If you use Obsidian for work in a company with two or more employees, you must purchase a Commercial license. You and your team may use Obsidian commercially for free for 14 days to evaluate the app before purchase. For bulk discounts, [[Help and support|contact Obsidian support]]. ## What is considered commercial use? Commercial use includes, but isn't limited to, work-related activities such as: - Meeting notes - Project notes for teams - Organizational wikis You don't need a Commercial license if you work in any of the following settings: - Schools and recognized educational institutions - Non-commercial research - Non-profit organizations - Freelancing or companies with a single person Government departments and agencies are considered commercial use, unless registered as a non-profit organization. ## Purchase and activate a commercial license To purchase a commercial license, follow the steps below. You can find pricing information on the [pricing page](https://obsidian.md/pricing). 1. Create or login to [your Obsidian account](https://obsidian.md/account). 2. Scroll down to the **Commercial license** section. 3. Click **Buy license** and choose the number of seats you want to purchase. 4. Complete the payment process. 5. The license key will be displayed and can be activated using the steps below. To activate a commercial license: 1. Open the Obsidian app. 2. Go to **Settings → General → Commercial license**. 3. Click **Activate** and enter your license key. 4. You're done! The app is now licensed for commercial use. ## FAQ ### Purchasing process **Can I try Obsidian for commercial use before paying?** Yes. You and your team may evaluate Obsidian for commercial use for 14 days. You don't need to pay before evaluating. **Are there bulk discounts?** Yes. If you are purchasing more than 20 seats you may be eligible for bulk pricing. Please [[Help and support#Contact Obsidian support|contact Obsidian support]]. **Can I buy a license for myself, or do I have to ask my company to buy it for me?** Yes. You can buy a license for yourself by going to your [Account dashboard](https://obsidian.md/account). Most companies allow you to submit an expense report for the purchase. Some companies may have a different procurement process. Ask your IT department to [[Help and support#Contact Obsidian support|contact Obsidian support]] if they have questions or require specific paperwork. **Can I purchase a commercial license for multiple employees?** Yes. You can purchase multiple commercial license seats through the [Account dashboard](https://obsidian.md/account). There is no need for each employee to have their own Obsidian account, you can use a single admin account to purchase all the seats. After purchasing the license, you will receive a license key which you can send to employees to activate their license — see instructions above to activate the license. ### Do I need a commercial license? **Do non-profit organizations require a commercial license?** No. Registered non-profit organizations may use Obsidian without a commercial license. **I'm a writer/blogger, do I need a commercial license?** If your writing is for-profit — for example you write for a blog that generates revenue via ads or sponsorships — and your business employs more than one person, then yes, you need a commercial license. **I'm a solo freelancer/consultant, but my work indirectly contributes to "revenue-generating, work-related activities in a company that has two or more people". Do I need a commercial license?** No. As long as you are the sole employee of your freelance/consulting business, you don't need a commercial license. **I'm a teacher/professor, or I work at a school, and I use Obsidian for my teaching/lectures. Do I need a commercial license?** No. Obsidian usage for education-related activities within schools and other recognized educational institutions doesn't require a commercial license. **I'm an academic researcher and I use Obsidian for my research work. Do I need a commercial license?** If your research involves producing a commercial product — for example if your research contributes to revenue-generating commercial activities — you need a commercial license for your usage. If your research doesn't contribute to a commercial product, or if your research has not yet led to commercial activities, you don't need a license. **I work for a government or an arm's length body or agency. Do I need a commercial license?** Yes. Government agencies and departments need a commercial license. Registered charitable and non-profit organizations are exempted. **I use Obsidian during work for things like writing down team processes and taking notes for team meetings. Do I need a commercial license?** If you are a single-person company, then you don't require a commercial license. If your company has more than one employee, then yes, you need a commercial license. **I use Obsidian to store all of my knowledge, both personal and professional, because it's difficult to separate them. Do I need a commercial license?** If your notes contain content directly related to work projects or processes for a company with more than one employee, then yes, you need a commercial license. **I’m still not sure if I need a commercial license. What should I do?** If you still have questions regarding the commercial license requirements, [[Help and support#Contact Obsidian support|contact Obsidian support]] and describe your situation in detail.