4 Best Obsidian Alternatives That Sync Across Devices

Why consider Obsidian alternatives if it works so well? That’s a fair question — until you hit a few roadblocks. Like the fact that syncing your notes between devices requires a paid plan (yes, $4/month solely for sync).

Obsidian has reshaped the way we handle personal knowledge management. But some of its limitations can hold your team back. In this guide, we’ll explore 4 powerful alternatives that solve real-world problems, such as:

• Free or affordable sync
• Full control over your data
• Collaboration workflows that actually work
• Guaranteed privacy through open-source, auditable code

Let’s dive in.

Why Look for Obsidian Alternatives in 2025?

Obsidian earned a loyal community thanks to its markdown-based structure, plugin flexibility, and local file control, making it a favorite for individuals building a “second brain.” 

But as more teams evaluate tools for business operations and collaboration, Obsidian is starting to show its limits.

The main issue? It was never designed for teams.

While it excels in personal knowledge management, Obsidian lacks built-in collaboration features, structured permissions, and workflow automation, essentials for FinOps teams, department leads, and startups managing real data processes. 

Its heavy reliance on plugins also creates a steep learning curve, often requiring CSS knowledge or scripting just to meet basic design or formatting needs. And while some users celebrate the absence of AI features, others see it as a sign Obsidian is falling behind modern business tools.

Add to that sync limitations, fragile customization, and a tendency toward “procrastivity” — spending more time tweaking the system than using it — and it’s clear why many teams are moving toward alternatives with more structured, scalable, and collaborative foundations. 

For operational clarity, remote team management, and cross-team use, Obsidian simply wasn’t built to scale.

4 Obsidian Alternatives Worth Testing

If you love Obsidian’s local-first, markdown-based approach but need better sync, team collaboration, or simply more functionality, these four Obsidian alternatives address specific pain points without sacrificing the core experience.

1. AnyDB

AnyDB is a promising Obsidian alternative for teams working with structured knowledge — such as project tracking, internal documentation, or operational workflows — who need more granular control and integrated collaboration features.

While Obsidian shines for personal, markdown-based note-taking, AnyDB focuses on team-first use cases with structured entries, granular permissions, and advanced customization.

Although it doesn’t offer Obsidian’s plugin ecosystem or local markdown file editing, it stands out with its database-style organization, form-based workflows, and secure, centralized sync, making it a strong choice for organizations managing sensitive or complex data.

Key Features

• Granular Permissions: Control access at a fine level, ideal for sharing partial data securely across roles or departments
• Linked Databases: Connect structured entries across projects, clients, and documentation for relational context
• Forms and Workflows: Create internal forms and approval flows directly from your data, no third-party tools or plugins needed
• Custom Views and Visualizations: Display information in tables, timelines, or interactive dashboards for easier navigation
• API + Zapier Integration: Automate updates and actions across tools 
• Cross-Platform Collaboration: Built-in sharing and team access with strong encryption, without relying on external sync tools

Downsides

• Growing community: Since it was only released in 2025, the community is still in its early stages
• Learning Curve: The database-first logic can be unintuitive for users accustomed to freeform note-taking

2. Joplin

Joplin is a mature, open-source alternative to Obsidian with full offline functionality, E2EE security, and robust multi-device syncing. 

Unlike Obsidian, Joplin provides official apps for desktop, mobile, and web, and integrates easily with services like Dropbox, WebDAV, and Nextcloud. 

It’s built for markdown-first workflows and supports community plugins to extend functionality. But while it delivers strong fundamentals, it lacks modern UX polish and real-time collaboration features — making it more suitable for individual contributors than dynamic team environments.

Mobile experience remains a key pain point: users consistently report UI limitations, slow updates, and friction when managing attachments or formatting notes on the go. 

Additionally, some security gaps, such as lack of encryption at rest or note-specific locking, may deter teams handling sensitive content.

Still, for teams who value control over cloud-free workflows and are willing to configure their own sync and backup routines, Joplin offers a stable and portable note-taking foundation.

Key Features

• E2EE: End-to-end encryption available by default for secure note storage
• Web Clipper: Save webpages directly into your notebooks
• Plugin Support: Customize themes, add integrations, and expand features
• Flexible Sync: Works with Nextcloud, WebDAV, Dropbox, and more
• Offline-First: Great for environments with poor or intermittent connectivity

Downsides

• No native graph view or backlinks (available via plugins)
• UI and UX lag behind modern productivity standards
• Mobile apps are underpowered and visually dated
• Less emphasis on real-time collaboration workflows
• Plugin quality varies and comes with security caveats

3. Standard Notes

Standard Notes is a privacy-first alternative to Obsidian, designed for teams and individuals who prioritize security, data ownership, and minimalism. 

Unlike many modern tools, it offers true end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on all plans, including the free version, a rare advantage in this space.

Its open-source codebase and self-hosting capabilities appeal to security-conscious environments, such as legal, healthcare, or policy teams. 

Teams can deploy Standard Notes via Docker for full control over data storage and sync infrastructure. Paid tiers unlock advanced editors (Markdown, rich text, spreadsheet), themes, and extensions, but this has also been a point of contention due to frequent bugs and steep price increases.

The platform’s simplicity is both a strength and a constraint. 

While it avoids software bloat, it lacks collaboration features, graph views, and backlinks, even with extensions. Users also report inconsistencies between desktop and mobile experiences, plus UI limitations that sometimes make the paid plan feel like a workaround rather than an upgrade.

Key Features

• True E2EE: All notes are encrypted locally before syncing—by default
• Cross-Platform Sync: Works seamlessly on desktop, mobile, and web
• Extension Support: Advanced editors (Markdown, code, spreadsheets) and custom themes available with upgrade
• Self-Hosting: Official Docker support for full data ownership
• Password-Protected Notes: Add extra layers of protection to sensitive content

Downsides

• Paid plan required for many essential features
• No backlinks, graph view, or collaboration tools
• Mobile UX lags behind desktop, especially for formatting and attachments
• Perceived aggressive pricing model without clear roadmap visibility
• Individual-use focus — limited collaboration capabilities

4. Trilium Notes

Trilium Notes is a developer-friendly Obsidian alternative built for teams and power users who prioritize deep structure, automation, and full control over deployment. 

Unlike file-based apps like Obsidian, Trilium uses a database architecture that supports hierarchical note trees, embedded JavaScript automation, and note-level attribute inheritance, making it ideal for internal knowledge systems or technical documentation.

Users appreciate its robust search, flexible nesting of notes, and the ability to build logic directly into the app. 

However, Trilium comes with trade-offs: no native mobile app, a steep learning curve, and occasional instability. Sync is available, but only via self-hosted instances or WebDAV. 

Key Features

• Hierarchical Note Tree: Structure notes with nested relationships, backlinks, and contextual links
• JavaScript Automation: Customize internal workflows using embedded scripting
• Nested Notes with Inherited Attributes: Great for technical documentation or complex knowledge systems
• Rich Text + Markdown Editor: Choose your preferred writing format
• Self-Hosting Ready: Deploy your own server for full control and syncing
• Optional Encryption: Apply encryption to specific notes or entire instances

Downsides

• Interface can be unintuitive for new users
• Clunky UX for new users, especially non-technical teams
• No official mobile app; mobile web UI is functional but limited and buggy
• Smaller community and limited documentation
• Code block support and formatting still lack polish

Obsidian Alternatives: Test, Sync, and Stay Productive

Each Obsidian alternative in this list solves different pain points, whether it’s syncing, structure, or collaboration — but not all of them are built for business use. If your team needs to manage structured data, collaborate across departments, or integrate documentation with operations, start with AnyDB.

It combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, giving teams full control, visibility, and securit, without compromising on performance or scalability.

How about trying these tools in practice? Start with AnyDB!

Frequently Asked Questions About Obsidian Alternatives

Curious why more people are looking for an Obsidian alternative? Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions on the topic.