Local Markdown files you own
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Yes
Obsidian alternative
The Obsidian alternative with tasks, calendar & encryption built in.
memrynote is a local-first alternative to Obsidian that ships notes, tasks, a calendar, and a daily journal in one app — no plugins required. Like Obsidian, it stores every note as a plain Markdown file in a folder you own, with wiki-links and backlinks connecting your thoughts. Unlike Obsidian, task management, a calendar, and an inbox are built in rather than assembled from community plugins, and end-to-end encrypted sync is part of the product instead of a separate paid add-on. memrynote runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, is open source, and works fully offline without an account.
memrynote vs Obsidian
Wiki-links & backlinks
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Yes
Built-in task management
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Partial
Built-in calendar
memrynote Yes
Obsidian No
Daily journal
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Partial
Inbox / quick capture
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Partial
End-to-end encrypted sync included
memrynote Yes
Obsidian Partial
Works without plugins
memrynote Yes
Obsidian No
Open source
memrynote Yes
Obsidian No
Comparison reflects each app’s native, out-of-the-box features as of mid-2026. Competitors may cover some rows through paid add-ons or third-party plugins.
No plugin tax
Tasks, calendar, inbox, and journal are first-class features — not community plugins you maintain and debug yourself.
One app, not ten
Stop stitching together separate plugins for what should be a single connected workspace.
Encryption included
End-to-end encrypted sync is part of the product, not a separate paid subscription bolted on top.
Open & cross-platform
Open source, on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with your notes as portable Markdown you can read anywhere.
Is memrynote a good Obsidian alternative?
Yes. memrynote is a local-first Obsidian alternative that keeps every note as a plain Markdown file in a folder you own, with the same wiki-links and backlinks. The difference is scope: tasks, a calendar, a daily journal, and an inbox are built in as first-class features, so you are not assembling and maintaining community plugins to get a complete workspace. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, works fully offline, and needs no account.
Your notes stay as local Markdown files
Like Obsidian, memrynote stores notes as portable .md files on your disk — not in a proprietary database. You can edit them in any editor, back them up with any tool, and read them in ten years without memrynote installed. Front-matter properties, wiki-links, and backlinks all travel with the files, so your vault is never locked to one app.
Tasks, calendar, and journal without plugins
In Obsidian, task management, a calendar view, and daily journaling come from community plugins you install, configure, and debug. In memrynote they are native: a multi-view task system, a calendar that understands your due dates and journal entries, and a daily journal with day context. One app, no plugin tax, nothing to break on the next update.
End-to-end encrypted sync, included
Obsidian Sync is a separate paid add-on. memrynote includes zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted sync built on XChaCha20-Poly1305 — the server only ever holds ciphertext, and your keys never leave your devices. Local use is free forever; sync is an optional upgrade, not a wall in front of your own notes.
Pricing: memrynote vs Obsidian
memrynote
Free, local-first forever. Encrypted sync from $5/mo.
Obsidian
Free for personal use. Obsidian Sync from ~$4/mo; commercial use $50/yr.
Switch from Obsidian
- 1
Point memrynote at your existing Obsidian vault folder — both store plain Markdown, so there is nothing to convert.
- 2
Wiki-links, backlinks, and front-matter properties carry over as-is.
- 3
Optionally turn on end-to-end encrypted sync to share the vault across your devices.
Obsidian alternative FAQ
Can memrynote open my existing Obsidian vault?
Yes. memrynote reads plain Markdown folders directly, so you can point it at your current Obsidian vault without converting or importing anything. Wiki-links and backlinks keep working.
Does memrynote support Obsidian plugins?
No — memrynote is not plugin-based. The features people most commonly add via plugins (tasks, calendar, journal, inbox) are built in as native features, so there is nothing to install or maintain.
Is memrynote free like Obsidian?
Yes. memrynote is free for local use, with no commercial-use license required. Optional end-to-end encrypted sync starts at $5/mo if you want to sync across devices.
Is there a mobile app?
memrynote is a desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux today. Because your vault is plain Markdown in a folder you own, the files stay readable and editable on any device or app.
Make the switch.
Notes, tasks, calendar, and journal in one local-first app — private by design, open at heart.