Best Open-Source Obsidian Alternatives 2026
Obsidian itself is free for personal use, but the app is proprietary and closed-source. The moment you want sync across devices, you're looking at $8/month (Obsidian Sync). Add Obsidian Publish at $16/month if you want to share notes publicly, and you're at $24/month — $288/year — for features that open source alternatives include in their self-hosted deployments.
More importantly for organizations: Obsidian stores files locally and syncs via their commercial service or third-party plugins. There's no collaborative editing, no server-side knowledge base, and no admin controls. For teams that want a shared, self-hosted knowledge base with real-time collaboration, the alternatives below are built for exactly that.
TL;DR
Logseq is the best open source Obsidian alternative for personal knowledge management — it uses the same local Markdown files but adds outlining, journaling, and a graph view with genuine bidirectional linking. SiYuan Note is the best self-hosted team knowledge base with real-time sync, a full-featured block editor, and built-in database capabilities. AFFiNE is the best choice if you want a local-first collaborative workspace combining docs, whiteboards, and databases. Joplin is the most mature and portable note-taking app with excellent mobile support and end-to-end encryption. Standard Notes is the best option when privacy and encryption are the primary requirements.
Quick Comparison
| Logseq | SiYuan Note | AFFiNE | Joplin | Standard Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Stars | 32K+ | 24K+ | 42K+ | 46K+ | 5K+ |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 | MIT | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Self-Host Sync | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (server) | ✓ |
| Real-time Collab | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Block Editor | Outliner | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | Limited |
| Graph View | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Plugin | ✗ |
| Bidirectional Links | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Plugin | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✓ | Beta | ✓ | ✓ |
| E2E Encryption | Planned | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline-First | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Docker Self-Host | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Logseq: The Open Source Outliner for Personal PKM
Logseq is the closest thing to Obsidian in the open source world — it reads and writes plain Markdown (and Org-mode) files from a local folder, which means your data stays portable and vendor-independent. Unlike Obsidian's document-centric model, Logseq is outliner-first: everything is a bullet that can be nested, queried, and linked.
With 32,000+ GitHub stars and an active community, Logseq is the most-used open source alternative among knowledge workers making a principled choice about proprietary tools.
Core model: Daily journals as the entry point. You log thoughts, notes, and tasks in today's journal, and Logseq automatically creates bidirectional links when you reference a page. Over time, a graph of connected ideas emerges without manual organization.
Features:
- Outliner editing: Every block is independently addressable, embed-able, and query-able
- Queries: Datalog-based queries let you pull together blocks by tag, property, or link — creating dynamic "dashboards" of related content
- Graph view: Visual map of linked pages
- Tasks and scheduling: Built-in task management with priorities and scheduled/deadline dates
- Plugins: A growing plugin ecosystem covers templates, export formats, integrations, and UI customization
- PDF annotation: Annotate PDFs with highlights linked to your notes
Self-hosted sync: Logseq doesn't have a traditional server. Sync options include: the (still beta) Logseq Sync service, git-based sync via working directory, or self-hosted Syncthing/WebDAV. The database version (in active development) will change this model with a proper server sync layer.
Where Logseq wins vs Obsidian: The outliner model and Datalog queries are genuinely more powerful for personal knowledge management than Obsidian's document-and-search approach. For people who think in connected ideas rather than separate documents, Logseq's graph accumulates knowledge in a way that feels organic. No sync fees — use git or Syncthing for free.
Where Logseq falls short: No real-time collaboration — it's a single-user tool. Performance on large databases (10,000+ blocks) has historically been a complaint, though the database version aims to resolve this. The outliner model has a learning curve for users accustomed to document-based editors.
SiYuan Note: Team Knowledge Base with Real-Time Sync
SiYuan Note is the most complete self-hosted knowledge base for teams. It's a full-stack application with a block-based editor, self-hosted sync server, real-time collaboration, database views (similar to Notion), and end-to-end encryption for sync — all in one package.
With 24,000+ GitHub stars and active development from a team in China (with a large international user base), SiYuan has become the recommended option for teams that want Notion-like functionality entirely on their own infrastructure.
Self-hosting: SiYuan Server is a single binary or Docker container that handles sync and user management. Clients connect over a local network or the internet. The server is lightweight — runs on 512MB RAM.
docker run -d \
-v ~/siyuan/workspace:/siyuan/workspace \
-p 6806:6806 \
b3log/siyuan
Feature highlights:
- Block-based editor: Paragraphs, headings, code blocks, tables, embeds, math (KaTeX), diagrams (Mermaid), and attribute panels per block
- Database views: Inline databases with table, kanban, and gallery views — similar to Notion databases
- Self-hosted sync: End-to-end encrypted sync via your own SiYuan server or compatible WebDAV/S3 storage
- Bidirectional links: Full graph with backlinks, forward links, and breadcrumbs
- Templates: Reusable templates with variables and date/time functions
- Custom attributes: Add arbitrary properties to any block for personal metadata
Where SiYuan wins vs Obsidian: For teams (2-50 people) who want shared notes with real-time editing, SiYuan is the best self-hosted option. The database block type covers structured data that Obsidian needs external plugins to approximate. E2E encryption on sync means you can run the server on a public VPS without trusting the host with content.
Where SiYuan falls short: The application is primarily Chinese in origin and some UI strings are inconsistently translated. The plugin ecosystem is smaller than Obsidian's or Logseq's. No web-only access — a client app is required.
AFFiNE: Local-First Collaborative Workspace
AFFiNE combines a rich document editor, a whiteboard (Edgeless mode), and a database — all in a local-first architecture. It's the most design-forward tool on this list, with 42,000+ GitHub stars reflecting strong interest from users wanting an offline-capable Notion alternative.
AFFiNE's "Edgeless" mode (infinite canvas whiteboard) distinguishes it from every other tool here — you can switch any doc to whiteboard mode and move blocks spatially. For visual thinkers, this is a significant differentiator.
Self-hosting: AFFiNE Cloud is the self-hostable server built with Node.js. Docker deployment is available:
docker run -d \
-p 3010:3010 \
-v ~/.affine:/root/.affine \
ghcr.io/toeverything/affine-cloud:stable
Collaboration requires the cloud server. Local-only use works offline without a server.
Feature highlights:
- Doc mode + Edgeless mode: Every page can switch between document and infinite canvas whiteboard
- Block types: Rich blocks including embedded databases, images, PDFs, code, and linked pages
- Real-time collaboration: Multiple users on the same document via the cloud server
- AI integration: Optional AI assistant (bring your own key) for text generation and editing
- Database views: Table and kanban views with filtering
- Export: HTML, Markdown, and PDF export
Where AFFiNE wins vs Obsidian: The whiteboard mode for visual note-taking, brainstorming, and diagramming has no equivalent in Obsidian. The collaborative editing model works offline-first and syncs when connected. MIT license means no concerns about commercial use or embedding.
Where AFFiNE falls short: Mobile apps are still beta-quality. The server component adds operational complexity compared to Logseq's file-based approach. Fewer plugins than Obsidian or Logseq. The product is evolving fast and some features feel less polished than older tools.
Joplin: The Most Portable and Battle-Tested Option
Joplin has been around since 2017 and has built a reputation as the most reliable, portable open source note-taking app. With 46,000+ GitHub stars — the most on this list — Joplin has a massive user base and a mature ecosystem.
Joplin stores notes as Markdown files in its own encrypted database and syncs via configurable backends: Joplin Server (self-hosted), WebDAV, Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or S3-compatible storage. The flexibility in sync backends makes Joplin uniquely portable — you're never locked into a single infrastructure choice.
Self-hosting (Joplin Server): Joplin Server handles sync and sharing between clients. Docker deployment:
docker-compose up -d
with an official compose file. Server requires PostgreSQL. Minimum: 1 vCPU / 512MB RAM.
Feature highlights:
- End-to-end encryption: E2E on sync — the server never sees plaintext content
- Web Clipper: Browser extension to clip web pages, articles, and screenshots directly into Joplin
- Rich plugin ecosystem: 200+ plugins covering themes, code execution, table of contents, diagrams, templates, and more
- Note sharing: Joplin Server enables sharing individual notes or notebooks via link
- Multi-platform clients: Desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux), mobile (iOS/Android), and a terminal app
- Import/export: Import from Evernote, CommonMark, HTML. Export to PDF, HTML, Markdown.
Where Joplin wins vs Obsidian: E2E encryption built in — Obsidian Sync encrypts in transit but not end-to-end. Joplin's Evernote import is more reliable for migrations. The terminal client serves users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows. Sync flexibility — Joplin works with WebDAV on a $6/month Nextcloud instance rather than requiring its own server.
Where Joplin falls short: No bidirectional links or graph view in the core app (available via plugins but less integrated). No real-time collaboration. The editor is Markdown-based and less rich than SiYuan or AFFiNE. For teams wanting a shared, collaborative knowledge base, Joplin is a personal tool with limited sharing.
Standard Notes: Encrypted by Default
Standard Notes takes the most uncompromising stance on privacy. Every note is encrypted before it leaves your device — the server (whether hosted by Standard Notes or self-hosted) never has access to your content. This makes Standard Notes the right choice when the primary requirement is privacy, not collaboration or rich editing.
Self-hosting: Standard Notes Server is a Node.js application that handles encrypted sync. Docker deployment is documented. The server stores only encrypted blobs — it cannot read your notes even with database access.
Feature highlights: E2E encryption for all notes, nested tags, plain text and rich text editors, Markdown editor, a growing selection of editor extensions (code, HTML, Scinotes for advanced formatting), and cross-platform clients (desktop, mobile, web). The server can be configured to use local storage or S3-compatible object storage.
Where Standard Notes fits: Individuals or small teams with strict privacy requirements — journalists, lawyers, security researchers, or anyone who cannot trust a cloud provider with their notes. The zero-knowledge architecture means even a compromised server exposes no readable content.
Where Standard Notes falls short: No bidirectional linking, no graph view, no real-time collaboration, and limited database/structure capabilities compared to SiYuan or AFFiNE. The editor is simpler than the other tools here. For teams that need shared, structured knowledge management, SiYuan or AFFiNE is more appropriate.
Storage and Privacy Model Comparison
| Tool | Storage Model | Server Access to Content | Offline-First |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Local files | N/A (local) | ✓ |
| Logseq | Local files | N/A (local) | ✓ |
| SiYuan | Block database | Yes (unless E2E enabled) | ✓ |
| AFFiNE | Block database (local-first) | Yes | ✓ |
| Joplin | Markdown + SQLite | Never (E2E) | ✓ |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted blobs | Never (E2E) | ✓ |
Self-Hosting Cost
All tools run on minimal hardware:
- Logseq (file sync via Syncthing): $0 additional beyond existing infrastructure
- SiYuan Server: $4-6/month (512MB RAM sufficient)
- AFFiNE Server: $6-12/month (1 vCPU / 1GB RAM)
- Joplin Server: $6-12/month (1 vCPU / 1GB RAM + PostgreSQL)
- Standard Notes Server: $6-12/month (1 vCPU / 512MB RAM)
Compare to Obsidian Sync at $8/month per user: a 5-person team pays $480/year for sync alone. Self-hosted SiYuan covers the same team for $50-70/year in server costs.
When to Use Which
Choose Logseq if: You're a solo knowledge worker who wants an open source alternative to Obsidian's local-first philosophy. You think in outlines and interconnected ideas. You want Datalog queries for powerful note retrieval. You use daily journals as an entry point to your notes.
Choose SiYuan Note if: You're a small team (2-20 people) that needs a shared knowledge base with real-time editing, Notion-like databases, and end-to-end encrypted sync on your own server.
Choose AFFiNE if: You want visual/spatial note-taking with an infinite canvas whiteboard alongside documents. Collaboration matters and you want a local-first architecture. MIT license is important for commercial use.
Choose Joplin if: You want the most portable, platform-independent open source note-taking app with excellent mobile support. E2E encryption and flexible sync backends matter. You're migrating from Evernote.
Choose Standard Notes if: Privacy and encryption are the primary requirements. You want zero-knowledge sync where the server can never read your notes. Simpler editing is acceptable for a stronger security model.
For a look at how some of these tools integrate with document management, see Best Open-Source Notion Alternatives 2026 and Open-Source Alternatives to Notion AI 2026 for AI-augmented knowledge base options.