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Obsidian vs Standard Notes
Obsidian vs Standard Notes
A side-by-side look at Obsidian (the paid SaaS) and Standard Notes (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Obsidian | Standard Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Local-first markdown knowledge base (closed source, free for personal use). | Encrypted, simple note-taking with long-term data portability. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free for personal use; Sync $5/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Simple, encrypted note-taking when you don't need the plugin sprawl.
Standard Notes strengths
- End-to-end encryption by default.
- Focused, minimalist note app.
- Extended features through paid Productivity plan.
Standard Notes 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.
What's the catch with Obsidian?
- Not open source despite being free.
- Mobile app is limited compared to desktop.
- Sync requires paid add-on or custom setup.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Obsidian: see Obsidian alternatives, or learn more about Standard Notes on its project page.