Best Self-Hosted Obsidian Alternatives in 2026
Obsidian is a knowledge management app using local Markdown files with bidirectional linking and a plugin ecosystem. Free tier available; paid plans start at $5/user/mo.
18 Self-Hosted Alternatives to Obsidian
AppFlowy
69KAn open-source Notion alternative with AI, wikis, projects, and databases — cross-platform (desktop, mobile, web) with offline-first architecture and full data ownership.
Memos
58KA private Twitter for your brain — open, type, done. Self-hosted in 30 seconds, runs forever on a $3/month VPS.
Joplin
54KOpen-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, and sync across all devices via Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or your own server.
SiYuan
42KSiYuan is a privacy-first, local-first personal knowledge management system with block-level references, bidirectional links, end-to-end encrypted sync, and spaced repetition.
Logseq
42KLogseq is a privacy-first, local-first knowledge management tool built around outliner-style editing, bidirectional linking, and a powerful knowledge graph.
docmost
19KReplace Confluence and Notion with secure on-premise documentation for enterprise teams
Notesnook
14KNotesnook handles end-to-end encrypted note-taking app as a self-hosted solution.
Zettlr
13KZettlr lets you run from idea to publication in one app entirely on your own server.
Blinko
9.7KReleased under GPL-3.0, Blinko provides of AI-powered card notes designed to help you quickly capture and organize inspiration so on self-hosted infrastructure.
Reor
8.5KReor is a self-hosted note-taking tool that provides private, local AI app for managing personal knowledge, featuring semantic search, auto-connected.
AnyType
7.3KSelf-hosted privacy & encryption tool that provides versatile, tool for organizing thoughts, notes, and data.
Standard Notes
6.4KStandard Notes handles cross-platform note-taking app as a self-hosted solution.
XWiki
1.2KXWiki is a self-hosted note-taking tool with support for Note Taking, Wiki, Workspace.
Beaver Notes
1.2KBeaver Notes is a self-hosted privacy & encryption replacement for Apple Notes, Notion, and more.
Darkwrite
267Darkwrite handles customizable, offline-first note editor as a self-hosted solution.
Orgnise
234Released under AGPL-3.0, Orgnise provides versatile project management platform on self-hosted infrastructure.
OpenNotas
167OpenNotas gives you multi-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app on your own infrastructure.
Justnote
66Self-hosted privacy & encryption tool that provides secure note-taking app.
Why Look for Obsidian Alternatives?
Obsidian is a knowledge management app using local Markdown files with bidirectional linking and a plugin ecosystem. Free tier available; paid plans start at $5/user/mo.
Self-hosted alternatives give you full data ownership, predictable costs, and zero vendor lock-in. You run the software on your own infrastructure and control everything.
18 Best Open-Source Alternatives to Obsidian
AppFlowy
AppFlowy: Open-source AI-powered workspace. — 68,609 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Memos
Note-taking app built for instant capture — 57,913 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
Joplin
Secure note-taking and to-do app — 53,917 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
SiYuan
Privacy-first personal knowledge management software — 41,894 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Logseq
Open-source platform for collaborative knowledge management. — 41,561 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
docmost
Open-source team knowledge base with real-time editing, diagrams, permissions, and integrations. Alternative to Confluence and Notion. — 19,451 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Notesnook
Open-source, encrypted alternative to Evernote. — 13,828 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Blinko
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. — 9,705 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Reor
Reor is a private, local AI app for managing personal knowledge, featuring semantic search, auto-connected ideas, and WYSIWYG Markdown editing. — 8,540 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
AnyType
A versatile, open-source tool for organizing thoughts, notes, and data with customizable objects and relational structures. — 7,223 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Standard Notes
Encrypted note-taking app for digitalists — 6,350 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Read full Standard Notes review
XWiki
Light and powerful collaboration and documentation platform — 1,217 GitHub stars. Licensed under LGPL-2.1.
Beaver Notes
A local-first note-taking application that prioritizes privacy and efficiency, featuring Markdown support, offline access, and powerful organization tools. — 1,193 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
Darkwrite
A customizable, offline-first note editor that lets you format text, create lists, add images, and export to HTML - all while maintaining your privacy. — 266 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
OpenNotas
OpenNotas is a multi-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app that offers simplicity, synchronization, and offline functionality. — 167 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Justnote
Justnote is a secure note-taking app that lets you easily create and sync notes across devices while maintaining full control of your data. — 66 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-2.0.
Orgnise
A versatile project management platform that combines task organization, team collaboration, and workflow automation in one intuitive interface. — 233 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Zettlr
From idea to publication in one app. — 12,672 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Why Self-Host Instead of Obsidian?
- Data ownership. Your data stays on your server, not on Obsidian’s infrastructure.
- Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
How much can you save?
Obsidian (Sync)
$50/mo
10 users x $5.00/user
$600/year
AppFlowy (self-hosted)
$10/mo
VPS hosting only. $0 per-user fees.
$320 year 1 (incl. $200 setup)
Your annual savings
$280
Year 1 (after setup cost). Year 2+: $480/year (80% less).
That's $40 saved every month.
AppFlowy runs on a $10/mo VPS with unlimited users. Setup by upready.dev starts at $200 (one-time). Obsidian pricing as of March 2026.
Why teams switch from Obsidian
- → Data ownership. Your data stays on your server -- not on Obsidian's infrastructure.
- → Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- → No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- → GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Both are document management tools. AFFiNE Community Edition has 4 unique features, Logseq has 3.
Both are document management tools. AFFiNE Community Edition has 4 unique features, SiYuan has 3.
Both are document management tools. Anchr has 6 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. Anchr has 6 unique features, Logseq has 1.
Both are document management tools. Anchr has 6 unique features, SiYuan has 1.
Both are document management tools. Autocaliweb has 3 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. BentoPDF has 2 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. BookHaven has 4 unique features, Memos has 4.
Both are document management tools. Briefkasten has 3 unique features, Memos has 4.
Both are document management tools. Briefkasten has 4 unique features, SiYuan has 1.
Both are document management tools. Briefkasten has 4 unique features, Logseq has 1.
Both are document management tools. Calibre Web Automated has 2 unique features, Logseq has 1.
Both are document management tools. Calibre Web Automated has 3 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. Calibre Web Automated has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 1.
Both are document management tools. Colanode has 3 unique features, Memos has 3.
Both are document management tools. Docspell has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Docuseal has 4 unique features, Memos has 3.
Both are document management tools. Docspell has 2 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. Documenso has 1 unique feature, Memos has 4.
Both are document management tools. DSpace has 2 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. DSpace has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Etherpad has 4 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. Etherpad has 5 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Glass Keep has 3 unique features, Logseq has 1.
Both are document management tools. Glass Keep has 3 unique features, SiYuan has 1.
Both are document management tools. Grimoire has 7 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. Huly has 4 unique features, SiYuan has 3.
Both are document management tools. HymnoScribe has 2 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. Jelu has 5 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. Karakeep HomeDash has 3 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 2 unique features, Silicon Notes has 2.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 2 unique features, Poznote has 3.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 1 unique feature, Trilium Notes has 3.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 2 unique features, Xournalpp has 6.
Both are document management tools. Logseq has 1 unique feature, TriliumNext Notes has 3.
Both are document management tools. Mantium has 2 unique features, Memos has 6.
Both are document management tools. Memos has 6 unique features, NeonLink has 2.
Both are document management tools. Memos has 6 unique features, Poznote has 3.
Both are document management tools. Memos has 6 unique features, Shiori has 4.
Both are document management tools. Memos has 6 unique features, Silicon Notes has 2.
Both are document management tools. Minne has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. NoteDiscovery has 3 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Poznote has 3 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. Silicon Notes has 2 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Both are document management tools. SiYuan has 2 unique features, Trilium Notes has 4.
Both are document management tools. SiYuan has 2 unique features, TriliumNext Notes has 4.
Browse more Documents & Knowledge Base tools
Explore 226 open-source documents & knowledge base tools you can self-host.
View Documents & Knowledge Base →