Alternatives to Obsidian with a one-time purchase

The 12 closest to Obsidian

1. 

   Understory

   Mac notes app for outlining and drafting essays, papers and books

   Free plan · from $24.99 one-time
   • Understory starts at $24.99 one-time purchase. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   • Understory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
   Understory pricing and details
2. 

   UpNote

   Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option

   Free plan · from $1.99/mo
   • UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium). Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
   • Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
   • UpNote also covers web clipper and templates.
   UpNote pricing and details
3. 

   DEVONthink

   Document and information manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad

   Free trial · from $99 one-time
   • DEVONthink starts at $99 one-time license, with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Obsidian has a free plan. DEVONthink does not, though it has a free trial.
   • Only DEVONthink lists a web app.
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
   DEVONthink pricing and details
4. 

   Tinderbox

   Mac tool for mapping, analyzing and sharing notes

   Free trial · from $289 one-time
   • Tinderbox starts at $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Obsidian has a free plan. Tinderbox does not, though it has a free trial.
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   Tinderbox pricing and details
5. 

   Curio

   Freeform Mac notebook with mind maps, lists and Kanban

   Free plan · from $5/mo
   • Curio starts at $5 per month, billed yearly ($60), or $99.99 one-time license. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   • Curio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
   Curio pricing and details
6. 

   FSNotes

   Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone

   Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
   • FSNotes starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   • FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
   FSNotes pricing and details
7. 

   The Archive

   Plain-text note-taking app for Mac built around Zettelkasten

   Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
   • The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Obsidian has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
   • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   The Archive pricing and details
8. 

   Notebooks

   Writing, documents and tasks organized in nested books

   Free trial · from $17.99 one-time
   • Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Obsidian has a free plan. Notebooks does not, though it has a free trial.
   • Only Obsidian lists Linux and Android apps.
   • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
   Notebooks pricing and details
9. 

   Octarine

   Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI

   Free plan · from $79 one-time
   • Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase. Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
   • Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
   • Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
   • Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
   Octarine pricing and details
10. 

    GitJournal

    Mobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository

    Free plan · from $1.99/mo
    • GitJournal starts at $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums). Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
    • Only Obsidian lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
    • GitJournal is open source, according to its own site.
    GitJournal pricing and details
11. 

    NotePlus

    Native Markdown notes app with kanban boards and AI chat

    Free plan · from $29 one-time
    • NotePlus starts at $29 one-time purchase (Basic license, 1 computer). Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
    • Only Obsidian lists Linux and Android apps.
    • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
    • NotePlus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    NotePlus pricing and details
12. 

    MiaoYan

    Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview

    Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
    • MiaoYan starts at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition). Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on).
    • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
    • MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
    MiaoYan pricing and details

Common questions

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Obsidian: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.