How to sync Obsidian
for free
You don't have to pay for Obsidian Sync to keep your vault on every device. Here are the free options — and how Obsyncian's free tier compares.
The free ways to sync Obsidian
- Cloud folders (iCloud / Dropbox / Google Drive). Free-ish, but file-level folder sync isn't real note sync — it conflicts badly across devices and has no encryption of its own. Fine for one desktop, risky for many.
- remotely-save. Free plugin, but you bring and configure your own S3/Dropbox/OneDrive storage. Encryption is optional and manual.
- Self-hosted LiveSync. Free and powerful, but you run and maintain a CouchDB server yourself. Technical.
- Syncthing. Free and private, but peer-to-peer: your devices must be online at the same time, it runs as a separate app, and there's no official iOS app.
- Obsyncian (free tier). 50 MB, one vault, two devices — managed, end-to-end encrypted, nothing to provision. The simplest free option if you don't want to run infrastructure.
Start free in about two minutes. Install Syncian from Obsidian → Community plugins, get a login code from the Telegram bot, set a passphrase, and link your vault — no card, no bucket, no server.
What Obsyncian's free tier gives you
| Storage | 50 MB |
| Vaults | 1 |
| Devices | 2 |
| End-to-end encryption | Included |
| Setup | None — no bucket or server |
| iOS & Android | Yes |
| Card required | No |
Need more? Paid plans start at a few dollars a month (billed annually) for 2–20 GB, more vaults, unlimited devices, and vault sharing — see pricing.
Questions
Can I sync Obsidian for free?
Yes. Obsyncian has a free tier — 50 MB, one vault, two devices — with end-to-end encryption included, and nothing to set up. Other free routes exist too (remotely-save with your own storage, or peer-to-peer Syncthing), but they need a bucket or a second always-on device; Obsyncian's free tier is managed for you.
Is the free sync really free, or a trial?
It's free forever, not a trial. You only pay if you outgrow 50 MB or want more vaults, devices, or vault sharing. No card is required to start.
Is free Obsidian sync still encrypted?
With Obsyncian, yes — encryption isn't a paid add-on. Set a passphrase when you link a vault and your note contents and file names are AES-256 encrypted on your device on every tier, including free.
What happens when I need to sync more than 50 MB?
Nothing breaks — your synced notes stay downloadable. To keep syncing new data past the free limit you upgrade to a paid plan (from a few dollars a month, billed annually), which raises storage and unlocks more vaults and devices.
Does free sync work on my phone?
Yes, on iPhone and Android. As with every Obsidian sync plugin, mobile syncs while the app is open — there's no background sync on mobile at any price.