Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Obsidian.
Want the closest match?
AnytypeMost similar to Obsidian in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Anytype in a new tab)Need a free plan?
ShortwaveHas a free plan, rated 4.4 out of 5.
Visit (opens Shortwave in a new tab)Want the best rated?
ReflectRated 4.3 out of 5 in our review, against 4.6 for Obsidian.
Visit (opens Reflect in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Obsidian, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ObsidianBaseline | 4.6 | $4/mo | Yes | Notes stored as plain local Markdown files, not a proprietary database | |
| Anytype | 4.2−0.4 | $10/mo$6 more | Yes | Local-first and encrypted, with no cloud account required | vs Obsidian |
 NotePlan | 3.8−0.8 | $8.33/mo$4.33 more | No | Notes, tasks and calendar app for Mac, iPhone and iPad built around daily notes and Markdown files, with Memo AI turning voice notes into structured insights. | vs Obsidian |
 AFFiNE | 4.2−0.4 | $8/mo$4 more | Yes | An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined | vs Obsidian |
| Shortwave | 4.4−0.2 | $7/mo$3 more | Yes | An AI-native email client built by former Google engineers | vs Obsidian |
| Reflect | 4.3−0.3 | $10/mo$6 more | No | Daily notes and backlinks, with less plugin configuration than Obsidian | vs Obsidian |
 AnyDocsAI | 3.4−1.2 | Not listed | No | Chat with a PDF or Word document, or convert it to clean Markdown for feeding into your own AI/LLM workflow. | vs Obsidian |
 Vetis | 4.0−0.6 | Free | Yes | Text, speak, or photograph a fragment of your day - Vetis sorts it into journal, task, expense or health log itself. | vs Obsidian |
 Beloga | 3.7−0.9 | $10/mo$6 more | Yes | AI knowledge assistant that searches your notes and the web together to answer research questions. | vs Obsidian |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Obsidian.
Anytype
4.2$10/mo
vs Obsidian$6 more−0.4
Local-first and encrypted, with no cloud account required.
- Local-first architecture with end-to-end encryption
- Peer-to-peer sync without requiring a cloud account
- Customizable object-based data model
Genuine local-first, encrypted architecture, not privacy as an afterthought
Peer-to-peer sync can feel less seamless than a pure cloud-sync competitor
NotePlan
3.8$8.33/mo
vs Obsidian$4.33 more−0.8
Notes, tasks and calendar app for Mac, iPhone and iPad built around daily notes and Markdown files, with Memo AI turning voice notes into structured insights.
- Memo AI for turning voice notes into structured insights
- Daily notes with an integrated calendar and reminders
- Project notes with backlinks and time-blocking
Notes stay as portable plain Markdown files
Only one AI feature, with little detail published
AFFiNE
4.2$8/mo
vs Obsidian$4 more−0.4
An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined.
- Combined documents, whiteboard, and database in one workspace
- Fully open-source with self-hosting available
- Freeform canvas alongside structured document editing
Genuine open-source alternative to closed note-taking platforms
Smaller ecosystem and community than Notion's much larger user base
Shortwave
4.4$7/mo
vs Obsidian$3 more−0.2
An AI-native email client built by former Google engineers.
- AI-native email client built from scratch
- AI-powered search and thread summarization
- Built by former Google engineers
Genuinely rebuilt email experience, not a plugin on a traditional client
More features require a paid plan
Reflect
4.3$10/mo
vs Obsidian$6 more−0.3
Daily notes and backlinks, with less plugin configuration than Obsidian.
- Daily notes with automatic backlinking between ideas
- Instant sync built in by default
- Less configuration required than plugin-based alternatives
Less setup friction than heavily plugin-customizable alternatives
No free tier to test before committing
AnyDocsAI
3.4Not listed
vs Obsidian−1.2
Chat with a PDF or Word document, or convert it to clean Markdown for feeding into your own AI/LLM workflow.
- Conversational chat with PDF and Word documents
- Document image processing
- Conversion to LLM-optimized Markdown format
Markdown output specifically optimized for LLM/AI pipelines, not just human reading
Company details and pricing weren't disclosed on the page checked
Vetis
4.0Free
vs Obsidian−0.6
Text, speak, or photograph a fragment of your day - Vetis sorts it into journal, task, expense or health log itself.
- Multi-format capture: text, voice, or photo in one input
- Automatic extraction of tasks, expenses, health notes and people
- Auto-generated daily journals and weekly/monthly reviews
Removes manual tagging and categorization entirely
Automatic extraction can misfile an ambiguous entry without you noticing immediately
Beloga
3.7$10/mo
vs Obsidian$6 more−0.9
AI knowledge assistant that searches your notes and the web together to answer research questions.
- Combined notes-and-web search in one query
- Multi-source content capture (notes, files, links)
- Multi-source referencing within a single prompt
Dual-access search (notes + web together) saves switching between tools
Public company details (headquarters location, team size) are inconsistent across sources
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Obsidian free?
Obsidian has a free plan, and paid plans start from $4/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Obsidian?
Shortwave is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.4 out of 5). Other free options: Anytype, AFFiNE, Vetis.
What is the cheapest alternative to Obsidian?
Among paid plans, Shortwave has the lowest starting price (from $7/mo). If you need it free, start with Shortwave.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.