Best Free & Open Source Alternatives to Obsidian
Compare 9 open-source Obsidian alternatives including Joplin, AFFiNE, memos and more
If you're looking for the best open-source alternative to Obsidian, Joplin is a strong place to start. If it doesn't quite fit your needs, there are plenty of other great options worth exploring, including AFFiNE, memos, SilverBullet and NoteDiscovery. We've ranked the top alternatives to help you compare your options and find the right fit.
Joplin
Privacy-focused, open-source note-taking and to-do app with end-to-end encryption and multi-device sync.
Obsidian
AFFiNE
Open-source knowledge base combining note-taking, whiteboard, and project planning in one workspace.
Obsidian
memos
A modern, open-source, self-hosted knowledge management and note-taking platform designed for privacy-conscious users and organizations.
Obsidian
SilverBullet
Markdown-based note-taking app with powerful live queries, templates, and a pluggable scripting system for power users.
Obsidian
NoteDiscovery
A self-hosted knowledge base for note-taking with markdown support, Zettelkasten methodology, and Docker deployment.
Obsidian
TriliumNext Notes
Hierarchical personal knowledge base with powerful note-taking, rich text editing, and scripting capabilities.
Obsidian
kuku
Open-source local-first Markdown workspace for macOS with wiki, AI editing, and encrypted sync.
Obsidian
Jotty
Lightweight self-hosted app for managing personal file-based notes and checklists.
Obsidian
Files.md
A simple local-first note-taking app for your plain .md files with Telegram bot access.
ObsidianFrequently Asked Questions
Are there any open source alternatives to Obsidian?
Yes, there are 9 open source alternatives to Obsidian. Popular options include Joplin, AFFiNE, memos and more. These alternatives are free to use and many offer self-hosting options.
What is the best free alternative to Obsidian?
The best free alternative to Obsidian depends on your specific needs. Joplin is a popular choice with self-hosting capabilities. All alternatives listed here are open source and free to use.
Can I self-host an alternative to Obsidian?
Yes, 9 of the alternatives listed here can be self-hosted, giving you complete control over your data and privacy.
Why should I switch from Obsidian to an open source alternative?
Open source alternatives to Obsidian offer several advantages: no vendor lock-in, complete data ownership, no subscription fees, the ability to self-host for privacy and security, and active community support. You can also customize the software to fit your specific needs.
Obsidian
Obsidian is a private, flexible note-taking app—designed to sharpen your thinking by letting you store and link ideas securely on your own device. It offers powerful organization tools like bidirectional note linking, an interactive graph view, a highly customizable interface with thousands of plugins and themes, and an open file format so you truly own your data.
Compare Obsidian Alternatives
Joplin vs AFFiNE Joplin vs memos Joplin vs SilverBullet Joplin vs NoteDiscovery Joplin vs TriliumNext Notes Joplin vs kuku Joplin vs Jotty Joplin vs Files.md AFFiNE vs memos AFFiNE vs SilverBullet Showing top 10 comparisons