Obsidian Free
A notes app that stores plain Markdown files on your device and links notes together.
- Best for
- Personal knowledge bases that you fully own.
- Limits to know
- Not open source, and sync across devices is a paid add-on. Check current terms.
Free alternatives to Notion
Notion: Notes, wikis and project databases. Here are 3 free or open-source options.
| Tool | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Free | Personal knowledge bases that you fully own. |
| AppFlowy | Open source | People who want a Notion-style workspace with control over their data. |
| Logseq | Open source | Daily journaling and linked notes. |
The alternatives in detail
AppFlowy Open source
An open-source workspace for notes and databases that you can self-host.
- Best for
- People who want a Notion-style workspace with control over their data.
- Limits to know
- Younger project, so some features may be missing or change quickly.
Logseq Open source
An outliner-style notes app that keeps data in local files.
- Best for
- Daily journaling and linked notes.
- Limits to know
- Less suited to team databases and shared project tracking.
When is Notion still worth paying for?
A free option is often enough, but not always. If you depend on specific features, file compatibility or support, check the limits above first. Visit Notion to compare.