Compare · Obsidian
An Obsidian alternative with free encrypted sync in any browser
Obsidian keeps Markdown files in a folder on your computer and is endlessly extensible. MnemoNotes is narrower: it is built for capturing notes quickly, finding them by people, topics and dates, and syncing and sharing them end-to-end encrypted, for free.
At a glance
| MnemoNotes | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Encrypted on each of your devices, synced through the server | Markdown files in a folder on your device |
| Encrypted sync | Included, free | Obsidian Sync, paid (from $4 a month, billed yearly) |
| Encrypted on your device | Yes: only encrypted data is stored | No: plain files, as readable as the rest of your disk |
| Apps | Browser, on computers and phones | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android; no web app |
| Sharing | Per note or per shared document, as editor or viewer | Shared vaults, every collaborator needs Sync; all have the same rights |
| Finding notes | @people, #topics, date range and text, combined | Search, tags, links, graph view and plugins |
| Plugins and attachments | Neither yet | Thousands of community plugins; any file type |
Where Obsidian is the better choice
- You want your notes as plain files that any other program can open.
- You rely on plugins, canvases, the graph view or custom themes.
- You keep images, PDFs and other files with your notes.
- You want native apps on every platform.
Where MnemoNotes is different
Encrypted sync without a subscription. Every change is encrypted and signed on your device before it syncs, and syncing is part of the free app.
Encrypted on the device too. Obsidian’s files are as safe as the disk they are on. MnemoNotes stores only encrypted data on your devices, and opens it with a passkey, a passphrase or your recovery key.
Any computer with a browser. A work laptop where you cannot install software, a borrowed computer, or a phone: sign in and unlock.
Sharing with roles. Share one note with a contact, or keep a shared document for a team, with each member an editor or a viewer. Removing someone gives the document a new key they never receive.
Capture first, organise later. Press Alt+N
anywhere in the app, type, tag it with @person and #topic,
save. You can add any note to any document, now or later.
Bring your vault, or take it back
MnemoNotes imports an Obsidian vault on your device: folders become documents,
frontmatter and inline tags become #topic hints, and wikilinks become
links between notes. You can export your notes again at any time as a zipped
Obsidian vault, with one file per document.
Compared in September 2026 from each app’s public information. Plans and features change; check obsidian.md for current details.
Use MnemoNotes with your vault
Sign in with Google, then import your Obsidian vault from Settings.