Why I Switched From Notion to Obsidian (And What I Lost)
Notion is genuinely good software. Here's why I moved anyway, and the two features I still miss....
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INTERACTIVE COMPARISON
Proprietary vs. Open Source
See exactly what changes when you swap your daily tools for open-source ones.
Proprietary Model
The Subscription Trap
Open-Source Alternative
Free, Local, and Yours
Nextcloud
Plausible
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Every app in here is one I'd actually trust with my own files, self-hosted or not, no subscriptions, no one peeking at your data.
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From the Blog
Migration guides, honest reviews, and whatever else I pick up testing open source tools.
Self-Hosting Isn't as Scary as It Sounds
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The Real Cost of Free Software — Where Open Source Makes Its Money
'Free' doesn't mean no one's getting paid. Here's how the open-source tools you love actually stay alive...
REQUEST AN ALTERNATIVE
Looking for a specific replacement?
Can't find an alternative to something you use? Tell me what you're trying to replace. I'll research the open-source options, check the code's actually maintained, and publish what I find.
Yes. I only list tools with active development and a real community behind them — same reliability as the paid stuff, minus the telemetry.
Usually, you can move most or all of your data — but it depends on the apps involved. That's why we cover exports, imports, and migration pitfalls in our guides.
Not at all. Plenty of open-source apps have desktop installers and cloud offerings just like commercial apps. We explicitly label which tools require self-hosting knowledge.
No. Open source means transparent code, not always zero cost. Many projects offer free self-hosted versions alongside optional paid cloud sync or enterprise hosting.