Best Self-Hosted Alternatives to Obsidian
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Obsidian is a local-first Markdown notes app: a folder of plain files with links between notes, free to use, with paid Sync and Publish add-ons. People look for self-hosted options mainly when they want sync and a web interface without the add-on. The tools below keep notes you own and reach them from a browser or sync across devices.
Obsidian is free — but your data lives on its servers, not yours. These researched, open-source alternatives give you the same workflow on hardware you own — here's what each needs to run.
The alternatives
Joplin Server
LicenseJoplin Server Personal Use LicenseCategoryNotesStackTypeScript · Node.js · PostgreSQLMin RAM1024 MBOfficial imageYesDifficulty2 / 5
SilverBulletMIT
CategoryNotesStackRust · TypeScript · LuaMin RAM512 MBOfficial imageYesDifficulty1 / 5
SiYuanAGPL-3.0
CategoryNotesStackGo · TypeScript · SQLiteMin RAM512 MBOfficial imageYesDifficulty1 / 5
Trilium NotesAGPL-3.0
CategoryNotesStackTypeScript · Node.js · SQLiteMin RAM512 MBOfficial imageYesDifficulty1 / 5
What you give up by leaving Obsidian
Leaving Obsidian means giving up its large plugin ecosystem, its graph view, and a polished native desktop app. SilverBullet is the closest in spirit: Markdown pages with wiki-style links stored as plain files on disk, in a browser, scriptable with Lua. Trilium is a hierarchical knowledge base with note cloning, encryption and scripting, and its server edition syncs the desktop app. Joplin Server syncs the Joplin Markdown apps and adds sharing and multi-user accounts, but it is free only for personal, non-commercial use under its own licence. If you keep Obsidian itself, a sync tool pointed at your vault folder is the lighter option.
Where to host itaffiliate disclosure
Kamateratrial any of these on
The entry tier is a free trial — fine for a first look. Size it up (or run the 2 vCPU / 4 GB box the cost figures above assume) once you're keeping it.1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM · 20 GB SSD · $4.00/moDigitalOceanalso works on
From $6/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB · US + EU + AsiaPaid link — we earn a commission if you shop through it.
Common questions
Are these Obsidian alternatives really free?
The software is open-source and free to run. Your only cost is the server it runs on — often a few dollars a month, less than most SaaS subscriptions.
How much server do I need to self-host one?
Most of these run comfortably on a small VPS — 1–2 GB of RAM is enough for a single-user or small-team setup. Each app's page lists its minimum RAM.
Will I lose features by leaving Obsidian?
It depends on the app. The alternatives below cover the core workflow; polish and integrations vary, so check each one's stack and difficulty before you commit.