Lokus vs Obsidian: 2025 Comparison
Both are excellent markdown-based, local-first PKM apps. Here's how they compare and why Lokus might be the best free Obsidian alternative for you.
TL;DR
Choose Lokus if you want:
- 100% free with no paid add-ons
- Open source and auditable code
- Built-in infinite canvas
- 90+ template features out of the box
Choose Obsidian if you want:
- Larger plugin ecosystem
- Mobile apps available now
- Official sync service
- More mature community
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Lokus | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free / $50+ for extras |
| Open Source | ||
| Sync Cost | Free (use any cloud) | $8/month |
| Publish Cost | Free (export anywhere) | $8/month |
| Markdown Editing | ||
| Wiki Links | ||
| Backlinks | ||
| Graph View | 2D & 3D | 2D |
| Infinite Canvas | Built-in | Plugin required |
| Templates | 90+ features | Plugin required |
| Plugins | ||
| Custom Themes | ||
| Local Storage | ||
| Offline Support | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Mobile Apps | Coming soon |
Pricing: Free vs Freemium
Lokus is 100% free and open source. There are no paid tiers, no subscription, and no features locked behind a paywall. You can use any cloud service (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive) to sync your notes for free.
Obsidian has a freemium model. The core app is free, but Sync costs $8/month ($96/year) and Publish costs $8/month ($96/year). If you want both, that's $192/year. Obsidian is also not open source - you can't audit the code.
Features: Built-in vs Plugins
Lokus includes more features out of the box. Infinite canvas and a comprehensive template system (90+ features) are built-in. You don't need to hunt for plugins to get started.
Obsidian has a larger plugin ecosystem. With over 1000 community plugins, you can extend Obsidian in many ways. However, this means more setup time and potential compatibility issues.
Philosophy: Open Source vs Proprietary
Lokus is fully open source under the MIT license. You can inspect the code, contribute, fork it, and know exactly what the app is doing. This is important for privacy-conscious users.
Obsidian is closed source. While the app stores notes locally as markdown files, you can't verify what the application itself does. The sync service is also proprietary.
Try the Best Free Obsidian Alternative
Download Lokus for free. No account required. Switch from Obsidian in minutes - just point Lokus to your existing markdown vault.