PKM Sync & Storage — Syncthing, Git, WebDAV
How to keep your notes everywhere without paying or locking in — OSS-first sync stacks for Obsidian, Logseq, Joplin, Org-mode.
The rule of PKM: sync clients matter more than the server. A great PKM tool is unusable without reliable cross-device sync. OSS / self-host first throughout. Pair with pkm-overview-methodologies; see also pkm-obsidian-deep, pkm-logseq-deep, pkm-joplin-standard-notes, pkm-org-mode-orgroam; also file-sync.
Syncthing ★
- ★ ★ Free OSS (MPL); the canonical decentralised file-sync.
- ★ Peer-to-peer — your laptop talks directly to your desktop / NAS / VPS; no cloud middleman.
- ★ Works on every desktop + Android out of the box.
- iOS: Möbius Sync (paid one-time $5–10) is the long-time iOS port. There's no free OSS Syncthing on iOS.
- Best for: Obsidian, Logseq file-graph mode, Joplin (with caveats on DB conflicts), Org-mode, plain markdown vaults.
- See the broader file-sync page.
Setup pattern: install Syncthing on every device, share a folder, both ends accept; that's it.
Git for notes ★
- ★ Git — auto-commit + push your vault on a schedule. Free, infinite history, works with any git host.
- Why it works: notes are markdown / org / text; git diff is meaningful; conflicts are line-level.
- Why it doesn't: no real-time; large attachments bloat the repo (use git-lfs or a separate attachments bucket).
- Git hosts (free): GitHub, GitLab, Forgejo, Gitea, Codeberg.
- Self-host git: Forgejo / Gitea on a Pi or VPS — see selfhost-bookmarks-rss for adjacent self-host categories.
Git plugins per tool
- ★ Obsidian Git plugin — auto-commit on schedule; pull-on-startup; conflict UI.
- ★ Logseq — built-in git integration on desktop.
- Foam / Dendron — VS Code's built-in source control panel.
- Org-mode + Magit — best-in-class git UX, in Emacs.
- GitJournal (Android, free) — git-backed markdown editor.
- Working Copy (iOS, paid) — git client + markdown editor; the iOS PKM staple.
WebDAV (via Nextcloud, Fastmail Files, etc.)
- Nextcloud (free OSS self-host) — WebDAV + WebDAV-via-Files; works as a sync target for Joplin, Obsidian (via Remotely Save plugin), CryptPad, etc.
- Fastmail Files — paid; the Fastmail account ships a WebDAV folder. Cheap quick option.
- OwnCloud Infinite Scale — Nextcloud's predecessor; faster, smaller scope.
- Joplin uses WebDAV natively — see pkm-joplin-standard-notes.
- Obsidian Remotely Save plugin — free OSS; WebDAV / S3 / Dropbox sync for Obsidian without paying for Sync.
Per-tool sync recommendations
| Tool | Best free sync | Best paid sync |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Syncthing or Obsidian Git plugin | Obsidian Sync ($5–10/mo) |
| Logseq (file) | Syncthing + git | (none simple) |
| Logseq (DB) | self-host Couchbase community guides | (was Logseq Sync; status uncertain post-pivot) |
| Joplin | Joplin Server (self-host) or Nextcloud WebDAV | Joplin Cloud |
| Org-mode | git + Syncthing | (none mainstream) |
| AnyType | built-in p2p | hosted any-sync |
| AppFlowy | self-host AppFlowy Cloud | AppFlowy Cloud hosted |
| TiddlyWiki | iCloud / Dropbox / Syncthing on the single file | (none meaningful) |
| TriliumNext | self-host Trilium server | (none) |
Self-hosted Obsidian LiveSync (CouchDB)
- ★ Self-hosted LiveSync — free OSS Obsidian plugin; uses CouchDB (run via Docker on your VPS / Pi). Real-time sync, conflict resolution, end-to-end encryption.
- Pros: free, real-time, self-hosted; doesn't need Obsidian Sync.
- Cons: runs CouchDB; backups + auth + TLS on you.
- Verdict: the OSS Obsidian Sync alternative that actually works in 2026.
iOS reality check
- ★ iOS is the hardest leg. Apple sandboxing blocks Syncthing-style background sync. Options:
- Möbius Sync (paid; Syncthing port) — works but battery-aware.
- Working Copy (paid; git client) — stellar UX; ideal for Foam / Dendron / Obsidian-with-Git.
- iCloud Drive — only Apple-shaped option; works for Obsidian, fragile under conflicts.
- Obsidian Sync (paid) — for Obsidian users who want zero pain.
- Plan budget: even on the OSS path, iOS will likely cost $5–20 once.
Backups (PKM is high-value)
- ★ Daily local snapshots (Time Machine, Borg, restic).
- ★ Weekly off-site (rclone to S3 / Backblaze B2 / Storj — see backup-disaster-recovery).
- ★ Test restore twice a year. The backup that's never restored isn't a backup.
- Git itself is a kind of backup (push to a remote = off-site).
- For self-hosted notes (Trilium, Joplin Server, AppFlowy Server, Logseq DB): back up the DB, not just the files.
Patterns that actually work
- ★ Markdown + Syncthing + git — the most portable PKM sync. Zero lock-in, low cost, works for 5+ years.
- ★ Single source of truth. Don't mirror your vault across iCloud + Syncthing + Dropbox; one of them will fight the others.
- Conflict noise reduction — close the editor before sleep; let sync settle.
- Don't sync
.obsidian/workspace.json— per-device editor state; ignore it via.stignore/.gitignore. - Big attachments out — store images / PDFs in a separate folder synced via cloud, not in the git repo.
Pick this if…
- Pure FOSS sync everywhere except iOS: Syncthing + git.
- iOS first-class: Obsidian + Obsidian Sync (paid) or Möbius Sync (paid Syncthing port).
- Encrypted FOSS sync for markdown: Joplin + Joplin Server (self-host).
- You have a Nextcloud: WebDAV target for Joplin / Obsidian Remotely Save.
- You want real-time sync without paying Obsidian: Self-hosted LiveSync (CouchDB).
- You want PKM portability: plain markdown + git + Syncthing — the canonical answer.