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Obsidian alternatives: 10 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Obsidian: official sync is a paid add-on, and real-time collaboration is limited. We ranked 10 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Obsidian, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Logseq currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Logseq logoLogseqOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +21 of 376.8
2Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 372.8
3SiYuan logoSiYuanOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 449.5
  1. Logseq logo

    1. LogseqTop pick

    Best for: Outliner thinkers who want local, open-source notes with backlinks

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    76.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Obsidian

    Also local Markdown files and free, with an outliner instead of documents.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Local Markdown or Org files
    • Strong backlinks and block references

    Cons

    • Outliner-only structure isn't for everyone
    • Mobile apps feel less polished
    Visit Logseq Compare with ObsidianDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Logseq a good Obsidian alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown/Org files
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Joplin logo

    2. Joplin

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    72.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Obsidian

    Open source with built-in encrypted sync options at no cost.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good Obsidian alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. SiYuan logo

    3. SiYuan

    Best for: People who want block-level linking and databases with local data they control

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web, Self-hosted

    49.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Obsidian

    Local-first and open source, with Notion-style blocks and databases built in.

    Pros

    • Block references and embeds at any level
    • Databases with relations and rollups
    • Local-first, with Docker self-hosting
    • End-to-end encrypted sync option

    Cons

    • Official cloud sync needs a paid membership
    • English docs and community are thinner
    • Busy interface with many settings
    Visit SiYuan Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SiYuan a good Obsidian alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Local-first
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes, for sync
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Databases
    Yes, with relations and rollups
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Obsidian alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Logseq logo

Best Obsidian alternative for most people

Logseq

Also local Markdown files and free, with an outliner instead of documents.

Joplin logo

Best Obsidian alternative for a free option

Joplin

Open source with built-in encrypted sync options at no cost.

Anytype logo

Best Obsidian alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Anytype

Local-first and encrypted, with database-style objects built in.

Reflect logo

Best Obsidian alternative for open source

Reflect

A simpler, open-source daily-notes app that also stores notes as local Markdown.

SiYuan logo

Best Obsidian alternative for self-hosting

SiYuan

Local-first and open source, with Notion-style blocks and databases built in.

Notion logo

Best Obsidian alternative for Mac

Notion

Better for team collaboration and databases, at the cost of local files.

Zettlr logo

Best Obsidian alternative for Windows

Zettlr

Open-source Markdown editor with built-in citations for academic writing.

SilverBullet logo

Best Obsidian alternative for Linux

SilverBullet

Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base you can reach from any browser.

Logseq logo

Best Obsidian alternative for iPhone and Android

Logseq

Also local Markdown files and free, with an outliner instead of documents.

Khoj logo

Best Obsidian alternative for working in the browser

Khoj

Adds an open-source AI that chats with your Obsidian vault and other documents.

Obsidian alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Obsidian?

Logseq ranks first right now. Also local Markdown files and free, with an outliner instead of documents. Joplin and Anytype follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Obsidian?

Yes. Logseq (open source), Joplin (open source), Anytype (free plan + paid) and Notion (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Obsidian?

Yes: Logseq, Joplin, Reflect and SiYuan, plus 3 more in the list above. Joplin, SiYuan and SilverBullet can also be self-hosted.

Which Obsidian alternatives work on Linux?

Logseq, Joplin, Anytype, SiYuan and Zettlr run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Obsidian?

The complaints we hear most: official sync is a paid add-on; real-time collaboration is limited.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Obsidian, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.