Key Takeaways
- Built by developer Brian Petro, source available on GitHub
- Core function: AI link discovery β surfaces semantically related notes as you write, plus a Lookup command for semantic (vector) search across your vault
- Zero-setup local embeddings: the core semantic-search feature runs on a bundled local embedding model, per the plugin's own manifest description, with no API key required
- Works on Obsidian desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile β unlike some Obsidian AI plugins whose advanced modes are desktop-only
- License changed in early 2026 from GPLv3 to a new, source-available Smart Plugins License β not an OSI-approved open-source license, and a change some contributors criticized in GitHub issue #1293
- Free core plugin; a separate paid Smart Plugins Pro tier adds a visual Smart Graph, inline/footer connections, and configurable scoring, per smartconnections.app
- GitHub repository shows roughly 5,400 stars as of September 12, 2026
- Install via Obsidian's Community Plugins directory (search "Smart Connections") or manually from GitHub
π In One Sentence
Smart Connections is an Obsidian plugin, built by developer Brian Petro, that finds semantically related notes as you write using a bundled local embedding model by default, with no API key needed for its core feature, and it works on both Obsidian desktop and mobile.
π¬ In Plain Terms
It reads your notes with an on-device AI model and quietly shows you other notes in your vault that are about the same idea, even if they don't share any exact words. That matching happens on your own computer or phone by default, not in the cloud, and you don't need to sign up for anything or add an API key to use the core feature.
πNote: This review is the deep-dive companion to Smart Connections' entry in the Local LLM Software Directory β see that page for how it compares at a glance to dozens of other local-AI-capable tools.
πNote: The plugin's license changed in 2026 from GPLv3 to a source-available license (see the License and Pricing section below) β it is not accurate to describe the current version as "open source" or "GPL."
What Is Smart Connections?
Smart Connections is a plugin for Obsidian, built by developer Brian Petro. Its own manifest file describes it as an "AI link discovery copilot" that lets you "see related notes as you write" and "lookup using semantic (vector) search across your vault," with a "zero-setup local model for embeddings, no API keys, private" for that core feature.
- Core function: surfaces notes that are semantically similar to what you're currently writing, and provides a Lookup command for semantic search across your whole vault
- Local inference by default: the core semantic-search feature runs on a bundled local embedding model β the plugin's own documentation does not publish the exact model architecture, so this review does not name one
- Developer: Brian Petro, distributing the plugin's source code on GitHub
- Platforms: Obsidian desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile β the plugin's manifest marks it as not desktop-only, unlike some competing Obsidian AI plugins whose advanced features are desktop-only
- Project scale: roughly 5,400 GitHub stars as of this review, per public repository trackers
What Can You Do With Smart Connections?
Smart Connections combines automatic semantic linking, on-demand semantic search, and (through a separate paid tier) visual graph exploration, per its own GitHub repository and smartconnections.app.
- Connections view β a panel that continuously surfaces notes semantically related to the one you're currently editing, updating as you write
- Lookup / semantic search β a command to search your entire vault by meaning rather than exact keyword matches, using vector embeddings
- Zero-setup local embeddings β the core semantic-search feature runs on a bundled local embedding model with no API key or account required, per the plugin's own manifest
- Mobile support β the plugin is not marked desktop-only, so the core features are available on Obsidian's iOS and Android apps as well as desktop
- Smart Graph (paid add-on) β a visual exploration view of semantic connections across your vault, part of the separate Smart Plugins Pro tier
- Inline and footer connections, configurable scoring (paid add-on) β additional display and ranking controls for related notes, also part of Smart Plugins Pro
- Bases integration (paid add-on) β integration with Obsidian's Bases feature, documented as part of Smart Plugins Pro on smartconnections.app
How to Install Smart Connections
Smart Connections is listed in Obsidian's official Community Plugins directory, so the standard install path does not require leaving Obsidian. Obsidian must already be installed.
1. Open Community Plugins
- What to Do:
- In Obsidian, go to Settings β Community plugins, and make sure community plugins are enabled.
2. Search for Smart Connections
- What to Do:
- Click Browse, then search for "Smart Connections" in the Community Plugins directory.
3. Install and enable
- What to Do:
- Click Install, then Enable, on the Smart Connections listing.
4. First run
- What to Do:
- On first use, the plugin sets up its bundled local embedding model automatically β no API key entry is required for the core semantic-search feature.
A manual-install fallback also exists for advanced users: the plugin's source is on GitHub, where you can download a release and place it in your vault's .obsidian/plugins/ folder if you prefer not to use the Community Plugins browser.
License and Pricing
Smart Connections changed its license in early 2026. For most of the project's history it was distributed under the GPLv3 license. It now ships under a new, developer-authored "Smart Plugins License Agreement" β a source-available license, not an OSI-approved open-source license. Under the current license text, you may use, copy, modify, and redistribute the code, but you may not use it as a core component of a general-purpose product that competes with the licensor's own commercial Obsidian offerings; private use, internal organizational use, and custom client work remain permitted.
- Previous license: GPLv3 (for most of the project's history)
- Current license (2026): the Smart Plugins License Agreement β source-available, not GPL, and not an OSI-approved open-source license
- Key restriction: the code may not be used as a core component of a general-purpose product competing with the licensor's own commercial offerings; private, internal, and client work remain permitted
- The change drew criticism from parts of the community β see GitHub issue #1293, "License change removes open source protections; contributor consent unclear"
- Core plugin: free, no account required β the Connections view, Lookup/semantic search, and graph/list view of related notes
- Smart Plugins Pro (paid add-on): adds Smart Graph, inline/footer connections, configurable scoring, and Bases integration, available to project supporters
- No specific price is confirmed for this review β current pricing and tiers are listed on smartconnections.app; check there for figures
Smart Connections vs. Copilot for Obsidian
Smart Connections and Copilot for Obsidian are both Obsidian plugins, but they solve different problems. Smart Connections is fundamentally a local semantic-search and link-discovery tool; Copilot for Obsidian is a chat-and-agent plugin that connects to Ollama or LM Studio for conversational AI. Smart Connections' own conversational-AI feature lives in a separate, related plugin (Smart Chat), not in Smart Connections itself.
Core function
- Smart Connections:
- Semantic search / link discovery
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- AI chat and multi-step Agent mode
License
- Smart Connections:
- Source-available Smart Plugins License (2026)
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- AGPL-3.0
Platforms
- Smart Connections:
- Desktop and mobile
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- Desktop and mobile / Agent mode desktop-only
Local AI setup
- Smart Connections:
- Bundled local embedding model, zero setup
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- Connects to Ollama or LM Studio you run separately
Install method
- Smart Connections:
- Obsidian Community Plugins directory
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- Obsidian Community Plugins directory
Project scale
- Smart Connections:
- Roughly 5,400 GitHub stars
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- Roughly 7,700 GitHub stars
Cost
- Smart Connections:
- Free core; paid Smart Plugins Pro add-on
- Copilot for Obsidian:
- Free BYOK/local tier; paid cloud-model tiers
Do not treat these as interchangeable. Smart Connections does not add a chat interface to Obsidian by itself β that is the separate Smart Chat plugin from the same developer. Copilot for Obsidian does not do vector-based automatic link discovery the way Smart Connections does. Many users run both plugins for different purposes. See the Copilot for Obsidian review for the chat-and-agent side of the comparison.
Who Should Use Smart Connections?
Whether Smart Connections fits depends on whether you want automatic semantic link discovery inside Obsidian, and whether the 2026 license change matters for your use case.
Competitors and Alternatives
Smart Connections competes in the broader "AI inside your notes app" category, alongside plugins built for other host note-taking apps. PromptQuorum has reviewed the closest equivalents on Obsidian, Logseq, and Joplin.
- Copilot for Obsidian Review β the same-app-ecosystem alternative on Obsidian itself. Copilot for Obsidian is a chat/agent plugin connecting to Ollama or LM Studio for conversational AI, while Smart Connections is fundamentally a local semantic-search and link-discovery tool β they solve different problems and many users run both.
- Logseq Copilot Review β the Logseq-ecosystem equivalent: an AI chat plugin for a different outliner-based notes app.
- Joplin AI Agent Review β the Joplin-ecosystem equivalent: an AI agent plugin for a different notes app.
Common Mistakes When Evaluating Smart Connections
Most confusion about Smart Connections comes from outdated license claims, conflating it with the developer's separate Smart Chat plugin, or expecting a chat interface it does not provide on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Smart Connections?
Smart Connections is a plugin for the Obsidian notes app, built by developer Brian Petro, that finds semantically related notes as you write and provides a Lookup command for semantic search across your vault.
Is Smart Connections free?
The core plugin is free β the Connections view, Lookup/semantic search, and graph/list view of related notes cost nothing and need no account. A separate paid Smart Plugins Pro tier adds features such as a visual Smart Graph and configurable scoring; check current pricing on smartconnections.app.
Does Smart Connections need an internet connection or API key?
Not for its core semantic-search feature. Per the plugin's own manifest description, it uses a "zero-setup local model for embeddings, no API keys" that runs entirely on your device.
What license is Smart Connections released under?
As of early 2026, a source-available "Smart Plugins License Agreement," documented at smartconnections.app/legal/license β a change from the GPLv3 license the project used previously.
Is Smart Connections still open source?
No, not in the OSI-approved sense as of the 2026 license change. It is source-available: you can view, use, modify, and redistribute the code, but not as a core component of a competing commercial product. The change drew criticism on GitHub β see issue #1293.
Does Smart Connections work on Obsidian mobile?
Yes. The plugin's manifest marks it as not desktop-only, so its core features work on Obsidian's iOS and Android apps as well as desktop.
How do I install Smart Connections?
Search for "Smart Connections" in Obsidian's built-in Community Plugins directory (Settings β Community plugins β Browse), then Install and Enable. A manual install from GitHub is also possible for advanced users.
How many GitHub stars does Smart Connections have?
Roughly 5,400 as of this review, per public repository trackers β check the repository directly for a current count.
What is Smart Chat, and is it part of Smart Connections?
Smart Chat is a separate, related plugin by the same developer that links an AI conversation with third-party chat interfaces from within a note. It is not the same plugin as Smart Connections, and multi-provider support for it is part of a paid Smart Chat Pro tier.
How does Smart Connections compare to Copilot for Obsidian?
They solve different problems on the same app. Smart Connections is a local semantic-search and link-discovery tool; Copilot for Obsidian is a chat-and-agent plugin connecting to Ollama or LM Studio. See the full comparison table above.