Obsidian LiveSync

What is Obsidian LiveSync?

Obsidian LiveSync is a free, open source plugin that keeps your Obsidian notes identical across every device you use. Instead of paying for Obsidian Sync, you point it at a backend you own — a self-hosted CouchDB server, S3-compatible object storage, or a direct peer-to-peer link — and your vault stays current with end-to-end encryption so nothing but your devices can read the contents.

What is Obsidian LiveSync best for?

Obsidian LiveSync is best for Obsidian users who want the seamless multi-device experience of the official service, but on infrastructure they control. It fits self-hosters and privacy-minded note-takers who want their vault — settings, themes, and plugins included — to travel between desktop, iOS, and Android without a subscription or a third party holding the data.

What can Obsidian LiveSync do?

• Sync vaults in near-real-time across desktop, iOS, and Android — Obsidian’s own mobile apps included, with no separate companion app
• Store data on the backend you choose: self-hosted CouchDB, S3-compatible object storage (MinIO, Cloudflare R2, AWS S3), or peer-to-peer over WebRTC with no central server
• Encrypt notes end-to-end, so the sync backend only ever holds ciphertext it can’t read
• Detect edit conflicts and surface both versions for manual resolution instead of silently overwriting a change
• Optionally replicate more than notes — settings, snippets, CSS themes, and community plugins — so a new device comes up fully configured
• Transfer efficiently with chunked, minimal-traffic replication built on CouchDB’s proven sync model

Where does Obsidian LiveSync fall short?

• It can’t run alongside another sync tool. You must turn off Obsidian Sync, iCloud, Dropbox, or anything else touching the vault folder — two syncs at once corrupt data, and the plugin explicitly tells you to back up your vault before installing or upgrading.
• The backend setup is fiddlier than a hosted service. Standing up CouchDB with the right CORS and configuration is where most people stumble, and a common failure mode is desktop syncing fine while mobile silently refuses to connect.
• It only works inside Obsidian. It’s a plugin, not a standalone app, so it syncs Obsidian vaults and nothing else, and it needs a fairly recent Obsidian (1.7.2 or newer) on every device.

Is Obsidian LiveSync free?

Yes — Obsidian LiveSync is completely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tier and no upsell. Your only cost is wherever the backend lives: a self-hosted CouchDB on a small VPS or home server, an object-storage bucket, or nothing at all if you use peer-to-peer mode. That’s the trade against Obsidian’s official Sync, which runs $4–$8 per month.

What does Obsidian LiveSync replace?

Obsidian LiveSync is a self-hosted alternative to Obsidian Sync, the official paid add-on ($4–$8 per month) that syncs vaults through Obsidian’s servers. LiveSync delivers the same always-current, multi-device experience — with end-to-end encryption you control — while your notes stay on infrastructure you own instead of a vendor’s cloud.

FAQ

Is Obsidian LiveSync open source? Yes. It’s released under the permissive MIT license and developed in the open on GitHub by the community (maintainer vrtmrz), so it’s free to use, self-host, and modify.

Can I self-host Obsidian LiveSync for free? Yes. The plugin is free; you just supply the backend. A self-hosted CouchDB on hardware you already own — or the peer-to-peer WebRTC mode — costs nothing beyond that.

Is Obsidian LiveSync a good Obsidian Sync alternative? For technical users, yes. It matches the core multi-device sync and adds end-to-end encryption you control, at no subscription cost. You trade the official service’s one-click polish and paid support for a more hands-on setup.

What do I need to run Obsidian LiveSync? Obsidian 1.7.2 or newer on each device and a backend — most commonly a self-hosted CouchDB (via Docker), an S3-compatible bucket, or peer-to-peer mode. Disable any other sync on the vault first.