Knopo
A block-based outliner for linked notes and journals that stores everything as plain Markdown files.GetAGPL-3.0
Free, open-source alternatives to Obsidian
A note-taking app that keeps a vault of local Markdown files connected by links, backlinks and a graph view.
Obsidian treats a folder of Markdown files as a personal knowledge base, connecting notes through wiki-style links and backlinks. The open-source apps below do the same core job of linking notes into a searchable web of ideas that you store yourself.
Tolaria and Knopo keep everything as plain Markdown files, Tolaria with Git-backed vaults and Knopo as a block-based outliner. Logseq is an outliner built around daily notes and linked references, SiYuan and Trilium Notes store notes in their own formats with block references or a note hierarchy, and Zettlr is a Markdown writing app with links and research tools for long-form work.
Apps That Replace Obsidian
6 free, open-source alternatives
Logseq
Connect daily notes and ideas through an outliner with backlinks and linked references.GetAGPL-3.0
SiYuan
Organize notes with block references, document trees, and a locally stored workspace.GetAGPL-3.0
Tolaria
A keyboard-first desktop app for markdown knowledge bases, where every vault is a folder of plain files in Git.GetAGPL-3.0
Trilium Notes
Build a hierarchical personal knowledge base with rich notes, links, and attachments.GetAGPL-3.0
Zettlr
Write Markdown documents with project organization, references, and research-oriented tools.GetGPL-3.0
