Fe/male Switch: Your Startup Facilitator & Incubator for Women

Top 10 Free Alternatives to Obsidian in 2025

Top 10 Free Alternatives to Obsidian in 2025

As Obsidian continues to be a popular choice for note-taking and knowledge management, a number of free alternatives have emerged in 2025, each with their own unique features and benefits. This article will explore the top 10 free alternatives to Obsidian, providing key data points about each tool to help you find the best fit for your needs.
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1. ClickUp

  • Description: ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that includes note-taking, task management, project management, and collaboration features. It's designed for teams and individuals.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes, with generous limits.
  • AI Features: Offers AI-powered writing assistance, meeting summaries, and task automation through ClickUp Brain.
  • Collaboration: Real-time collaboration on notes and documents.
  • Customization: Highly customizable with a wide array of features and settings.
  • Integration: Integrates with many other apps and services.
  • Website: clickup.com

2. Notion

  • Description: Notion is a versatile workspace that combines note-taking, project management, wikis, and databases into one tool.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Available for individuals and small teams with limitations.
  • Customizable Workspaces: Users can create custom databases, documents, and calendars.
  • Collaboration: Supports real-time collaboration.
  • Templates: Extensive template library for various use cases.
  • All-in-One: Combines multiple tools into one platform.
  • Website: notion.so
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3. Joplin

  • Description: Joplin is an open-source, free note-taking application focused on privacy and flexibility.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free & Open Source: Yes.
  • Privacy Focused: Encrypted notes with end-to-end encryption.
  • Markdown Support: Full Markdown support.
  • Offline First: Data is stored locally, with optional cloud syncing.
  • Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
  • Website: joplinapp.org

4. Microsoft OneNote

  • Description: OneNote is a free-form note-taking app from Microsoft that allows users to create digital notebooks.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes.
  • Multi-Device Syncing: Syncs across devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
  • Collaboration: Supports real-time collaboration.
  • Multimedia Support: Allows embedding of images, audio, and video.
  • Free-Form Canvas: Flexible canvas for notes, sketches, and annotations.
  • Website: microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onenote

5. Google Keep

  • Description: Google Keep is a simple and straightforward note-taking app for quickly capturing ideas, lists, and reminders.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes, integrated into Google Workspace.
  • Simplicity: Easy-to-use interface.
  • Reminders: Supports reminders based on time or location.
  • Collaboration: Allows sharing and collaborating on notes.
  • Cross-Platform: Available on web, Android, and iOS.
  • Website: google.com/keep/
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6. Simplenote

  • Description: Simplenote is a free, distraction-free note-taking app focused on plain text.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes.
  • Plain Text Focus: Designed for speed and simplicity.
  • Cross-Platform: Available on web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
  • Tags and Search: Supports tags and search for easy organization.
  • Real-Time Sync: Notes sync across devices in real-time.
  • Website: simplenote.com

7. Logseq

  • Description: Logseq is a free, open-source knowledge management tool focused on interconnected notes and outlining.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free & Open Source: Yes.
  • Graph View: Visual representation of interconnected ideas.
  • Outlining Focus: Emphasizes outlining and hierarchical note structures.
  • Local Storage: Data stored locally, with optional syncing.
  • Markdown Support: Supports Markdown for formatting.
  • Website: logseq.com

8. Mark Text

  • Description: Mark Text is a free, open-source Markdown editor with a real-time preview.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free & Open Source: Yes, MIT licensed.
  • Real-Time Preview: WYSIWYG editor for a distraction-free writing experience.
  • Markdown Support: Supports CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown.
  • Customization: Offers various themes and editing modes.
  • Cross-Platform: Available on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
  • Website: github.com/marktext/marktext

9. Anytype

  • Description: Anytype is an offline-first note-taking tool focused on creating interconnected content.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes, with some storage limitations.
  • Offline First: Access and edit notes anytime, anywhere.
  • Custom Templates: Create custom templates for specific workflows.
  • Graph View: Visual representation of connections between notes.
  • AI Features: Offers automated task linking and knowledge graph generation.
  • Website: anytype.io

10. StackEdit

  • Description: StackEdit is a free, in-browser Markdown editor with a focus on a refined writing experience.
  • Key Data Points:
  • Free Plan: Yes.
  • In-Browser: Accessible through any web browser.
  • Real-Time Preview: Live preview of Markdown as you write.
  • Sync Options: Sync files with Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub.
  • Publishing: Publish to Blogger, WordPress, and Zendesk.
  • Website: stackedit.io
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FAQ

1. What alternatives to Obsidian offer real-time collaboration on notes?
ClickUp and Notion both support real-time collaboration on notes. Explore ClickUp | Learn more about Notion
2. Are there any free open-source alternatives to Obsidian?
Yes, Joplin, Logseq, and Mark Text are free and open-source. Discover Joplin | Explore Logseq | Learn more about Mark Text
3. Which alternative is best for users seeking an offline-first note-taking tool?
Anytype is designed for offline-first use, allowing access and editing of notes anytime. Discover Anytype
4. Are there any free alternatives offering AI-powered features?
ClickUp offers AI-powered features such as writing assistance and task automation. Explore ClickUp
5. Which alternative provides end-to-end encryption for notes?
Joplin focuses on privacy and offers end-to-end encryption for notes. Learn more about Joplin
6. Is there an alternative that offers a visual graph view of note connections?
Both Logseq and Anytype provide a visual graph view of interconnected notes. Explore Logseq | Discover Anytype
7. What is a simple and straightforward alternative for quick note-taking?
Google Keep is known for its simplicity and easy-to-use interface. Learn more about Google Keep
8. Are there any alternatives that support Markdown for note formatting?
Joplin, Logseq, Mark Text, and StackEdit all support Markdown for formatting. Discover Joplin | Explore Logseq | Learn more about Mark Text | Check out StackEdit
9. Which alternative is focused on plain text and speed?
Simplenote is designed for distraction-free note-taking with a focus on plain text. Explore Simplenote
10. Are there any alternatives that integrate well with Google Drive or Dropbox?
StackEdit allows syncing files with Google Drive and Dropbox. Check out StackEdit

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
  • Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
  • Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
  • AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
  • SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
  • Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
  • Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
  • 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
  • 100+ startup tools built
  • 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
2025-07-06 21:27 Top Alternatives