2 Best Obsidian Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Obsidian is a popular tool for knowledge workers wanting local-first note-taking. While it offers a free tier (Free for personal use), its paid plans start at $50/yr (Sync). Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Obsidian alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (Notion, AppFlowy)
- Open-source options: AppFlowy
- Best overall: Notion
- Best free: Notion
Why Look for Obsidian Alternatives?
People commonly look for Obsidian alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Obsidian has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $50/yr (Sync) can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: No real-time collaboration and sync costs extra are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Obsidian overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | ✓ Free for personal use | $50/yr (Sync) | ⭐ 4.6 | No | Knowledge workers wanting local-first note-taking |
| Notion | ✓ Personal use, unlimited blocks | $10/user/mo | ⭐ 4.5 | No | Teams and individuals wanting a flexible all-in-one workspace |
| AppFlowy | ✓ Free (open source) | Free | ⭐ 4 | ✓ Yes | Users wanting an open-source Notion alternative |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Notion
All-in-one workspace for notes, docs, project management, and wikis.
Notion has become one of the most popular productivity tools by combining notes, databases, kanban boards, wikis, calendars, and reminders into a single flexible workspace. Its block-based editor and powerful database features make it incredibly versatile. Notion is used by individuals, startups, and enterprises alike for everything from personal notes to company-wide knowledge bases.
Pros
- ✓ Incredibly flexible
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ Great free tier
- ✓ Powerful databases
- ✓ Active template community
Cons
- ✗ Slow with large databases
- ✗ Offline mode limited
- ✗ Complex for simple needs
- ✗ No built-in chat
AppFlowy
Open-source alternative to Notion.
AppFlowy is an open-source alternative to Notion that prioritizes data privacy and customization. It offers a familiar block-based editor, databases, and kanban boards while allowing users to self-host and maintain control of their data.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Notion-like features
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Active development
Cons
- ✗ Still maturing
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No mobile app yet
- ✗ Small community
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Obsidian?
The best free alternative to Obsidian is Notion, which offers Personal use, unlimited blocks.
Is there an open-source alternative to Obsidian?
Yes! AppFlowy is open-source alternative to Obsidian that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Obsidian?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Notion, AppFlowy. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $10/mo.
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