Obsidian AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Todo List Managers

The best Todo List Manager alternative to Obsidian is Joplin, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Obsidian and many of them are Todo List Managers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Todo List Manager alternatives to Obsidian are Anytype, Notion, Standard Notes and Microsoft OneNote.

filter to find the best alternatives

Obsidian alternatives are mainly Todo List Managers, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Task Management Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Windows, Linux, Note-taking, Self-Hosted, Windows + Open Source and Task Management. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Obsidian.
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Alternatives list

  1. Joplin icon

    Joplin

     881 likes

    Open source app for managing notes and to-dos with Markdown support. Syncs seamlessly across devices using services like Dropbox and OneDrive. Offers end-to-end encrypted synchronicity, offline access, rich import/export options, and a Web Clipper for browsers.

    117 Joplin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Joplin screenshot 1
     
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    13
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    1

    It's open source, allows crypto your md notes on some cloud storage

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    andgregorik
    23

    Joplin has a fracture of the features of Obsidian which is no wonder since Obsidian aims to become a powerful desktop knowledge base, unlike Joplin. For one thing, Joplin focuses on mobile<->desktop syncing and not on effective internal linking. They're similar at first glance only.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    embedded synchronization, clipper, encryption. No useless for personal notes graphs

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 13 comments
    Joplin icon
    Joplin icon
    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Joplin is MinimalisticObsidian is not according to our users
  2. Anytype icon

    Anytype

     276 likes

    Manage notes, tasks, and projects offline with Markdown support. Enjoy encrypted storage, P2P syncing, and powerful dynamic collections across all devices, while allowing redistribution and modification for non-commercial uses.

    144 Anytype alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Movie Database
     
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    4
    Comments about Anytype as an Alternative to Obsidian
    jchalifour
    Positive
    1

    It provides a lot of flexibility to organize and arrange information in ways that aren't possible in Obsidian (at least not without many plugins). Its developers commit to open code, respecting their users' rights.

    smisheduprog
    Positive
    3

    Not Open Source, Anytype is Open Code. Huge difference.

    Duplicake
    Positive
    0

    It's really good but the sync server is a bit hard to self host

    3 of 4 comments
    Anytype icon
    Anytype icon
    • Anytype is Freemium and ProprietaryObsidian is also Freemium and Proprietary
  4. Notion icon

    Notion

     652 likes

    Enhance team collaboration and content organization with Notion. Experience real-time access, intuitive drag-and-drop functionalities, and visually simple interfaces designed for productivity in managing tasks, notes, and databases effectively. Ideal for teams of every size.

    171 Notion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Notion screenshot 1
     
    |
    8
    Comments about Notion as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Top Positive Comment
    Gregor Zobjak
    2

    Notion is online only so I don't can access my note when I'm offline + very closed system with a proprietary file format

    Top Negative Comment
    Aaron
    4

    No local copy of your notes. Notion can access your notes at any time. No offline support.

    begorim451
    Negative
    0

    notion requires account registrating, requires internet connection, not as much customizable as obsidian. however notion is easier to use and looks aesthetic

    3 of 8 comments
    Notion icon
    Notion icon
    • Notion is Freemium and ProprietaryObsidian is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Notion is CustomizableObsidian is not according to our users
  5. Ad
  6. Standard Notes icon

    Standard Notes

     689 likes

    Secure note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, unlimited syncing across all platforms, offline access, detailed organization through tags, strong passcode and biometric protections, and premium features like encrypted files, themes, web clipper, super note types, and hardware key support.

    128 Standard Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    Standard Notes homepage.
     
    |
    3
    Comments about Standard Notes as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Aaron
    Negative
    10

    Note-linking is a subscription only feature

    hex111
    Positive
    4

    i feel better paying for open source user friendlier projects, wysiwyg is just necessary for people to reasonably shift from the data robbery monopolies.

    Sam Lander
    0

    Standard Notes is not really an alternative to Obsidian. Standard Notes is open-source, more secure/private, and more simple.

    Standard Notes can be used across multiple devices and syncs.

    Obsidian telephones home constantly, even if you turn off updates and community plugins. But Obsidian is a very beautiful markdown app, that does more than just note-taking or to-do lists like Standard Notes.

    Standard Notes icon
    Standard Notes icon
    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Minimalistic, Security-focused and CustomizableObsidian is not according to our users
  7. Microsoft OneNote icon

    Microsoft OneNote

     1139 likes

    Comprehensive digital notebook offering organizers, shared notes, multi-device syncing, and optical character recognition, plus cloud-based data management for efficient information handling and accessibility.

    147 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    Comments about Microsoft OneNote as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Sam Lander
    3

    OneNote is an alternative, but it is even less private than Obsidian, less beautiful, and more resource-intensive.

    So I am not sure why anyone would use it, other than being able to easily sync across devices.

    student twenty
    Positive
    5

    This is a weird one, because while the two are very different, OneNote and Obsidian do have very similar goals. If Obsidian doesn't work for you, OneNote offers another way to collect notes and thoughts. I personally can't stand it, and it doesn't have a Linux app, but it's really well made software with a long track record, and it's free. So, yeah - good alternative if you don't mind the privacy issues.

    Microsoft OneNote icon
    Microsoft OneNote icon
    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryObsidian is also Freemium and Proprietary
  8. AppFlowy icon

    AppFlowy

     186 likes

    Open-source workspace offering complete data control, deep customization via themes, plugins, and templates, native multi-platform support using Flutter and Rust, offline access, privacy features, collaborative tools, and easy extensibility for all users.

    92 AppFlowy alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • Rust
    • Flathub
    AppFlowy screenshot 1
     
  10. Trilium Notes icon

    Trilium Notes

     112 likes

    The original trilium is transfered to this repo by its owner and the app continues to develop here as stated here: https://github.com/TriliumNext/Trilium

    377 Trilium Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Cloudron
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Trilium Notes screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Trilium Notes as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Farrukh
    1

    This is a very good candidate to be the Obsidian alternate. However, it has a steep learning curve.

    Trilium Notes icon
    Trilium Notes icon
    • Trilium Notes is Free and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Trilium Notes is CustomizableObsidian is not according to our users
  11. Google Keep icon

    Google Keep

     836 likes

    Google Keep is a multifunctional tool that merges note-taking with browsing, allowing capture of thoughts, checklists, or voice notes, with cross-device synchronization. Features include color-coded notes, voice transcription, geo-fencing, collaboration, cloud storage, and seamless Google integration.

    110 Google Keep alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Android Wear
    Google Keep screenshot 1
     
    |
    6
    Comments about Google Keep as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Top Positive Comment
    Hibiscus
    4

    Nothing in common with Obsidian.

    Top Negative Comment
    Power User
    3

    Simple note taking isn't the same as a purpose-built knowledge management tool at all. This isn't a jab at Google Keep which does an OK job for what it is, but it's not an alternative if you want what Obsidian offers.

    Gregor Zobjak
    Negative
    2

    Not an good note taking utility at all... Google Keep is only a digital version of Sticky notes but with the very big contra that Google can steal your personal information Overall you don't have any Organization... you didn't have folders or something that's similar... the only thing you have is a Taging system that is poor.

    3 of 6 comments
    Google Keep icon
    Google Keep icon
    • Google Keep is Free and ProprietaryObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
  12. CherryTree icon

    CherryTree

     322 likes

    Hierarchical note-taking software that is free, open-source, cross-platform. Features include rich text, syntax highlighting, multi-level lists, embedded files, customizable interface, code execution, PDF export, spell check, images & tables, and comprehensive project management support.

    102 CherryTree alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    CherryTree screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    Comments about CherryTree as an Alternative to Obsidian
    student twenty
    Positive
    3

    Kind of the same thing? More of a hierarchical note taker, but it runs locally, is super stable, and keeps you organized, so if you don't need all the bells and whistles, this'll get the job done.

    Farrukh
    0

    Its not an alternate to Obsidian which is mainly giving you advanced Markdown format, while CherryTree his simply its own format.
    However, its an awesome notes taking software. I really like its Tree structured interface for arranging your notes.

    CherryTree icon
    CherryTree icon
    • CherryTree is Free and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • CherryTree is CustomizableObsidian is not according to our users
  13. Simplenote icon

    Simplenote

     604 likes

    Made by the company behind WordPress, Simplenote enables users to take notes, lists, and ideas. These notes are stored on the cloud and are accessible across multiple devices.

    119 Simplenote alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Simplenote screenshot 1
     
    |
    6
    Comments about Simplenote as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Top Positive Comment
    Mayank-Arora
    -1

    Simplenote is love. You must try it once. I have SimpleNote installed on my Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iPad. It works on all browsers and all operating systems. It is so easy to take notes and have them sync across all devices and web. It is so easy to quickly get to your notes. I can't live without simplenote as I have so much dependency on this simple tool. Simplenote really makes it simpler to organize 'note taking' task.

    Top Negative Comment
    Niminae
    3

    The most prominent feature of Obsidian is bi-directional linking between notes. Simplenote is more akin to sticky notes; they aren't really similar at all.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Its too simple and is focused on simplicity unlike obsiidian

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 6 comments
    Simplenote icon
    Simplenote icon
    • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Simplenote is MinimalisticObsidian is not according to our users
  14. AFFiNE icon

    AFFiNE

     111 likes

    Open-source, privacy-focused workspace combining note-taking, project and task management, Kanban board, interactive whiteboard, Pomodoro timer, Markdown support, offline access, real-time team collaboration with @mentions, goal tracking, subtasks, and customizable features.

    139 AFFiNE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    AFFiNE screenshot 1
     
  15. SiYuan icon

    SiYuan

     77 likes

    SiYuan is a desktop Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application. Support fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.

    75 SiYuan alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • F-Droid
    SiYuan screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    Comments about SiYuan as an Alternative to Obsidian
    Mark
    Positive
    3

    I honestly think SiYuan is the closest to Obisdian as an alternative compared to all other apps.

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    WYSIWYG is far more important than I thought. Besides, the data in SiYuan is .json, which allows better redering-performance and Notion-like typesetting.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Randir
    Positive
    0

    WYSIWYG, better rendering performance

    3 of 4 comments
    SiYuan icon
    SiYuan icon
    • SiYuan is Freemium and Open SourceObsidian is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SiYuan is CustomizableObsidian is not according to our users
12 of 47 Obsidian alternatives