19 Best Open Source Obsidian Alternatives
A curated collection of the 19 best open source and self-hosted alternatives to Obsidian in 2026.
Looking for a free, privacy-friendly, or self-hosted replacement for Obsidian in 2026? The top open-source alternative is Macro Docs — Collaborative markdown documents with real-time CRDT editing, AI agent cursors, mention linking, and built-in properties tied to your tasks, channels, and email..
Other highly rated open-source Obsidian alternatives include AppFlowy, Memos and Joplin.
Collaborative markdown documents with real-time CRDT editing, AI agent cursors, mention linking, and built-in properties tied to your tasks, channels, and email.
Collaborative markdown documents with real-time CRDT editing, AI agent cursors, mention linking, and built-in properties tied to your tasks, channels, and email.
Open source collaborative workspace combining notes, databases, and AI with full data ownership, offline support, and self-hosting options.
Open source collaborative workspace combining notes, databases, and AI with full data ownership, offline support, and self-hosting options.
Memos is a self-hosted, open-source note-taking app built around a private timeline. Write in Markdown, skip the folder setup, and keep your data on your own server.
Memos is a self-hosted, open-source note-taking app built around a private timeline. Write in Markdown, skip the folder setup, and keep your data on your own server.
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, and sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud.
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, and sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud.
Personal knowledge management system with WYSIWYG block editing, bidirectional links, spaced repetition flashcards, a relational database, and end-to-end encrypted sync.
Personal knowledge management system with WYSIWYG block editing, bidirectional links, spaced repetition flashcards, a relational database, and end-to-end encrypted sync.
Local-first, open-source knowledge management tool with bidirectional linking, outlines, flashcards, PDF annotations, and whiteboards for building a connected second brain.
Local-first, open-source knowledge management tool with bidirectional linking, outlines, flashcards, PDF annotations, and whiteboards for building a connected second brain.
A free, open source note-taking app built on plain Markdown files, Git version control, and direct AI model integration. No account required.
A free, open source note-taking app built on plain Markdown files, Git version control, and direct AI model integration. No account required.
Self-hosted wiki platform for enterprise teams with real-time collaboration, built-in AI, SSO, RBAC permissions, and compliance support for ITAR, FedRAMP, and GDPR.
Self-hosted wiki platform for enterprise teams with real-time collaboration, built-in AI, SSO, RBAC permissions, and compliance support for ITAR, FedRAMP, and GDPR.
End-to-end encrypted note-taking app with zero-knowledge architecture, cross-device sync, web clipper, and a self-hostable sync server.
End-to-end encrypted note-taking app with zero-knowledge architecture, cross-device sync, web clipper, and a self-hostable sync server.
The next generation of open-source AI-powered card notes designed to help you quickly capture and organize inspiration so that ideas never run out.
The next generation of open-source AI-powered card notes designed to help you quickly capture and organize inspiration so that ideas never run out.
A local-first, encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and chats. Your data stays on your device, syncs peer-to-peer, and never passes through a central server.
A local-first, encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and chats. Your data stays on your device, syncs peer-to-peer, and never passes through a central server.
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, offline access, and powerful organization features for privacy-conscious users.
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, offline access, and powerful organization features for privacy-conscious users.
XWiki is a flexible, feature-rich wiki software that helps organizations structure and share knowledge efficiently.
XWiki is a flexible, feature-rich wiki software that helps organizations structure and share knowledge efficiently.
A privacy-focused, offline-first note-taking app that stores everything on your device, with Markdown, note linking, file attachments, LaTeX math, and bring-your-own sync.
A privacy-focused, offline-first note-taking app that stores everything on your device, with Markdown, note linking, file attachments, LaTeX math, and bring-your-own sync.
A customizable, offline-first note editor that lets you format text, create lists, add images, and export to HTML - all while maintaining your privacy.
A customizable, offline-first note editor that lets you format text, create lists, add images, and export to HTML - all while maintaining your privacy.
A versatile project management platform that combines task organization, team collaboration, and workflow automation in one intuitive interface.
A versatile project management platform that combines task organization, team collaboration, and workflow automation in one intuitive interface.
OpenNotas is a multi-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app that offers simplicity, synchronization, and offline functionality.
OpenNotas is a multi-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app that offers simplicity, synchronization, and offline functionality.
Justnote is a secure note-taking app that lets you easily create and sync notes across devices while maintaining full control of your data.
Justnote is a secure note-taking app that lets you easily create and sync notes across devices while maintaining full control of your data.
Open-source Notion & Miro alternative with docs, whiteboards, databases, and AI in one local-first workspace
AFFiNE is a next-generation workspace that merges docs, whiteboards, and databases into a single local-first platform. Built for creativity and productivity, it combines the best of Notion, Miro, and Obsidian with integrated AI capabilities. - All-in-one workspace: Unified interface for documents, whiteboards, and databases - Local-first architecture: Works offline with real-time sync across devices - AI integration: Built-in AI assistant for writing, drawing, and planning - Collaboration tools: Edgeless whiteboards for limitless team creativity - Team hub: Unified document space for teams of all sizes - Cross-platform: Available as desktop, web, and mobile apps - Extensible: Supports templates and custom workflows - Privacy-focused: Self-hosting and private cloud options available AFFiNE is open-source and can be self-hosted for complete data control. The platform supports private cloud deployments and offers enterprise solutions with dedicated support. The codebase is available on GitHub under the MIT license, making it suitable for both personal and commercial use.
About Obsidian
A powerful markdown-based knowledge base that works on local files, helping you build a personal knowledge graph for better learning and idea management.