2026-05-28 · · Daniel A

How to Sync Obsidian Notes Without Paying $8/Month

Three honest free options to sync your Obsidian vault·iCloud, Syncthing, and Git·and when to switch to a cloud·first app instead.

Obsidian is a brilliant local·first markdown editor. The catch arrives the moment you want your notes on your phone: official Obsidian Sync costs $8/month. For most people, that is a lot for what is essentially a folder·sync feature.

Option 1: iCloud Drive (Apple users only)

Move your vault folder into iCloud Drive on your Mac. On iOS, point Obsidian Mobile at the same folder. Done. Free, automatic, and uses end·to·end encryption with Advanced Data Protection enabled.

Downside: Apple·only. Conflict files appear if you edit on two devices simultaneously while offline.

Option 2: Syncthing

Syncthing is an open·source peer·to·peer sync tool. Install it on every device, point it at your vault folder, and your notes sync directly between devices without a cloud server in the middle.

Downside: No iOS support (the Möbius Sync app costs money). Devices have to be online at the same time to sync.

Option 3: Git + a free GitHub repo

Initialize a private Git repo in your vault and commit/push from each device. The community plugin Obsidian Git can automate this on desktop.

Downside: Mobile Git is painful. You will deal with merge conflicts. Not for non·technical users.

The honest answer: it depends on what you actually need

If you genuinely love Obsidian's graph view and plugin ecosystem, pick one of the three options above and accept the friction. It is the price of local·first.

But if what you really want is "encrypted notes that sync everywhere without setup," Obsidian is not the right tool·even with sync sorted. You are paying in time and friction instead of dollars.

The cloud·first alternative

SimplyBoard is built around the assumption that you want your encrypted notes available on every device, every time, without configuring anything. Zero·knowledge encryption, instant search, free, no vault setup.

If you find yourself spending more time configuring Obsidian than writing in it, that is a signal.

Write fast. Find faster.
Stay private.

The trusted, encrypted alternative to Notion, Trello, and Miro. A fast, private knowledge base for developers, founders, and power users who need to store and retrieve information without friction · encrypted, searchable, and offline-ready.

No credit card required. Free for personal use.

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Most tools overwhelm you with dashboards and settings you never touch. SimplyBoard gives you fast, encrypted storage that works the way you think. Every feature helps you store or retrieve information faster.

Instant Search

Full-text fuzzy search across all entries · find any snippet or command in milliseconds, even with typos.

Client-Side Encryption

Your data is encrypted with AES-GCM before it leaves your device. We never see your content.

Multiple Workspaces

Separate encrypted spaces for work, personal projects, and side ventures · each context distinct and focused.

Keyboard-First

Navigate, search, and manage entries entirely from your keyboard without breaking your flow.

Cross-Device Sync

Encrypted entries sync across all your devices, giving you instant access to your knowledge base anywhere.

Offline Support

Works fully offline. All changes sync automatically in the background when you reconnect.

How it works

1. Capture anything

Paste a command, save a snippet, or jot a note. Each entry supports plaintext or Markdown · no rigid templates.

2. Find it instantly

Type in the search bar and results appear instantly with fuzzy matching. Frequently accessed entries naturally rise to the top.

3. Stay in control

Everything is encrypted on your device before syncing. Works offline, no folders required, no lock-in.

Your data, your control

SimplyBoard uses AES-256-GCM encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation (100,000 iterations). Every entry is encrypted before it leaves your device. Our servers store only ciphertext · we cannot read your data under any circumstances. Even if our database were compromised, your data remains unreadable without your password or passphrase.

Zero-knowledge architecture

✓ SOC 2 Type 2 Infrastructure ✓ ISO 27001:2022 Infrastructure ✓ GDPR Compliant

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SimplyBoard really free?

Yes! SimplyBoard is free for personal use. We believe everyone deserves access to a private, secure knowledge base.

How does client-side encryption work?

Your password (or passphrase for Google sign-in) is used to derive an encryption key using PBKDF2 with 100,000 iterations. All your entries are encrypted with AES-GCM before leaving your device. We never see your decrypted data·not even our servers can read it.

How does encryption work with Google sign-in?

After signing in with Google, you create a separate encryption passphrase. This passphrase works exactly like a password for encryption·it derives the key that protects your data. Your Google account only handles authentication, not encryption. We cannot recover your passphrase or open your vault without it.

Can I switch between email and Google sign-in?

No. Once you register with a specific method (email/password OR Google), you must continue using that same method. Each method uses a different encryption key derivation, so they cannot be interchanged.

What happens if I forget my password or passphrase?

Because of our zero-knowledge architecture, we cannot recover your password or passphrase, or decrypt your data. This is by design·it ensures that only you can access your information. We recommend storing your password or passphrase in a secure password manager. Your account will be deleted after 90 consecutive days of inactivity.

What is the 90-day inactivity policy?

Accounts that are not accessed for 90 consecutive calendar days will be permanently deleted without notice. This helps us manage storage costs and keeps the platform lean.

Can I use SimplyBoard offline?

Yes! SimplyBoard works fully offline. Your entries are cached locally and sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.

Is my data backed up?

Your encrypted data is stored securely in the cloud and synced across all your devices. The encryption ensures that even if someone accessed the server, they couldn't read your content.

What makes SimplyBoard different from Trello, Miro, or Notion?

SimplyBoard is built for speed and simplicity. No feature bloat, no expensive subscriptions, no learning curve. Just fast search, secure storage, and instant retrieval.

Can I self-host SimplyBoard?

Not currently. SimplyBoard is a cloud-hosted service to enable cross-device sync without you managing infrastructure. While your content is encrypted client-side, you are trusting us with metadata like your email and when entries are saved.

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