Logseq vs Obsidian
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Notion. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Logseq
TOP PICKA local-first, open-source outliner over plain Markdown.
Logseq stores your notes as local Markdown/Org files and builds a networked, block-based knowledge graph on top. It is open-source, privacy-friendly, and yours to back up however you like.
Obsidian
Local Markdown notes with a huge plugin ecosystem.
Obsidian keeps every note as a local Markdown file and layers a powerful linked-notes and plugin ecosystem on top. It is free to use and local-first, though the app itself is closed-source.
Side by side
| Logseq | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 90 | 78 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary (free) |
| Pricing | Free / open-source | Free for personal use; paid Sync/Publish optional |
Logseq is Macrostack's recommended Notion alternative, so it's our pick here.
Logseq
Strengths
- +Plain-text files you own
- +Powerful outlining and backlinks
- +Fully open-source
Trade-offs
- −Outliner model is an adjustment
- −Fewer polished database views than Notion
Obsidian
Strengths
- +Your notes are plain local Markdown
- +Enormous plugin ecosystem
- +Fast and offline
Trade-offs
- −App is closed-source
- −Official sync is a paid add-on
More Notion head-to-heads
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.