These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
5 more ways to get Obsidian
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by Obsidian.md (Dynalist Inc.). Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install obsidian - Homebrew
brew install --cask obsidian - Flathub
flatpak install flathub md.obsidian.Obsidian - Snap Store
snap install obsidian
About Obsidian
Obsidian opens a folder, treats every Markdown file in it as a note and lets you link notes together. Because the vault is ordinary files, the notes stay readable in any text editor and keep working if the app disappears. A graph view, backlinks, tags and a strong search sit on top.
A large community plugin and theme ecosystem covers everything from task management to spaced repetition. The app itself is closed source but free for any purpose, including commercial work; the optional Sync and Publish services and the supporter licences are what pay for it.
Strengths
- Notes are plain Markdown files in a folder you control, readable without the app
- Linking, backlinks, tags, graph view and fast search across the vault
- Free for all purposes including commercial use, with no account needed to use it
- Large plugin and theme ecosystem, plus an extension API for writing your own
Limitations
- The application is not open source, only the plugin ecosystem and the releases repository
- Syncing between devices means paying for Obsidian Sync or wiring up your own sync tool
- A fresh vault is a blank slate; the useful setups people show off are assembled from plugins
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree for everyone, including commercial use, in the vendor’s own words. Obsidian Sync and Obsidian Publish are paid services, and optional Catalyst and Commercial licences exist as a way to support development.
- License
- Proprietary
- Developer
- Obsidian.md (Dynalist Inc.)
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- A personal knowledge base you will still be able to read in ten years
- Categories
- Note-taking
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Notes); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 4 sources on file.
Alternatives to Obsidian
Compare allSoftware that can replace Obsidian for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
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.
Obsidian as an alternative
Listings that name Obsidian as an alternative.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Typora
A polished Markdown editor with live in-place rendering, sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
MarkText
A Markdown editor that shows formatted text as you type, with no preview pane and no syntax symbols in the way.
Omnivore
An open-source, self-hosted read-it-later app for saving, highlighting and annotating articles, newsletters and PDFs.
