Syncthing replaces 2 paid apps
One open-source tool, 2 subscriptions it can stand in for. Each pairing below is curated and verified by hand, with the honest catch spelled out. No votes, no pay-to-list.
licenseMPL-2.0
runson your machine
installInstall a native package or binary on every device, exchange device IDs, and share the vault folder
dataThe original Markdown files and attachments remain as normal files in selected folders on each peer; Syncthing keeps its configuration and index database locally
setupEvery device needs a client and pairing, at least one peer must be online to receive changes, and there is no official iOS client
facts verified 2026-08-11
Peer-to-peer folder sync with versioning; the server is a dumb encrypted replica, not a browsable cloud.
the verdict →
Syncs the vault directly between computers; iPhones remain the awkward relative.
the catchIt has no central always-available history or recovery service, devices need overlapping availability to propagate changes, and iPhone/iPad support depends on third-party clients.
the verdict →all Obsidian Sync alternatives →last updated 2026-08-11 · up to $192/yr replaced · no votes, no pay-to-list
