Do you have a recommendation for a free Obsidian synchronization method?
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.
18 replies
Look into syncthing. Not sure about encryption tho and I'm not in a position to check RN.
+1 for Syncthing, been using it to sync a tablet, a phone and a pc without much problem. Obsidian usually makes a separate note when there is a synch issue, so at least you don't need to worry about losing your data.
Perhaps with the addition of Tailscale if they need to sync while out & about too. E2E encryption shouldn't matter here, since these are p2p connections.
iirc syncthing is encrypted, which matters because it will pass your data through a relay if it can't connect directly.
Why would you need Tailscale for syncthing?
For me it's never worked outside of my home
Just set this up a month ago. Setting up syncthings is 100% the way to go.
Tried doing this and albeit it works, I ended up going back to the NC Notes app, which granted, is not as good as Obsidian.
This is the way.
Why not use GitHub for notes storage? That's what I do
Not same as OP, but the reason why I do not use Github is because I do not want my data on what is essentially a Microsoft service. Especially, if I already self-host other services.
Although, I am aware not everyone can afford or wants to self-host, yet in my use case, it was just a matter of just installing NC on an already existing setup.
Is there a way to achieve E2EE with GitHub?
I use Obsidian LiveSync
Andi said Syncthing:
Based on recent sources, Syncthing emerges as the most recommended free solution for synchronizing Obsidian vaults across devices12. 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 platforms3.
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 costs2.
Footnotes
How to Sync Obsidian Across All Your Devices (Including Free Methods) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
Free Obsidian Sync: The Best Way to Sync Your Notes Across Devices ↩ ↩2
You Can Sync Obsidian Notes Between Your PC and Phone for Free, Here's How ↩
I've been using this for 2 years. Rock solid with no issues.
Sync is so fast I can see myself typing if implement the same document on different computers. No issues with windows, Linux and android clients
https://github.com/vrtmrz/obsidian-livesync
It has been a long time since you all have been here. I have tried many different means over time since then. I am now using a combination of Self-hosted LiveSync and fly.io.
If you're not able to find an adequate solution for Obsidian, you may want to investigate TriliumNext Notes.
Thank you all for your consultation. For now, I have installed Self-hosted Livesync. I will use it for a while and give it a try.