AppBreakup
Submit an app

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
1SiYuan logoSiYuanOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 449.5
2SilverBullet logoSilverBulletOpen sourceYesWeb, macOS, Windows +24 of 449.5
3Khoj logoKhojOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +24 of 448.1
  1. SiYuan logo

    1. SiYuanTop pick

    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)
  2. SilverBullet logo

    2. SilverBullet

    Best for: Developers who want a self-hosted, programmable Markdown wiki

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, Self-hosted

    49.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Obsidian

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

    Pros

    • Plain Markdown files you own
    • Scriptable with Lua and queries
    • Single-container self-hosting
    • Works offline in the browser

    Cons

    • Self-hosting takes some technical skill
    • No native mobile apps
    • Smaller community than Obsidian
    Visit SilverBullet 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 SilverBullet a good Obsidian alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Server and CLI
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Single container
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Khoj logo

    3. Khoj

    Best for: Note-takers in Obsidian or Emacs who want an AI that knows their own files

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

    48.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Obsidian

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

    Pros

    • Works with your notes and documents
    • Clients for Obsidian, Emacs, desktop, web and WhatsApp
    • Self-hostable and open source

    Cons

    • Team's focus has shifted to newer products
    • Self-hosting takes some setup
    • Smaller community than the big local-AI apps
    Visit Khoj Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 Khoj a good Obsidian alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.khoj.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    File types
    PDF, Markdown, org-mode, Notion
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.khoj.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Clients
    Emacs, Obsidian, desktop, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.khoj.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, on consumer hardware
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.khoj.dev(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.