Inkidian

Write in your Obsidian vault with Apple Pencil.

Inkidian is a native iPad app for handwritten notes and PDF annotation. Everything is saved as plain files in your vault, right next to your Markdown.

Join the TestFlight beta Get notified at launch

Free during the beta. Needs an iPad with Apple Pencil on iPadOS 18 or later, and the free Inkidian plugin for Obsidian.

A handwritten lecture note in Inkidian on iPad, with a highlighted line, a circled phrase with an arrow to a margin note, a small diagram and a sketched graph.
Handwritten notes, saved as .inkd files next to your Markdown.
A PDF open in Inkidian with two highlighted lines, a check mark next to the title and a bracket in the margin.
PDFs, with the ink saved into the PDF itself.

Handwriting that keeps up, files that stay yours.

Obsidian is built on web technology, so drawing plugins draw inside a web view. Inkidian is a native iPad app instead, and hands everything back to your vault.

Ink right under the tip
Inkidian draws with PencilKit, the engine Apple uses in Notes and Markup, so the line stays right under Apple Pencil.
PDFs and images, annotated in place
Annotations go into the PDF itself, so Preview, Acrobat and your browser show them too. For images, update the original or keep a copy.
An open file format
Handwritten notes are .inkd files: plain JSON with a public spec, readable without Inkidian. Read the format spec

How it works

Pick your vault folder once in Inkidian. From then on both apps work on the same files, with nothing to import, export or sign up for.

Inkidian

on your iPad

Write and annotate with Apple Pencil.

saves as you write

Your vault folder

local, iCloud or Obsidian Sync

  • Lecture 4.inkd
  • Paper.pdf
  • Whiteboard.jpg
reads the same files

Obsidian

with the free Inkidian plugin

Shows your notes next to your Markdown, on iPad, Mac and PC.

In Obsidian, tap the Inkidian button to keep writing
There's no Inkidian server anywhere in this picture. Your files only go where your vault already syncs.

Buy it once

Inkidian will be a one-time purchase with a 14-day free trial. No subscription. The Obsidian plugin is free, and because .inkd is an open format, your notes stay readable even if you stop using the app.

Questions

Does it work with Obsidian Sync?

Yes. Inkidian writes into the vault folder on your iPad, and Obsidian Sync takes it from there. In Obsidian's Sync settings, turn on syncing for other file types so .inkd files are included.

Obsidian uploads changes while it is open, so open Obsidian once after writing to send your notes to your other devices.

Can I see my handwritten notes on my Mac or PC?

Yes. The free Inkidian plugin shows .inkd notes in Obsidian on any device. Editing happens on the iPad.

While the plugin waits for review in Obsidian's community directory, install it with the BRAT plugin. The steps are on the support page.

What happens to my PDFs?

Your annotations are written into the PDF as standard PDF annotations. Open the file in Preview, Acrobat or a browser and they are there. You can still change or erase them later in Inkidian.

Does Inkidian collect any data?

No. There is no account, no analytics and no server. Your files stay on your iPad and in the sync service you chose. Details are on the privacy page.