I am currently using Obsidian and the Remotely-save plugin. However, I have a big problem with Remotely-save.
- Background synchronization is not possible in Android. The app must remain open until synchronization is complete.
- Unreliable. Errors such as “Faild to fetch” and “error while sync” are displayed and need to be reset periodically.
- End-to-end encryption must be available.
- I am poor (monthly income is less than 500 USD), so it must be available for free.
Given the technical limitations of the Obsidian plugin, I am guessing that I would need to have a file system level synchronization method rather than a plugin to achieve background synchronization.
In addition to this, I have used Joplin, which also has the problem of no background sync for Android. Also, Joplin’s desktop app is excellent, but the Android app is poor and impractical. I have also used Standard Notes, but it does not seem to be able to display dates in yyyy-MM-dd.
Andi said Syncthing:
Based on recent sources, Syncthing emerges as the most recommended free solution for synchronizing Obsidian vaults across devices[1][2]. This open-source tool provides real-time syncing without third-party cloud storage, encrypts data end-to-end, and works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android platforms[3].
Key advantages of Syncthing for Obsidian sync:
Setup involves:
For iOS users, alternatives include:
While Syncthing requires more technical setup than paid solutions, it offers the most robust free synchronization method with privacy protection and no recurring costs[2:1].
How to Sync Obsidian Across All Your Devices (Including Free Methods) ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Free Obsidian Sync: The Best Way to Sync Your Notes Across Devices ↩︎ ↩︎
You Can Sync Obsidian Notes Between Your PC and Phone for Free, Here’s How ↩︎