Obsidian Copilot v4: What Changed, What It Costs, What to Check

Copilot v4 is a rewrite of the Copilot plugin for Obsidian, released as version 4.0.0 on August 11, 2026. Its main view is now an agent: Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode runs inside your vault on desktop, reads your notes and writes results back as Markdown. The old chat is still there as Quick Chat, and it is what Copilot runs on your phone. Copilot stays free with your own Claude or ChatGPT subscription, API key or local model; Plus adds hosted models for $14.99 a month.

We make SystemSculpt, another Obsidian AI plugin. Copilot facts below come from its 4.0.0 release notes, README and pricing page, checked November 6, 2026, when the latest release was 4.0.18.

The short answers

• When did Copilot v4 come out? Version 4.0.0 shipped on August 11, 2026, after six preview builds from June. It arrives as a normal update in Community plugins.
• What is new? Agent Mode, with Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode in tabs; Project Mode with a per-project AGENTS.md; skills you set up once for every agent; and local search by meaning through Miyo.
• What is the latest version? 4.0.18, released November 3, 2026. It adds Navigator, a sidebar list for many agent chats (a preview for Supporters), and lets you revoke an agent's changes from its diff.
• Does v4 work on mobile? Partly. Agent Mode is desktop only. On a phone or tablet you get Quick Chat, Quick Ask and commands.
• Is Copilot v4 free? Yes, with your own Claude Code, Codex, API key or local model. Paid plans add hosted models.

What changed from v3

• Main view. v3 had one built-in chat assistant. v4 opens Agent Mode: Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode, one per tab.
• Old chat. It is now Quick Chat. Run New Copilot Quick Chat to open it.
• Phone and tablet. Quick Chat, Quick Ask and commands. Agents are desktop only.
• Search by meaning. Miyo, a local indexing app, adds it. Vault QA still works.
• Files. One copilot folder holds chats, prompts, skills, memory and projects.
• API keys. They move from plugin data to Obsidian's keychain.

What Copilot v4 costs

• Free, $0. Your Claude or ChatGPT subscription, your own API keys or local models. Includes Projects, Quick Ask and Miyo search.
• Plus, $14.99 a month or $139.99 a year. Adds hosted models, several agents on one prompt, web search, and YouTube and X capture.
• Supporter, $349.99 once. Two years of Plus, plus lifetime Miyo, OpenArtifacts and self-hosting, and 15% extra on usage credits.

Plus has 5-hour and weekly usage limits on hosted models. The 4.0.0 release notes also named a $7.99 Lite plan; Copilot's pricing page no longer lists it.

Before you upgrade from v3

Copilot's release notes give five checks:

1. Back up your vault first. The update runs a one-time migration and shows a summary when it finishes.
2. Find your old chat under Quick Chat. Agent Mode replaces it as the main view on desktop.
3. Look for chats, prompts and skills in the new copilot folder. If you had moved them, a notice lists the old and new paths.
4. Expect your API keys in Obsidian's keychain. A backup stays in the plugin folder.
5. Check your Plus license. Some users found the key cleared after the update.

If v4 isn't the right fit

Agents are desktop only in v4, and hosted models need Plus. If that rules it out, the main alternatives are Claudian and Agent Client for coding agents on desktop, Smart Connections for related notes, and SystemSculpt for chat and audio on desktop and mobile. Our Copilot alternatives guide compares them, and six Obsidian AI plugins side by side adds a feature table.

SystemSculpt runs your own Claude Code or Codex on desktop with no SystemSculpt plan, and hosted SystemSculpt AI on desktop and mobile. It records and transcribes audio into Markdown notes and shows Similar Notes. It runs fewer agents than Copilot, and doesn't use your own API keys or local models. It's free to install; eligible new accounts can claim 500 one-time starter credits with no card, and paid plans are $9 a month or $90 a year. Compare plans.

Sources

Checked November 6, 2026: Copilot 4.0.0 release notes, 4.0.18 release, README and pricing.