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Updated 11 Nov 2026 · prices read on vendor pages

10 best Obsidian alternatives in 2027

Mehmet ElmicenniReviewed by Mehmet Elmicenni, founder of Zekai•Prices checked •How we check

The short answer

The best Obsidian alternatives in 2027 are Notion (best overall, $10/member/mo), Anytype (best free plan: 100 MB remote storage) and Logseq (best open source, AGPL-3.0). Obsidian itself starts at $4/mo billed yearly (Sync). Zekai checked these prices on vendor pages on 11 Nov 2026; 7 more are compared below, including 3 with a free plan and 4 open source.

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Best overallSee in table →
Notion logo

Notion

$10/member/mo · free plan

9.2
Best free planSee in table →

Anytype

$4/mo · free plan
Best open sourceSee in table →
Logseq logo

Logseq

Free to self-host · AGPL-3.0

8.4
10alternatives compared
5with a free plan
5open source
$4/mocheapest paid · Anytype
$4/mo billed yearly (Sync)Obsidian starts at
01 · Zekai Price Ledger

Which Obsidian alternatives are worth it in 2027?

Obsidian alternatives worth a look in 2027 fall into three groups: cloud workspaces such as Notion and Craft, local-first apps such as Logseq, Joplin and SiYuan, and newer sync-focused options such as Anytype and AFFiNE. Most are adjacent note apps rather than exact clones, so pick by file format and sync.

ToolTypeStarting priceFree plan limitBest forCost for your teamChecked
Obsidian logo
ObsidianThe tool you are replacing
 You are here
$4/mo billed yearly (Sync)Sync add-on, billed annually ($5 monthly); the app itself is free
 Free without limits, no sign-up Local Markdown notes with plugins — 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Notion logo
Notion Zekai score 9.2Best overall
 Free plan + paid
$10/member/moPlus, per member (billing toggle default not read)
 Unlimited pages solo; limited blocks for 2+ members Team wikis and databases in the cloud — 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Anytype Not yet reviewed by ZekaiBest free plan
 Free plan + paid
$4/moPlus membership (billing toggle default not read)
 100 MB remote storage, 10 shared channels Encrypted object-based notes with sync — 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Craft logo
Craft Zekai score 9.0
 Free plan + paid
$6.4/moPlus (billing toggle default not read)
 1,500 blocks, 1 GB storage, 1 personal space Polished Apple-style docs and daily notes — 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Evernote logo
Evernote Zekai score 7.1
 Free
Free plan; paid price not published
 50 notes, 1GB storage, 1 device Web-clipped notes and attachments in the cloud $0 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Reflect logo
Reflect Zekai score 8.4
 Free
Free plan; paid price not published
 Free on Mac; paid subscription on iPhone and iPad Daily notes and backlinks on Apple devices $0 11 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Logseq logo
Logseq Zekai score 8.4Best open source
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (AGPL-3.0) Outliner notes with daily journals $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
Joplin logo
Joplin Zekai score 8.7
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (AGPL-3.0-or-later) Notebook-style notes with many sync targets $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
AppFlowy logo
AppFlowy Zekai score 8.6
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (AGPL-3.0) Open-source Notion-style docs and boards $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
SiYuan logo
SiYuan Zekai score 8.7
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (AGPL-3.0) Block-level linking with SQL queries $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
AFFiNE logo
AFFiNE Zekai score 8.6
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (MIT) Docs, whiteboard and databases in one app $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗

Every price was read on the vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. The Cost Finder assumes one entry plan per person, so it multiplies by your team size; yearly prices are shown per month, and team or business plans can cost more per seat. "Not checked" means we could not confirm a public price.

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02 · Free plan

Is there a free version of Obsidian?

Yes. Obsidian is free without limits and needs no sign-up. Only the optional add-ons cost money: Sync is $4 per month billed annually ($5 monthly) and Publish is $8 per site per month billed annually. A commercial licence is encouraged for work use but not required.

Source: Obsidian pricing page, read 11 Nov 2026.

Free$0

Free without limits, no sign-up

Paid from$4/mo billed yearly (Sync)

Sync add-on, billed annually ($5 monthly); the app itself is free

03 · Free alternatives

What are the best free Obsidian alternatives?

The best free Obsidian alternatives are open-source apps: Logseq, Joplin, SiYuan and AFFiNE all run locally at no cost. Among hosted options, Anytype lists a free tier with 100 MB of remote storage, and Craft's Starter plan is free up to 1,500 blocks. Obsidian itself is free to use.

Notion logo

Notion

Best overallFree plan + paid
Unlimited pages solo; limited blocks for 2+ members
Paid from $10/member/mo
vs Obsidian →Zekai review

Anytype

Best free planFree plan + paid
100 MB remote storage, 10 shared channels
Paid from $4/mo
vs Obsidian →
Craft logo

Craft

Free plan + paid
1,500 blocks, 1 GB storage, 1 personal space
Paid from $6.4/mo
vs Obsidian →Zekai review
Evernote logo

Evernote

Free
50 notes, 1GB storage, 1 device
vs Obsidian →Zekai review
Reflect logo

Reflect

Free
Free on Mac; paid subscription on iPhone and iPad
vs Obsidian →Zekai review
04 · Open source

What are the best open-source Obsidian alternatives?

Open-source Obsidian alternatives include Logseq (AGPL-3.0), Joplin (AGPL-3.0-or-later), SiYuan (AGPL-3.0), AppFlowy (AGPL-3.0) and AFFiNE (MIT core). Logseq is the closest in spirit, with local files and daily journals. Joplin offers the most sync targets, including Nextcloud and WebDAV, while SiYuan adds block-level linking and AFFiNE adds a whiteboard.

Logseq logo

Logseq

AGPL-3.0★ 45.6k GitHub stars · Nov 2026
To self-host: Desktop apps from the releases page; a Dockerfile is in the repo for a web build, or build from source. No API key needed, notes stay as local files.
Last release 7 Oct 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
Joplin logo

Joplin

AGPL-3.0-or-later★ 46k GitHub stars · Jun 2026
To self-host: Desktop and mobile apps; sync through Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or Joplin Cloud, or WebDAV. No server is needed unless you choose to self-host sync.
Last release 28 Oct 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
AppFlowy logo

AppFlowy

AGPL-3.0★ 76.5k GitHub stars · Sep 2026
To self-host: Desktop and mobile clients; self-hosting the cloud needs Docker and your own server. Offline-first, so a local workspace works without any server.
Last release 26 Oct 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
SiYuan logo

SiYuan

AGPL-3.0★ 46.3k GitHub stars · Sep 2026
To self-host: Desktop and mobile apps, or a Docker image for self-hosting; local-first with block-level linking and SQL queries. AI features need your own API key.
Last release 17 Sep 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
AFFiNE logo

AFFiNE

MIT★ 74.5k GitHub stars · Nov 2026
To self-host: Free local workspaces in the desktop app, or self-host the server with Docker; the AI add-on is a paid cloud option. Core is MIT, backend carries its own licence.
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
05 · Side by side

How does Obsidian compare with each alternative?

Obsidian keeps notes as local Markdown files and charges only for optional Sync and Publish add-ons. Notion and Craft host everything in the cloud with block limits on free plans. Logseq, Joplin and SiYuan are open source and local. Anytype and AFFiNE add their own sync, with free tiers.

01
Notion logo

Obsidian vs Notion

Best overallFree plan + paid$10/member/mo · checked 11 Nov 20269.2
The differenceNotion stores pages in its own cloud workspace with databases and shared team access, whereas Obsidian keeps plain Markdown files on your device; Notion AI is a credit-based add-on.
Switch to Notion ifyou need shared databases, permissions and live team editing more than private local files
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want notes as plain Markdown files you own, without a per-member subscription
Pros
  • Consolidates docs, tasks, and knowledge bases into one tool
  • Extremely flexible and customizable to fit any workflow
Cons
  • Steep learning curve due to its 'blank slate' nature
  • AI Agent features require paid credits or higher-tier plans

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Notion · Verdict: Flexible AI Project Hub

Visit NotionRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
02

Obsidian vs Anytype

Best free planFree plan + paid$4/mo · checked 11 Nov 2026
The differenceAnytype models notes as typed objects with relations and syncs peer to peer; its free tier includes 100 MB of remote storage and 10 shared channels.
Switch to Anytype ifyou want typed objects and relations instead of folders of Markdown files, with built-in sync
Stay with Obsidian ifyou prefer a large plugin ecosystem and files that open in any text editor
Visit AnytypePrice alert
03
Craft logo

Obsidian vs Craft

Free plan + paid$6.4/mo · checked 11 Nov 20269.0
The differenceCraft's Starter plan caps content at 1,500 blocks and 1 GB with one personal space, and its Plus plan lifts both caps and adds a larger AI model.
Switch to Craft ifyou want a designed document editor with daily notes and shared spaces, accepting a block limit on free
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want no content caps on the free app and plugins that extend it
Pros
  • Combines notes, tasks, whiteboards, and calendar in one app
  • Cross-device synchronization across mobile, desktop, and web
Cons
  • Free plan is limited to 1,500 blocks and 1 GB storage
  • AI credits are capped at 50 credits per month on the Plus plan

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Craft · Verdict: Sleek flexible workspace

Visit CraftRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
04
Evernote logo

Obsidian vs Evernote

FreeFree plan; paid price not published7.1
The differenceEvernote's comparison table lists the Free plan at 50 notes, 1GB of storage and sync on one device; paid plans are Starter, Advanced, Flexible and Unlimited.
Switch to Evernote ifyou mostly clip web pages and files into one cloud inbox and do not need plugins
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want unlimited notes with no device-sync limit on the free app
Pros
  • Free plan available
  • Web clipper for Chrome, Firefox and Safari
Cons
  • Free plan: 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 GB, sync on 1 device
  • Paid prices not shown on the pages read

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Evernote · Verdict: Searchable notes with AI

Visit EvernoteRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
05
Reflect logo

Obsidian vs Reflect

FreeFree plan; paid price not published8.4
The differenceReflect's site now describes an open-source app with daily notes, backlinks and local Markdown files, syncing through iCloud Drive or Git, with AI via your own API key.
Switch to Reflect ifyou work only on Apple devices and want daily-note backlinks with iCloud or Git sync
Stay with Obsidian ifyou need Windows, Linux or Android clients and a large community plugin library
Pros
  • Integrates GPT-4 for summarizing notes and generating action items.
  • End-to-end encryption ensures executive confidentiality.
Cons
  • Primarily designed for individual use; lacks collaborative features.
  • No free tier available, only a 14-day trial.

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Reflect · Verdict: Your AI Second Brain

Visit ReflectRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
06
Logseq logo

Obsidian vs Logseq

Best open sourceOpen sourceFree (self-hosted)8.4
The differenceLogseq is an outliner where every note is a bullet block with a daily journal as the home page; the project lists a DB version with an iOS alpha app.
Switch to Logseq ifyou think in nested bullets and daily journals and want an AGPL-licensed app
Stay with Obsidian ifyou prefer page-based Markdown notes and a larger, longer-established plugin directory
Visit LogseqRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
07
Joplin logo

Obsidian vs Joplin

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)8.7
The differenceJoplin organises notes into notebooks with to-dos, and syncs through Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV or Joplin Cloud rather than a single paid first-party sync service.
Switch to Joplin ifyou want free sync to Nextcloud or WebDAV and notebook folders instead of a vault
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want backlinks, a graph view and community plugins that reshape the interface
Visit JoplinRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
08
AppFlowy logo

Obsidian vs AppFlowy

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)8.6
The differenceAppFlowy mixes documents, databases and kanban boards in a Notion-like workspace that is offline-first, with an optional self-hosted cloud for team sync.
Switch to AppFlowy ifyou want a Notion-style workspace with boards and databases that you can self-host
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want notes as plain Markdown files on disk that other tools can read
Visit AppFlowyRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
09
SiYuan logo

Obsidian vs SiYuan

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)8.7
The differenceSiYuan links individual blocks rather than whole pages and lets you query them with SQL embeds, using its own data format instead of plain Markdown files.
Switch to SiYuan ifyou want block references and SQL queries over your notes with a self-hostable server
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want your vault to stay as ordinary Markdown files in a folder
Visit SiYuanRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
10
AFFiNE logo

Obsidian vs AFFiNE

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)8.6
The differenceAFFiNE combines docs, an infinite whiteboard and databases; its free cloud tier lists 10 GB storage and 3 members, with unlimited local workspaces.
Switch to AFFiNE ifyou want docs and a whiteboard in one open-source workspace with a 10 GB free cloud tier
Stay with Obsidian ifyou want a mature plugin ecosystem built around local Markdown files
Visit AFFiNERead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
06 · What changed

Why do people leave Obsidian?

  • Cross-device sync is a paid add-on: Obsidian Sync is $4 per month billed annually or $5 billed monthly, per user. (source)

  • Publishing notes as a website costs extra: Obsidian Publish is listed at $8 per site per month billed annually or $10 monthly. (source)

08 · FAQ

Questions people ask about Obsidian alternatives

What is the best alternative to Obsidian in 2027?

Notion is the best overall Obsidian alternative on this page ($10/member/mo). For no cost, Anytype has a free plan (100 MB remote storage, 10 shared channels). To self-host, Logseq is open source (AGPL-3.0).

Is there a free version of Obsidian?

Yes. Obsidian has a free plan: Free without limits, no sign-up. Paid plans start at $4/mo billed yearly (Sync), checked on 11 Nov 2026.

Is there a 100% free alternative to Obsidian?

Yes. Logseq, Joplin, AppFlowy, SiYuan, AFFiNE are open source and free to self-host. Notion, Anytype, Craft, Evernote, Reflect have a free plan with limits, shown in the table.

How much do Obsidian alternatives cost for a team of 5?

If each of 5 people buys the entry paid plan, at the prices Zekai checked on 11 Nov 2026, the monthly cost is Anytype $20/mo, Craft $32/mo, Notion $50/mo, against Obsidian $20/mo for Obsidian. Team and business plans can cost more per seat. The Zekai Cost Finder on this page recalculates for any team size.

Which is better, Notion or Obsidian?

Notion stores pages in its own cloud workspace with databases and shared team access, whereas Obsidian keeps plain Markdown files on your device; Notion AI is a credit-based add-on. Choose Notion if you need shared databases, permissions and live team editing more than private local files. Stay with Obsidian if you want notes as plain Markdown files you own, without a per-member subscription.

Why are people leaving Obsidian?

The documented reasons are: Cross-device sync is a paid add-on: Obsidian Sync is $4 per month billed annually or $5 billed monthly, per user (11 Nov 2026); Publishing notes as a website costs extra: Obsidian Publish is listed at $8 per site per month billed annually or $10 monthly (11 Nov 2026). Each is sourced in the section above.

What is better than Obsidian?

It depends on what you need. Notion suits shared team databases, Logseq suits outliner and journal workflows, and Joplin suits free sync through Nextcloud or WebDAV. None replaces Obsidian's local Markdown plus plugin model exactly.

What is the best open-source alternative to Obsidian?

Logseq is the closest open-source match for linked, local-first notes. Joplin and SiYuan are other options, each using its own storage format rather than plain Markdown vaults.

09 · Method

How did Zekai check this page?

Zekai independently reviews AI tools. For this page we read each vendor's own pricing and product pages and recorded the starting price, the free-plan limit and the date of the check. Only tools that do the same job as Obsidian are listed, and sponsors never change the order or the scores.

Mehmet Elmicenni, founder of Zekai
Mehmet Elmicenni

Founder of Zekai. Reviews the alternatives pages and the price checks behind them.

About the founder · How Zekai scores tools

JSON copyMarkdown copy
1 · Same job onlyEvery alternative does the same task as Obsidian; tools for other jobs are left out.
2 · Vendor pages onlyPrices and free limits come from each vendor's own pricing page, never from blogs.
Zekai score0–10, from four published weights: ease 25%, output quality 30%, value 20%, time saved 25%. How we score
3 · Re-checkedA price older than 35 days is re-read or the page falls back to an older version.
Change log

  • Page rebuilt on v6; all prices re-read on vendor pages.

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