Obsidian Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Obsidian for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is Zettlr, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Obsidian and many of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Obsidian are Logseq, Notion, Standard Notes and Microsoft OneNote.

Obsidian alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Obsidian.

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Android + Open Source

Obsidian

743

Free Personal • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool

Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets you create a personal knowledge graph with ease. It is designed for non-linear...

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Obsidian alternatives page was last updated

Zettlr
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
140 Zettlr alternatives
Zettlr is a one-stop publication workbench that combines many writing features and collects them in one application. It aims at speeding up your workflow and help you write without any interruptions.
- - Zettlr is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Obsidian.
- - Zettlr is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Obsidian.
Suggest and vote on features
Zettlr Features
1. Support for MarkDownZettlr supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. File TaggingZettlr can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
3. Ad-freeZettlr doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Zettlr without registration.
5. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
6. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Zettlr.
7. Syntax HighlightingZettlr supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
8. Privacy focusedZettlr is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
9. No Coding RequiredZettlr can be used without an coding or programming skills.
Zettelkasten note method
Multiple export options
Zotero integration
Note organization
Link files
Built-in themes
Export to LaTeX
Sync with Nextcloud
Tasklists
Interactive tables
Comments about Zettlr as a Alternative to Obsidian
Almost everyone thinks Zettlr is a great Obsidian alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
ph soft
Zettlr simplicity is a quality. Open source.
Top positive comment •
2

Sometimesa
Offers back-linking just like Obsidian does but it is Open-Source. Obsidian is proprietary software.
Top positive comment •
13

Hibiscus
Very basic application. In no way a competition for Obsidian.
Top negative comment •
1

jrmz
yep anoter stupid markdown app
Negative comment •
-7

ujuam ba k
It is the best open source alternative to Obsidian right now. The only downside (big for many) is that it lacks community plugins
Positive comment •
9

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5 of 7 comments
Logseq
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Task Management Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
iPad
Self-Hosted
89 Logseq alternatives
Logseq is a platform for knowledge sharing and management. It focuses on privacy, longevity, and user control. Notice: the backend code will be open-sourced as soon as we’re sure that the backend service meets the security standards.
- - Logseq is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Self-Hosted alternative to Obsidian.
Suggest and vote on features
Logseq Features
1. Support for MarkDownLogseq supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Works OfflineLogseq can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. Ad-freeLogseq doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Full-Text SearchLogseq lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
5. Dark ModeLogseq supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Privacy focusedLogseq is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
7. No TrackingLogseq will not track you or use your personal data.
8. PDF annotationLogseq support PDF Annotation for highlighting, notes etc
9. Pomodoro TimerPractice the Pomodoro Technique in Logseq to stay focused and productive.
Bidirectional links
Graph view
Outliner
Backlinks
Local Storage
Knowledge base
Knowledge Management
Note organization
Hyperlinks
Backlink
Comments about Logseq as a Alternative to Obsidian
Almost everyone thinks Logseq is a great Obsidian alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
jchalifour
Logseq is incredibly innovative and it respects my privacy and freedom by providing Free and open source software as opposed to proprietary tools.
Top positive comment •
4

lukorn
A great FOSS alternative with the same paradigm as Obsidian. Allows for many possible workflows.
Top positive comment •
4

Guest
Current version (0.9.18) is very buggy with basic stuff, and can't do neither ordered nor unordered lists.
Top negative comment •
2

Power User
I found Obsidian to be a far more stable application than Logseq, which is important as I am switching platforms frequently and need something which functions properly and reliably on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Linux. I decided to pay for Obsidian's sync feature and it has been smooth as butter - probably using a cloud drive would have worked well, but I find that convenience at a reasonable cost for an application I use daily is perfectly acceptable.
Negative comment •
0

jrmz
i'ts crasy how many time i am lost in the gui, searching where are the settings where are this or that. and yep a stupid markdoqn app again , why non body want to make a true wysiwig app
Positive comment •
-2

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5 of 11 comments
Notion
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Task Management Tool
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Software as a Service (SaaS)
50 Notion alternatives
Notion is a versatile tool that streamlines collaboration and organization within teams. It is similar to Google Docs, allowing team members to access and contribute to content in real-time.
- - Notion is the most popular Android Tablet & SaaS alternative to Obsidian.
Suggest and vote on features
Notion Features
1. Support for MarkDownNotion supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Kanban BoardNotion allows you to organize your workflow by moving cards with drag-and-drop functionality between multiple columns.
3. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Notion simultaneously.
4. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Notion.
5. Support for LaTeXNotion supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
6. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Notion.
7. Support for @mentionsNotion supports the use of mentions through @ to a particular user, who will be notified personally.
8. Syntax HighlightingNotion supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Wiki
Custom templates
Visual bookmarks
Data export/import
Knowledge Base structuring
Hyperlinks
Tables
Nested Notes
Tablet support
Custom data fields
Comments about Notion as a Alternative to Obsidian
Most users think Notion is a great Obsidian alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Adam21
Easier to use than obsidian, free online storage and the AI ??is really amazing
Top positive comment •
0

Gregor Zobjak
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 positive comment •
1

passawitkaovilai
Because Notion is online only, it can have high latency when pulling databases of pages which Obsidian have no issues with.
Top negative comment •
18

nftshawn
Notion has more interoperability
Positive comment •
1

arjshiv
great search, excellent native app (used to suck but now it's great), easier to think of written data as a database, better plugin ecosystem.
Positive comment •
-2

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5 of 7 comments
Standard Notes
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
38 Standard Notes alternatives
Standard Notes is a simple and private notes app. It allows you to write and sync your notes across all your devices, iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, and web browser.
Suggest and vote on features
Standard Notes Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionStandard Notes has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. Privacy focusedStandard Notes is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
4. Support for MarkDownStandard Notes supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsStandard Notes can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
6. Works OfflineStandard Notes can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Encrypted BackupStandard Notes uses encryption algorithms to keep your files safe as well as prevent unauthorized access.
8. Ad-freeStandard Notes doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
9. Distraction-freeStandard Notes has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
Encrypted Notes
Clean design
AES Encryption
Security focused
Minimalistic
Distraction-free Writing
Sync on many devices
Simple text editor
Customizable
Mobile friendly
Comments about Standard Notes as a Alternative to Obsidian
Most users think Standard Notes is a great Obsidian alternative.
hex111
i feel better paying for open source user friendlier projects, wysiwyg is just necessary for people to reasonably shift from the data robbery monopolies.
Positive comment •
3

Aaron
Note-linking is a subscription only feature
Negative comment •
2
Microsoft OneNote
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Task Management Tool
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Windows Phone
iPad
Apple Watch
Android Wear
Kindle Fire
37 Microsoft OneNote alternatives
Microsoft OneNote, part of the Microsoft 365 (Office), is a digital notebook application that gives people one place to gather notes and information. It also offers shared notebooks, syncing between multiple computers and devices via Windows...
Suggest and vote on features
Microsoft OneNote Features
1. Handwritten NotesMicrosoft OneNote supports writing by hand (or a stylus) and your text will be converted to text.
2. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Microsoft OneNote.
3. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Microsoft OneNote.
4. Works OfflineMicrosoft OneNote can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
6. Pressure SensitivityMicrosoft OneNote can change attributes like thickness or opacity, based on how much force you apply to your stylus/finger.
7. Dark ModeMicrosoft OneNote supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
9. SubtasksMicrosoft OneNote allows you to create and manage tasks inside of a parent-main task.
Visual Organization
Text formatting
Insert images
Unicode Math Support
Support for styluses
Sketching
Real-time sync
Unlimited Canvas Area
Linking capability
Search by tags
Comments about Microsoft OneNote as a Alternative to Obsidian
Some users think Microsoft OneNote is a great Obsidian alternative, some don't.
student twenty
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.
Positive comment •
4
Google Keep
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
Google Chrome
Android Wear
34 Google Keep alternatives
Google Keep has several features including color coding notes, inserting images, creating lists, geo-fencing, shareable notes, and search by color.
Suggest and vote on features
Google Keep Features
1. Handwritten NotesGoogle Keep supports writing by hand (or a stylus) and your text will be converted to text.
2. Works OfflineGoogle Keep can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. Dark ModeGoogle Keep supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. RemindersGoogle Keep allows you to set reminders for tasks, events or actions, based on parameters of time, place or condition.
5. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Google Keep simultaneously.
6. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
7. Sync with Google CalendarGoogle Keep can be synchronized with Google Calendar
8. LightweightGoogle Keep consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
9. Ad-freeGoogle Keep doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Sync on many devices
Visual Organization
Share notes
Web-Based
Multiplatform
Photo notes
Real-time sync
Tagging
Sharable lists
Voice Notes
Comments about Google Keep as a Alternative to Obsidian
This alternative is disputed. Google Keep is still a legitimate Obsidian alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Hibiscus
Nothing in common with Obsidian.
Top positive comment •
2

Guest
Light weight, clean, minimalistic and easy to use. Dead simple
Top positive comment •
-2

SimplyTolex
Not similar. Google keep is like sticky notes + not private and not secure. Obsidian is about internal links and completely offline.
Top negative comment •
7

Power User
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.
Negative comment •
0

Gregor Zobjak
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.
Negative comment •
1

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Simplenote
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
21 Simplenote alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Simplenote Features
1. Support for MarkDownSimplenote supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Dark ModeSimplenote supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. Full-Text SearchSimplenote lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
4. LightweightSimplenote consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Distraction-freeSimplenote has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. File VersioningSimplenote has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
7. No TrackingSimplenote will not track you or use your personal data.
8. Ad-freeSimplenote doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
9. PortableSimplenote can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Cross-device syncing
Search by tags
Clean design
Simple text editor
Protected by Password
Notes synchronisation
Android Sync
Text Based Format
Tagging
Tag based
Comments about Simplenote as a Alternative to Obsidian
Some users think Simplenote is a great Obsidian alternative, some don't.
Aaron
Stores unencrypted notes as plain-text in their cloud which Wordpress can access. Bare-bones. No simple note linking.
Negative comment •
3

Niminae
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.
Negative comment •
2

Power User
Simple note taking isn't the same as a purpose-built knowledge management tool at all. This isn't a knock on Simplenote, but it's not an alternative if you want what Obsidian offers.
Negative comment •
1

Mayank-Arora
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.
Positive comment •
-1