no data harvesting, no social features, no chat. It's just you and your notes. The business model is straightforward (optional sync service), not manipulative. Zero compulsive loops or engagement tricks.

Enriching

Genuinely useful for building organizational skills, connecting ideas, and developing a personal knowledge system. The learning curve teaches valuable concepts about information architecture. That said, it's a tool—the enrichment comes from what you put into it, not passive consumption.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Teaches information organization and systems thinking—actually useful life skills
Zero ads, zero manipulation, zero social comparison; just a tool that does what it says
Works offline with local files, so you own your data and can't lose it to a service shutdown
Graph view visualizes how ideas connect, which is genuinely cool for visual learners
Customizable with community plugins means it grows with your needs

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What to Watch For

This is a blank canvas tool, not an app that entertains—requires self-motivation and a reason to take notes
Learning curve exists; younger kids will likely find it boring or confusing without a specific project
The Android version is solid but desktop is where most power users live

Conversation Starters

"What would you want to organize or keep track of if you had a personal wiki?"
"How do you currently take notes for school—does connecting ideas between subjects ever help you understand things better?"
"If you could design your own system for remembering everything you learn, what would it look like?"

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