Best Obsidian Alternatives: For Markdown-based personal knowledge management in 2025
Are you searching for the best Obsidian alternatives and tools for Markdown-based personal knowledge management in 2025? Obsidian is a favorite among note-takers, writers, and productivity enthusiasts thanks to its local-first design, powerful linking, and flexibility. But if you want something similar or crave a different workflow, you’re in luck! There’s a growing ecosystem of note apps, wikis, and knowledge bases, each with its own spin on privacy, markdown support, and organization.
Whether you’re looking for enhanced collaboration, more visual mapping, or a simpler app, the following list rounds up the top tools to consider instead of Obsidian this year.
Top 10+ Alternatives for Obsidian in 2025
1. Notion
- Rich text editor and databases combined with markdown support
- Collaborative workspace for teams and individuals
- Customizable templates for notes, wikis, and task management
- Integrations with popular tools like Slack and Google Drive
- Cloud-based, with web, desktop, and mobile apps
2. Joplin
- Full-featured Markdown note-taking app
- Sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, or WebDAV
- Strong encryption for privacy
- Tagging and search for organization
- Free and open source
3. Logseq
- Local-first, privacy-respecting knowledge base
- Markdown and org-mode support
- BULLET-style outlining for quick notes and tasks
- Powerful backlinking and graph view
- Custom plugins and themes
4. Standard Notes
- Focus on simplicity and privacy
- Encrypted notes with Markdown editing (with paid extensions)
- Cross-platform (desktop, web, mobile)
- Powerful tagging, search, and version history
- Open source core
Visit Standard Notes Official Site
5. Tana
- Networked note-taking with powerful linking
- SuperTags for advanced organization
- Markdown editing with block references
- Dynamic filtering and search
- Collaborative features for teams
6. Zettlr
- Designed for academic writing and research
- Highly customizable Markdown editor
- Tagging, citation management, and document linking
- Supports multiple file formats (including YAML metadata)
- Free and open source
7. Roam Research
- Pioneer of the “networked thought” model
- Markdown-based block editor
- Linked references and daily notes
- Powerful graph visualization of your knowledge base
Visit Roam Research Official Site
8. Dendron
- Structured note-taking plugin built for Visual Studio Code
- Markdown-first, local storage
- Powerful hierarchy and cross-linking
- Fast navigation and extensibility
- Ideal for developers and power users
9. Amplenote
- Markdown notes with tasks, backlinks, and calendar integration
- Attach files and set reminders
- Sharing and collaboration features
- Offline-first design
- Web and mobile apps
10. Bear
- Beautiful, minimalist Markdown editor for macOS/iOS
- Organize notes with tags and nested tags
- Focus mode, export options, and powerful search
- Sync across Apple devices via iCloud (Premium)
11. Athens Research
- Open-source, privacy-focused knowledge graph
- Linked notes and graph visualizations
- Markdown-based editing
- Offline support
- Active community development
Visit Athens Research Official Site
Conclusion
The world of Markdown-based personal knowledge management has never been richer. If Obsidian doesn’t check every box for you, these alternatives offer exciting twists, whether you prefer simple and private, highly visual, or team-focused solutions. Take time to try them out and see which one sparks the most clarity and creativity for your workflow in 2025.
FAQs
Which Obsidian alternative is best for privacy?
Joplin, Standard Notes, and Athens Research are great choices for privacy, as they support local storage and encryption, keeping your notes secure and only accessible by you.
What if I want something highly visual like Obsidian’s graph view?
Logseq, Roam Research, and Athens Research provide interactive graph views to map out relationships among your notes visually.
Are there free and open-source options like Obsidian?
Yes! Joplin, Zettlr, Logseq, Athens Research, and Dendron are all free and open-source, making them perfect choices for users who value openness and community-driven software.
Which alternative is best for collaboration and teams?
Notion and Tana are popular for their powerful collaboration features, allowing multiple users to edit, comment, and organize content together in real time.
Can I use these tools on my phone as well as my computer?
Many of these options (Notion, Joplin, Logseq, Amplenote, Bear, Standard Notes) offer both desktop and mobile apps. Check individual websites for supported platforms to match your devices.