Obsidian alternative

The Obsidian alternative with bookmarks & files built in

Love that Obsidian is local-first and Markdown-based, but wish it also handled your bookmarks and files — without paying extra to sync and publish? StashSync is an offline-first workspace for notes, bookmarks, and files, with sync and public sharing included.

Free forever plan · No credit card required

StashSync vs Obsidian

An honest, feature-by-feature comparison. Both are offline-first — the difference is what each one covers out of the box.

FeatureStashSyncObsidian
Markdown notes
Rich editor, export as Markdown anytime
Plain-text Markdown files
Built-in bookmark manager
Save & organize links natively
Community plugins only
File storage
Up to 100 MB/file on Pro
Note attachments only — no cloud files
Cross-device sync
Included on Free and Pro
Obsidian Sync add-on, $48–96/yr
Offline-first
Works fully without internet
Local-first by design
Public sharing / publishing
Share links + Public Profile, included
Obsidian Publish add-on, $96/yr
Works in any browser (PWA)
No install required
Desktop & mobile apps
Browser extension / web clipper
Chrome & Edge
Community plugins only
Plain-text files on your disk
Local cache + Markdown export
Native files you fully own
Plugin ecosystem & graph view
Focused, no plugins
Large ecosystem, graph view

Obsidian pricing and features verified June 2026. ⚠ = available as a paid add-on or via plugins.

Choose StashSync if you want…

  • Notes, bookmarks, and files together in one workspace
  • Sync across devices included — no separate subscription
  • Built-in public links and a Public Profile, no extra fee
  • Something that works in any browser with nothing to install
  • A simple, focused tool instead of configuring plugins

Stick with Obsidian if you want…

  • Plain-text Markdown files stored directly on your own disk
  • A huge community-plugin ecosystem and graph view
  • Fully local notes with no account required
  • Native desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux

No lock-in either way: your StashSync notes export as Markdown anytime — the same open format Obsidian uses — so you can always move your work.

Obsidian alternative — FAQ

Is StashSync a good Obsidian alternative?

If you want bookmarks and files alongside your notes — with sync and public sharing built in — yes. StashSync combines what Obsidian does for notes with a bookmark manager and file storage in one offline-first workspace, and it doesn't charge separately for sync or publishing.

Does StashSync use Markdown like Obsidian?

Your notes export as Markdown at any time, so nothing is locked in. Obsidian stores its notes as plain-text Markdown files on disk; StashSync keeps your data offline in your browser and syncs it, and lets you export Markdown whenever you want.

Is sync free in StashSync?

Yes — cross-device sync is included on both the Free and Pro plans. With Obsidian, syncing across devices requires the paid Obsidian Sync add-on ($48–96/year).

Can I publish notes like Obsidian Publish?

Yes. StashSync includes public share links for notes, bookmarks, files, and Collections, plus an optional Public Profile at username.stashsync.app — at no extra cost. Obsidian Publish is a separate subscription (about $96/year).

Does StashSync store files on my computer like Obsidian?

StashSync is offline-first: your data is cached locally in your browser (IndexedDB) and synced to the cloud, and you can export notes as Markdown anytime. If keeping every note as a plain-text file directly on your disk is essential, Obsidian's native files are a better fit.

Try the all-in-one alternative

Notes, bookmarks, and files in one offline-first workspace. Sync and sharing included. Free to start.

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