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Yes—you can sync Obsidian without paying for Obsidian Sync. Obsidian stores a vault as an ordinary folder containing Markdown notes and attachments, so other tools can copy that folder between devices. The best method depends on your devices: use iCloud Drive for Mac, iPhone, and iPad; a desktop cloud folder or Syncthing for computers; and Git if you want detailed version history.
Do not sync the same vault with two different services. Also remember that synchronization is not a backup: deletions and corrupted files can be copied to every device.
Quick recommendation
| Devices | Best first choice | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Mac, iPhone, and iPad | iCloud Drive | Apple-focused; do not treat iCloud on Windows as a fully supported solution. |
| Windows, macOS, or Linux desktops | OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Syncthing | The vault must remain available locally, not online-only. |
| Windows or macOS with Android | Desktop cloud folder plus an Android-compatible tool, or Syncthing | Android usually requires extra configuration, an app, or a plugin. |
| Desktop devices with version history | Git with a private repository | Basic Git synchronization is manual, not automatic. |
| iPhone or iPad without iCloud | Git with Working Copy, or a community plugin | Some iOS workflows may require a paid app feature and are not equivalent to official support. |
Obsidian’s documentation lists iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, Syncthing, Git, Working Copy, and community plugins as alternatives to Obsidian Sync. Its official recommendations for iPhone and iPad are Obsidian Sync and iCloud; Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Syncthing are not officially supported for iOS vault syncing. See Obsidian’s device-sync guidance.
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The core Obsidian application is free and does not require an account for local use. Obsidian Sync is an optional paid service, not a prerequisite for creating or opening vaults. See Obsidian’s pricing page.
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A free setup may still use a service or app you already pay for. For example, OneDrive may be included with Microsoft 365, an iOS Git workflow may need a paid Working Copy feature, and a large vault may exceed a cloud provider’s free storage allowance. A temporary Obsidian Sync trial is also not the same as a permanent free plan.
How an Obsidian vault works
An Obsidian vault is a folder on your device. Notes are generally Markdown files, while images, PDFs, audio, video, and other attachments are ordinary files inside that folder. The .obsidian folder stores vault-specific settings, themes, hotkeys, and community plugins.
File-based services such as iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive monitor the folder and copy changes between devices. That makes them convenient, but they can also copy an accidental deletion, an incomplete transfer, or a conflict.
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Before changing the location of an important vault, make a complete copy of its folder. Include attachments and the .obsidian folder if you want to preserve settings.
Method 1: iCloud Drive for Apple devices
For a Mac paired with an iPhone or iPad, iCloud Drive is the simplest free option and is the method Obsidian recommends for Apple devices.
Set it up on macOS
- Enable iCloud Drive in System Settings → Apple Account/Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Drive.
- Open Obsidian and create a new vault or choose the option to open an existing vault.
- In the file picker, choose iCloud Drive → Obsidian.
- When selecting the folder, choose the Obsidian folder marked with the Obsidian app icon rather than a similarly named ordinary folder.
- Wait for iCloud to finish uploading the vault.
Open it on iPhone or iPad
- Install and open Obsidian.
- Choose the option to open a vault stored in iCloud Drive.
- Select the same vault and allow its files to download before editing.
- Create a harmless test note and add a small attachment.
- Confirm that both appear on the Mac and the mobile device.
iCloud warnings
- Use this approach primarily for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
- Obsidian warns that iCloud Drive on Windows can cause duplicated files or corruption. Do not present it as a universal Windows solution.
- Wait until files are downloaded before opening the vault on another device.
- Do not place the vault in iCloud and simultaneously sync it with another service.
Full setup guidance is available in Obsidian’s sync documentation.
Method 2: OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive for desktop computers
For Windows, macOS, or Linux desktops, an existing cloud-storage folder is usually the lowest-effort alternative to Obsidian Sync. Obsidian documents file-based approaches using services such as OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud.
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- Install the provider’s desktop application.
- Make sure the vault folder is stored in a location that stays available locally.
- Close Obsidian, then move or copy the vault into that synchronized folder.
- Reopen Obsidian and use Open folder as vault.
- Wait until the cloud application finishes uploading.
- On the second computer, wait until the complete folder is downloaded locally.
- Open that folder as a vault and test with a note and attachment.
Turn off online-only behavior for the vault
Cloud clients may offer features called Files On-Demand, online-only files, Smart Sync, or selective sync. These can remove files from the local filesystem or leave placeholder files behind. Obsidian needs direct access to the vault, so mark the vault and its attachments as locally available. Obsidian’s Sync FAQ specifically warns about on-demand cloud behavior.
This method works best when only one device is actively editing a note at a time. If two offline devices edit the same file, the provider may create conflict copies or overwrite one version.
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Method 3: Syncthing for device-to-device syncing
Syncthing synchronizes folders directly between participating devices instead of storing the primary copy with a hosted cloud provider. It is attractive if you want to avoid a recurring storage service and are comfortable configuring software on each computer.
The general process is:
- Install Syncthing on each participating device.
- Share the vault folder between the devices.
- Allow the initial transfer to finish completely.
- Open the local folder as an Obsidian vault on each device.
- Test note edits and attachments before relying on it.
Syncthing is most suitable when the devices are regularly online. It does not guarantee conflict-free operation: simultaneous edits, interrupted transfers, renames, and filesystem differences can still produce problems. It is also not an officially supported iOS method for Obsidian, so it is not a straightforward answer for an iPhone or iPad workflow.
Syncthing avoids a central hosted sync service, but it does not encrypt the contents against compromise of the paired devices. Every participating device remains a copy of the vault.
Method 4: Git for history and rollback
Git is a strong choice for technically comfortable users who want a detailed record of changes. The repository can be hosted privately on GitHub, GitLab, or a self-hosted server. Obsidian documents Git as a manual workflow rather than automatic background synchronization.
Initial desktop setup
cd "/path/to/your/vault"
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial vault backup"
git branch -M main
git remote add origin <repository-url>
git push -u origin mainOn another computer, clone the repository into a local folder:
git clone <repository-url> "/path/to/local/vault"
cd "/path/to/local/vault"
git pull origin mainBefore editing on a device, pull first. After editing, commit and push:
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git pull
git add .
git commit -m "Update notes"
git pushGit precautions
- Use a private repository for personal notes.
- Never commit passwords, API keys, identity documents, or other secrets.
- Decide deliberately whether to include
.obsidian. - Workspace files can change simply because files are opened, creating unnecessary commits. Device-specific workspace state may be better excluded.
- Sync portable settings only when plugin versions and platforms are compatible.
- Do not edit the same note on two devices without pulling and resolving changes.
- Large media files can make a repository cumbersome; Git Large File Storage may have separate limits or costs.
Git provides history and rollback, but it does not automatically make a repository private. The hosting provider can generally access repository contents unless you add another encryption layer.
Git on iPhone and iPad
Working Copy can clone, commit, and push Git repositories on iOS. Obsidian documents it as a Git-based option, but some Working Copy functionality requires an in-app purchase. This means an iOS Git setup may not be entirely free in practice, and it remains more manual than iCloud or Obsidian Sync.
Method 5: Community sync plugins
Community plugins can connect Obsidian to additional storage systems or automate Git. Examples include Remotely Save, Self-hosted LiveSync, Obsidian Git, the OneDrive Sync plugin, and Bring Your Own Cloud.
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Install a plugin from Settings → Community plugins → Browse, then configure its individual settings. Labels and setup requirements can change, so follow the project’s current documentation rather than assuming every plugin works the same way.
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What works best by device combination
Mac plus iPhone or iPad
Use iCloud Drive. It is the cleanest free route for an Apple-only setup. Allow downloads to complete and avoid adding another sync service.
Windows plus Mac
Use a locally synchronized OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive folder, or use Syncthing if you prefer direct device-to-device transfers. Keep the vault fully available offline on both computers.
Windows or Mac plus Android
Expect extra work. A desktop cloud folder paired with an Android-compatible app or plugin can work, as can Syncthing where supported. Test on a copy before moving an important vault, because Android background syncing and filesystem behavior vary.
Mac plus Android
There is no equally simple official free path comparable to iCloud on Apple devices. Consider a community tool, a supported Android workflow, or Git if you are comfortable with manual operations.
Several desktop computers
Choose an existing cloud folder for convenience, Syncthing for a no-hosted-cloud setup, or Git if rollback and audit history matter more than automatic syncing.
Desktop plus iPhone without iCloud
Use Git with Working Copy or investigate a community plugin, but treat the result as a workaround. Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Syncthing should not be described as officially supported iOS vault-sync methods.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to prevent conflicts
The safest habit is to let one device finish syncing before editing on another. Conflicts are more likely when:
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- Two devices edit the same note while offline.
- A vault is opened before cloud files finish downloading.
- Two sync services monitor the same folder.
- A cloud client changes files while Obsidian is open.
- Files differ only by capitalization on case-sensitive and case-insensitive filesystems.
- Attachments are moved or renamed during an incomplete transfer.
If duplicate or conflicted files appear:
- Stop editing the vault on every device.
- Copy the current vault and preserve all conflicting files.
- Compare the Markdown files in a text editor or diff tool.
- Merge the correct content manually.
- Check links before deleting duplicate notes.
- Allow the sync service to settle.
- Reopen the vault only after confirming that the merged files are present everywhere.
- Use a backup or Git commit to restore an earlier valid version if necessary.
Troubleshooting common problems
Notes are missing
Check whether the second device opened the correct folder, whether the cloud client finished downloading, and whether selective sync excluded the note’s directory.
Attachments are missing
Confirm that attachments were not left online-only, excluded by a sync rule, ignored by a plugin, or stored outside the vault. Check Settings → Files and links to understand where new attachments are placed.
The vault opens empty
Stop editing and verify the path. A cloud provider may have created an empty local placeholder, or Obsidian may be pointing at a different folder. Do not delete anything until you locate the original vault and make a copy.
Settings or plugins do not appear
The .obsidian folder may not be syncing, or only part of it may have transferred. Syncing all settings can also create platform-specific problems. A practical compromise is to sync notes and attachments everywhere, share only portable settings, and let each device keep its own workspace layout when necessary.
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Mark the entire vault as available offline or locally available in the provider’s desktop application. If that cannot be guaranteed, move the vault to a different supported local-sync location.
How to stop syncing safely
- Close Obsidian on every device.
- Wait for the sync client to finish, if possible.
- Make a complete copy of the vault.
- Disable or disconnect the sync method on one device at a time.
- Open the copied local vault and confirm that notes and attachments are intact.
Sync is not backup
Synchronization copies changes; it does not guarantee a clean historical copy. A deletion, bad merge, or corrupted file can propagate to every connected device.
Use at least one separate recovery method:
- Make periodic compressed copies of the complete vault.
- Keep one backup outside any continuously synchronized folder.
- Use Git commits if you are comfortable with Git.
- Use cloud-provider version history where available, but do not rely on it as your only backup.
When Obsidian Sync is worth paying for
Obsidian Sync is most useful when you want the least troubleshooting, automatic multi-device support, integrated version history, selective synchronization, and an officially supported workflow across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Obsidian describes Sync as offering end-to-end encryption features; ordinary cloud drives and Git hosting should not automatically be treated as equivalent privacy solutions.
As checked on August 18, 2026, Obsidian listed Sync Standard at $4 per user per month when billed annually or $5 monthly, and Sync Plus at $8 annually billed monthly equivalent or $10 monthly. Standard was listed with one synced vault, 1 GB of storage, a 5 MB maximum file size, and one month of version history. Plus was listed with 10 synced vaults, 10 GB of storage, a 200 MB maximum file size, and 12 months of version history. Prices and limits can change, so confirm them on the pricing page and plan documentation.
Bottom line
Choose iCloud Drive for Mac, iPhone, and iPad; an existing OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive folder for desktop computers; Syncthing if you want device-to-device syncing without hosted storage; and Git if version history and rollback matter most. For Android and iOS combinations, expect additional setup and unsupported or community-maintained workarounds. Whatever you choose, use only one sync system for a vault and maintain a separate backup.
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