Quick Summary
Obsidian is a fantastic local-first notes app. But it's just notes — bookmarks and files need plugins or live in other apps, and syncing across devices is a paid add-on. If you want notes, bookmarks, and files in one offline-first workspace, with sync and public sharing included, StashSync is worth a look.
This is an honest comparison — Obsidian does several things StashSync doesn't, and we'll say so.
Why people look for an Obsidian alternative
Obsidian earns its fans: plain-text Markdown files you fully own, a huge community-plugin ecosystem, the graph view, and a free core app. For pure note-taking, it's hard to beat.
The friction usually shows up around three things:
- Bookmarks live somewhere else. Obsidian has no native bookmark manager. You either install community plugins and wire up a workflow, or you keep using Raindrop/Pocket/browser bookmarks on the side.
- Files aren't really first-class. You can attach files to notes, but there's no cloud file storage built in.
- Sync and publishing cost extra. The app is free, but syncing across devices means Obsidian Sync (about $48–96/year), and publishing notes as a site means Obsidian Publish (about $96/year).
None of that makes Obsidian "bad." But if you find yourself juggling Obsidian plus a bookmark app plus a file/cloud app — and paying for sync on top — a single offline-first workspace starts to make sense.
What StashSync does differently
StashSync is an offline-first workspace that combines three things in one place:
- Notes — a rich Markdown editor; export as Markdown anytime, so nothing is locked in.
- Bookmarks — a real, built-in bookmark manager with tags and full-text search, plus a browser extension to save links from any page.
- Files — store documents, PDFs, and images alongside the notes and links they relate to.
Group any of it into Collections, and share individual items — or a whole Collection — with a public link. There's even an optional Public Profile at username.stashsync.app for the things you want to be public.
Two differences matter most for ex-Obsidian users:
Sync is included. Cross-device sync works on both the Free and Pro plans — there's no separate sync subscription. With Obsidian, syncing across devices is a paid add-on.
And public sharing is built in — share links and the Public Profile come at no extra cost, where Obsidian Publish is a separate subscription.
StashSync vs Obsidian: the honest version
| StashSync | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown notes | ✅ Rich editor + Markdown export | ✅ Plain-text Markdown files |
| Built-in bookmark manager | ✅ Native | ❌ Plugins only |
| File storage | ✅ Built in | ⚠️ Attachments only |
| Cross-device sync | ✅ Included (Free & Pro) | ⚠️ Paid add-on ($48–96/yr) |
| Public sharing / publishing | ✅ Included | ⚠️ Obsidian Publish ($96/yr) |
| Works in any browser (PWA) | ✅ No install | ❌ Desktop & mobile apps |
| Plain-text files on your disk | ⚠️ Local cache + Markdown export | ✅ Native files you own |
| Plugin ecosystem & graph view | ❌ Focused, no plugins | ✅ Large ecosystem |
Be honest about the trade-off: if keeping every note as a plain-text file directly on your own disk is non-negotiable, or you rely on the plugin ecosystem and graph view, Obsidian is the better fit. StashSync keeps your data offline in the browser (cached locally) and syncs it — and lets you export Markdown whenever you want.
For a deeper, feature-by-feature breakdown, see the full Obsidian alternative comparison.
Switching is low-risk (both use Markdown)
Because both tools speak Markdown, there's no lock-in either direction. Your StashSync notes export as Markdown at any time — the same open format Obsidian uses — so you can always move your work. Try StashSync alongside Obsidian for a week and see whether having bookmarks and files in the same place actually changes how you work.
Who should pick which
Choose StashSync if you want…
- Notes, bookmarks, and files together in one workspace
- Sync across devices without a separate subscription
- Built-in public links and a Public Profile, no extra fee
- Something that works in any browser with nothing to install
Stick with Obsidian if you want…
- Plain-text Markdown files stored directly on your own disk
- A huge community-plugin ecosystem and the graph view
- Native desktop apps and fully local notes with no account
Try it free
StashSync has a free-forever plan — no credit card required. If you've ever kept Obsidian open in one window and a bookmark app in another, this is the workflow it replaces.
Want the side-by-side details? Read the full StashSync vs Obsidian comparison.