4 open source alternatives to Obsidian
Local-first markdown knowledge base (closed source, free for personal use). Here are the open source projects real teams use instead — ranked by fit, with honest pros and cons for each.
What people don't love about Obsidian
- Not open source despite being free.
- Mobile app is limited compared to desktop.
- Sync requires paid add-on or custom setup.
Current Obsidian pricing (for reference): Free for personal use; Sync $5/month.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Best for | License | Self-host | Hosted cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joplin Open source Evernote alternative with markdown notes and end-to-end encryption. |
Similar markdown focus but open source and multi-platform. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★☆☆☆ | Yes |
|
Trilium Notes Hierarchical personal notes with scripting. |
Hierarchical structure instead of Obsidian's graph approach. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
|
AppFlowy Open source alternative to Notion, built in Rust and Flutter. |
If you want a Notion-style workspace instead of a note graph. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
|
Standard Notes Encrypted, simple note-taking with long-term data portability. |
Simple, encrypted note-taking when you don't need the plugin sprawl. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
1. Joplin — Similar markdown focus but open source and multi-platform.
Open source Evernote alternative with markdown notes and end-to-end encryption.
Strengths
- End-to-end encryption for syncable notes.
- Works with Nextcloud, Dropbox, WebDAV and Joplin Cloud.
- Web clipper and mobile apps available.
Weaknesses
- Interface can feel basic compared to Notion-style tools.
- Plugin ecosystem is smaller than Obsidian's.
- Sync conflicts occasionally need manual resolution.
2. Trilium Notes — Hierarchical structure instead of Obsidian's graph approach.
Hierarchical personal notes with scripting.
Strengths
- Deep hierarchical notes with relations.
- Scripting support for automation inside notes.
- Strong for large personal knowledge bases.
Weaknesses
- No official mobile apps.
- UI feels dense for new users.
- Original maintainer stepped back; Trilium Next fork is active.
Trilium Notes homepage · Source on GitHub · Obsidian vs Trilium Notes →
3. AppFlowy — If you want a Notion-style workspace instead of a note graph.
Open source alternative to Notion, built in Rust and Flutter.
Strengths
- Familiar Notion-style blocks and databases.
- Local-first desktop app for privacy.
- Active development and growing plugin ecosystem.
Weaknesses
- Newer project — some Notion features still missing.
- Real-time collaboration is still maturing.
- Mobile apps lag behind desktop.
AppFlowy homepage · Source on GitHub · Obsidian vs AppFlowy →
4. Standard Notes — Simple, encrypted note-taking when you don't need the plugin sprawl.
Encrypted, simple note-taking with long-term data portability.
Strengths
- End-to-end encryption by default.
- Focused, minimalist note app.
- Extended features through paid Productivity plan.
Weaknesses
- Rich editors and features are behind paid plan.
- Self-hosting the sync server is non-trivial.
- Not a Notion-style workspace — much simpler scope.
Standard Notes homepage · Source on GitHub · Obsidian vs Standard Notes →
Not what you're looking for?
Browse other tools in Note-taking & Knowledge Base, or check out open source projects by category on the full category index.