Official sync
Paid official sync from Obsidian
| Option | Cost | Platform | Difficulty | Version history | Best fit | E2EE | Auto sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Sync | $4-8/month | All platforms | Low | 1-12 months | Pay for the lowest maintenance path | Yes | Yes |
Find the rightObsidian sync method
Filter Obsidian sync options by your devices, budget, maintenance preference, and privacy needs.
Recommended options
All options →1. Hard requirements
Devices, budget, and required features decide what can be recommended.
2. Existing setup
Git, NAS, cloud accounts, and memberships only raise related options.
3. Preference order
Ease of use or control explains why options move up or down.
Obsidian Sync
Best matchThe easiest official paid option for people who do not want to spend effort maintaining sync.
Why this fits
No extra prerequisiteGood for a lightweight startPaid and low-maintenance needs favor Official Sync
Read the tutorial
Remotely Save + OneDrive
Uses free OneDrive storage as the backend and syncs through the Remotely Save plugin.
Why this fits
Good for a lightweight start
Read the tutorial
Nutstore + WebDAV / Remotely Save
A familiar cloud-drive route for China-based users, best for small vaults and light sync.
Why this fits
Good for a lightweight start
Read the tutorial
Baidu Netdisk Sync Space
A convenient desktop sync option for China-based users on Windows and macOS.
Why this fits
Good for a lightweight start
Read the tutorial
Sync comparison
Four sync routes
The table groups the tutorials into official sync, direct cloud-drive sync, plugin plus cloud storage, and self-hosted routes.
1 options
Direct cloud-drive sync
Put the vault directly inside a cloud-drive sync folder
| Option | Cost | Platform | Difficulty | Version history | Best fit | E2EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud | Free (5 GB) | Apple ecosystem | Low | No | Apple-first users | No |
| Baidu Netdisk | Membership required | Win + Mac | Low | No | Baidu member, desktop-only sync | No |
Plugin + cloud storage
Use an Obsidian plugin with a third-party cloud backend
| Option | Cost | Platform | Difficulty | Version history | Best fit | E2EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remotely Save + OneDrive | Free (5 GB) | All platforms | Low | Yes | Already uses OneDrive | Yes |
| Nutstore Sync + Nutstore | Free (1 GB) | All platforms | Low | Yes | Already uses Nutstore | No |
Self-hosted routes
For users who can maintain a NAS, server, or object storage
| Option | Cost | Platform | Difficulty | Version history | Best fit | E2EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remotely Save + Feiniu NAS | NAS cost | All platforms | Medium | Yes | Owns a NAS or understands WebDAV | Yes |
| LiveSync + Feiniu NAS | NAS cost | All platforms | High | Yes | NAS or Docker user who can troubleshoot | Yes |
| Fast Note Sync + Feiniu Docker | NAS cost | All platforms | Medium | Yes | NAS users who want a web console and exclude rules | No |
| Syncthing | Free | All platforms | Medium | Yes | Free cross-platform sync with some setup | No |
| Git | Free | All platforms | High | Yes | Developers comfortable with Git | No |
| Remotely Save + COS | Low usage-based cost | All platforms | Medium | Yes | Already uses Tencent Cloud COS | Yes |
Tutorial index
Read the full setup guides
The sections above compare the routes. This index keeps the full tutorial links in one place.
iCloud
The simplest free option inside the Apple ecosystem, best for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users.
Cloud-drive syncFreeFile sync
Remotely Save + OneDrive
Uses free OneDrive storage as the backend and syncs through the Remotely Save plugin.
Plugin + cloudFreePlugin sync
Nutstore + WebDAV / Remotely Save
A familiar cloud-drive route for China-based users, best for small vaults and light sync.
Plugin + cloudFreeFile sync
Obsidian Sync
The easiest official paid option for people who do not want to spend effort maintaining sync.
Official syncPaidEnd-to-end encryption
Baidu Netdisk Sync Space
A convenient desktop sync option for China-based users on Windows and macOS.
Cloud-drive syncMembershipFile sync
Syncthing
A free, peer-to-peer, cross-platform option for users willing to configure and troubleshoot.
Self-hosted / advancedFreePeer-to-peer sync
Git / Obsidian Git
A version-history and backup route for advanced users, not the easiest daily sync path.
Self-hosted / advancedFreeVersion commits
Fast Note Sync + Feiniu Docker
A self-hosted sync option with a Chinese web console, version history, and exclude rules.
Self-hosted / advancedNAS costSelf-hosted service
Self-hosted LiveSync
A self-hosted real-time sync option for NAS and Docker users.
Self-hosted / advancedNAS costReal-time database
Remotely Save + WebDAV / S3
Connects Remotely Save to WebDAV, S3, or object storage for users who already have a backend.
Self-hosted / advancedOwn storageWebDAV / S3
FAQ
Common questions
Most problems come from running multiple sync tools, ignoring mobile limits, or treating a backup tool as real-time sync.
Do I have to pay for Obsidian sync?+
No. iCloud, OneDrive, Nutstore, Syncthing, and Git can all form free or low-cost routes. Paid options mostly save maintenance time, reduce troubleshooting, and improve mobile reliability.
What is best for Apple-only devices?+
For Mac, iPhone, and iPad only, start with iCloud. Let Obsidian on iPhone or iPad create the dedicated iCloud folder first, then open or move the vault from your Mac.
Can I run two sync tools at once?+
Avoid it. Two tools editing the same vault can create duplicate files, overwrite new settings with old ones, or conflict inside plugin data.
Why do normal cloud drives cause Obsidian sync issues?+
An Obsidian vault has many small files, attachments, themes, plugin settings, and caches. A normal cloud drive syncs folders, but may not handle note-app editing patterns well.
What matters most for mobile sync?+
Check whether the route has a stable mobile client, background behavior, and conflict handling. A desktop-only workflow may not work well on iPhone or Android.
Can Baidu Netdisk sync desktop vaults?+
Yes, if your account has Sync Space access and both computers open the same vault inside that space. It is better for Windows and Mac desktop sync than for mobile sync.
What should I do before moving an existing vault?+
Make a full backup first, then place a copy in the new sync location. Confirm notes, attachments, and settings appear on every device before you stop using the original local vault.
Can sync replace backup?+
No. Sync also spreads deletions and bad edits. Important vaults still need separate backups, ideally in another location or with version history.
Is Git good for daily Obsidian sync?+
It fits people who already understand version control. Git gives clear history and rollback, but mobile use and conflict handling are harder.
How do I know sync is working?+
Create a test note on one device, wait for sync, then check another device. Edit the note there and confirm the change comes back to the first device.
Help improve this sync guide
If a tutorial is wrong or you know another sync method worth adding, send it through the feedback form.
Open feedback form →