Best free option: Self-hosted LiveSync (Strong). Switching saves about $48 USD a year.
$48 USDa year
≈$68.43 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
3 alternatives
Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
Best for self-hosted live sync on desktop and mobile
Community plugin. Not compatible with the paid Obsidian Sync, so do not run both on one vault.
Best for free peer-to-peer sync of any folder
Syncs plain files, so it works with any vault. Devices must be online together to exchange changes unless one runs always on.
Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
Best for developers who already keep notes in Git
Community plugin that commits and pushes a vault to a Git remote. Works well on desktop; the author advises against mobile use.
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How each alternative covers what people use Obsidian Sync for. Numbers link to editor notes.
| Feature | Self-hosted LiveSync | Syncthing | Obsidian Git |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | |||
| End-to-end encryption | YesNote 1Optional end-to-end encryption with a passphrase | YesNote 2Devices connect directly over TLS and no server holds your files | NoNote 3Files reach your Git host unencrypted unless you encrypt the repository yourself |
| Safety | |||
| Version history | PartialNote 4Merges simple conflicts automatically; no version history browser is listed | PartialNote 5File versioning keeps old copies per folder; no per-note history view | YesNote 6Every sync is a Git commit with full history |
| Devices | |||
| Sync to iOS and Android | YesNote 7Runs on all Obsidian-compatible platforms | PartialNote 8No official mobile app: the Android app was retired in 2024 and community forks fill the gap | PartialNote 9Mobile support is experimental and the author calls it very unstable |
| Collaboration | |||
| Shared vaults for teams | PartialNote 10Several devices or people can share one remote database | PartialNote 11Folders can be shared with other people's devices; no per-user permissions | PartialNote 12Share through a Git remote; merge conflicts are resolved by hand |
| Control | |||
| Selective sync of settings and file types | PartialNote 13Customisation Sync for settings and plugins is in beta | PartialNote 14Ignore patterns choose what to skip in each folder | PartialNote 15.gitignore decides which files sync |
| Setup | |||
| Works without running a server | NoNote 16Needs CouchDB, an S3-compatible bucket or WebRTC peer-to-peer with a signalling relay | PartialNote 17No server to run, but every device must be installed and paired | NoNote 18Needs a Git remote and plugin setup |
| Parity score | 58% | 58% | 42% |
Not covered by any free alternative yet: Shared vaults for teams, Selective sync of settings and file types, Works without running a server. See all feature gaps
Switching saves about $48 USD / ≈$68 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked ; ≈ means converted from USD.
Based on Sync Standard (1 vault and 1 GB), per user. Price source. USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.
Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.
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Obsidian Sync is a product of Obsidian, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Obsidian Sync: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.