Alternatives to Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Obsidian.
Logseq
An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.
Logseq also keeps notes as plain Markdown files, but uses an outliner with block-level linking and a daily journal, and is open source under AGPL-3.0.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Joplin is open source with built-in end-to-end encrypted sync through services like Nextcloud or Dropbox, but attachments sit in its own storage layout rather than loose files.
SiYuan
A block-based notes workspace with Markdown that renders as you type, and an option to self-host it.
SiYuan is open source with block references, SQL queries in notes and self-hosting, but keeps notes in its own store rather than plain Markdown files.
TriliumNext Notes
A hierarchical note app where one note can live in several places at once, with a server you can host.
TriliumNext Notes is open source with a self-hosted sync server and note cloning, but stores notes in a database and has no official mobile app.
Anytype
An encrypted, offline-first workspace for notes, tasks and databases that syncs peer to peer.
Anytype adds custom object types, databases and encrypted peer-to-peer sync, but it is source-available, still beta, and exporting a large workspace to plain files is awkward.
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and task boards.
Notion offers databases, wikis and real-time team collaboration, but it is a proprietary freemium service without a Linux app and does not use local Markdown files.
QOwnNotes
A plain-text Markdown notepad and todo manager that syncs through Nextcloud or ownCloud, or any file sync you already use.
QOwnNotes is an open source Markdown notepad on plain files that syncs through Nextcloud or ownCloud, but its interface is dense and Linux is the primary platform.
SilverBullet
Keep linked Markdown notes in a self-hosted browser workspace.
SilverBullet is an open source MIT workspace for linked Markdown notes in the browser with queries and extensions, but you must host and maintain the instance yourself.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Obsidian as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes app with sync, sketches, and text recognition.
Obsidian works on plain Markdown files across all major platforms with links and backlinks, but syncing between devices means paying for Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Bear
Apple-exclusive markdown notes app with tag-based organization and a polished editor.
Obsidian keeps Markdown notes as plain files across Windows, Linux and Android too, with backlinks and plugins, though sync requires Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Capacities
Object-based note app that organizes ideas as typed, tagged objects.
Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and a graph view, is free for all use, but lacks a typed object model.
CherryTree
A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control.
Obsidian uses plain Markdown files with links and backlinks on every major platform, which is more portable, but it is not open source.
Daino Notes
A free, local-first desktop note-taking app with a fast block editor and Markdown support.
Obsidian works on a folder of plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and plugins, and adds Android and iOS apps, though sync costs extra or needs your own tool.
Denote
An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.
Obsidian manages a folder of plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and graph view in a standalone app with mobile clients, but it is not open source.
Foam
A personal knowledge management system built on Visual Studio Code and plain Markdown files.
Obsidian works on a folder of plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and graph view in its own app with mobile clients, but it is not open source.
FSNotes
An open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone that stores notes as plain files.
Obsidian works on a folder of plain Markdown files with backlinks, graph view and plugins across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and is free but closed source.
Heptabase
Visual note-taking app that organizes research as cards on whiteboards.
Obsidian is free and works on plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and a graph view across all major platforms, though visual layouts rely on plugins.
Inkdrop
A Markdown note-taking app for developers with notebooks, tags, encrypted sync and AI features.
Obsidian is free with no account needed, stores notes as plain Markdown files with backlinks and a large plugin ecosystem, but sync costs extra or needs your own tool.
Markor
An open-source Android text editor for Markdown notes, todo.txt lists and plain text files.
Obsidian also works on plain Markdown files on Android and adds desktop and iOS apps, backlinks and plugins, but is closed source and sync is paid or self-arranged.
MindForger
Organize Markdown notes in a personal knowledge workspace.
Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files with backlinks, graph view and a large plugin ecosystem, and adds Android and iOS apps, but the application itself is not open source.
Notenik
A free, open-source Mac note-taking app that stores notes as plain-text Markdown files in folders.
Obsidian also keeps notes as plain Markdown files with links, and adds Windows, Linux and mobile apps and plugins, but the application is not open source.
Notesnook
An end-to-end encrypted note app where the company cannot read your notes, with clients on every platform and full source published.
Obsidian works on local Markdown files with no account needed, but it is not open source and syncing requires paying for Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Octarine
A local-first Markdown note-taking app for macOS that keeps notes as plain files.
Obsidian also works on local Markdown files, runs on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS too, and relies on a large plugin ecosystem rather than built-in features.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files with a graphical app on desktop and mobile, but it is closed source and lacks Org's formal syntax and agenda.
Org-roam
An Emacs package for linked, plain-text personal knowledge management built on Org mode files.
Obsidian provides backlinks and a graph view over plain Markdown files with desktop and mobile apps, but the application itself is not open source.
RedNotebook
Keep a searchable desktop journal with dated entries.
Obsidian works on local Markdown files with linking and plugins on all major platforms, but a dated journal must be assembled from its features, and it is not open source.
Reflect
An end-to-end encrypted note app with backlinked notes, calendar integration and an AI assistant.
Obsidian offers backlinks and a graph view over local Markdown files, free with no account, but sync costs extra and AI relies on plugins.
RemNote
Note-taking app that pairs outlining with built-in spaced-repetition flashcards.
Obsidian stores notes as local Markdown files with links and a large plugin ecosystem, free for all use, but spaced repetition is not a built-in feature listed.
Roam Research
A networked note-taking outliner for connecting related ideas into a graph of linked notes.
Obsidian offers linking, backlinks and a graph view over local Markdown files, free with no account, though it is document-based rather than an outliner.
Simplenote
Minimal note app that syncs plain-text and Markdown notes across devices.
Obsidian stores Markdown files locally with linking and plugins, free with no account, but syncing requires Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Standard Notes
Encrypted notes built for the long term, where sync is free on unlimited devices and you can host the server.
Obsidian offers a local-only mode on plain Markdown files with no account, but is not open source and has no built-in encryption listed.
Supernotes
A collaborative note-taking app that stores ideas as linked notecards with Markdown and LaTeX.
Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files on your own disk with backlinks and graph view, runs on all major platforms, and syncing between devices is paid or self-arranged.
The Archive
A plain-text Zettelkasten note-taking app for macOS that stores notes as Markdown files.
Obsidian works on a folder of plain Markdown files with backlinks and graph view, is free, and runs on Windows, Linux and mobile as well as macOS.
TiddlyWiki
A non-linear personal notebook that runs as a single self-contained HTML file in a browser.
Obsidian replaces the single HTML file with a folder of plain Markdown files, adding backlinks, graph view, mobile apps and a large plugin ecosystem, though it is not open source.
Tinderbox
A Mac app for making, visualizing and analyzing notes, with map views and automation.
Obsidian keeps linked Markdown notes in a local folder with graph view and plugins on all major platforms, but lacks Tinderbox's rule-driven self-organizing documents.
Typora
A polished Markdown editor with live in-place rendering, sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
Obsidian is free and works on a whole folder of Markdown notes with linking, search and plugins, adding mobile apps but offering no one-time purchase.
UpNote
A cross-platform notes app with rich text, Markdown support, nested notebooks and automatic sync.
Obsidian is free and stores plain Markdown files locally with backlinks and plugins, but syncing between devices means paying or arranging your own tool.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
Obsidian is a graphical app on desktop and mobile for linked plain Markdown files with graph view and plugins, though it is not open source.
VNote
An open-source desktop Markdown note-taking app written in native C++ that keeps notes as local files.
Obsidian works on a folder of local Markdown files with linking, graph view and plugins, adds mobile apps, and is free but not open source.
Zettlr
Write and organize Markdown documents for publication.
Obsidian manages folders of Markdown files with links, backlinks and plugins plus mobile apps, but is not open source and aims at notes over publication.
Zim
A desktop wiki that keeps linked notes as plain text files in a folder structure.
Obsidian uses plain Markdown files instead of wiki markup, adds macOS and mobile apps, graph view and plugins, but is closed source.
zk
A command-line tool for maintaining a plain-text Markdown Zettelkasten or personal wiki.
Obsidian is a free graphical app on all major platforms that works on a folder of Markdown files with links, backlinks and plugins.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
