Open-source alternatives to Obsidian

Productivity & Notes · 3 free & open-source options

Looking to replace Obsidian with something free and open-source? These 3 tools are the best open alternatives in 2026 — most are self-hostable, so you keep full control of your data and pay no subscription.

Logseq ›AGPL-3.0
Local-first outliner with backlinks and knowledge graph.
Full profile ›GitHub ↗
Joplin ›AGPL-3.0
Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync.
Full profile ›GitHub ↗
SiYuan ›AGPL-3.0
Block-based personal knowledge management, privacy-first.
Full profile ›GitHub ↗

FAQ

What is the best open-source alternative to Obsidian?

The top open-source alternative is Logseq — Local-first outliner with backlinks and knowledge graph. The full ranked list is above.

Are these Obsidian alternatives free?

Yes. Every tool listed is open-source and free to use; most can be self-hosted so you keep full control of your data.

Can I self-host an alternative to Obsidian?

Most of these tools are designed to run on your own server or machine, giving you privacy and no subscription fees.

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