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A simple, lightweight Obsidian alternative

nuza is a free, open-source markdown note taking app for macOS, Windows and Linux. Your notes are plain files in a folder on your computer, it opens quickly, and it has Vim keybindings built in.

It does less than Obsidian on purpose. This page is about what that means, so you can tell whether it suits you.

Download nuzaSee it in action

What you get

  • Markdown that renders as you type, with tables, tasks, images and frontmatter properties
  • Wiki-links between notes, and backlinks to see what links to the note you have open
  • Tabs, quick open, and search across the text of every note
  • Vim keybindings, off until you switch them on
  • Light and dark themes, and an accent colour you choose
  • Autosave, and your last session reopened when you come back

nuza and Obsidian, side by side

How nuza and Obsidian differ
FeaturenuzaObsidian
PluginsNone. What is built in is what you get.A large community plugin ecosystem.
Graph viewNo.Yes.
Mobile appsNo. Desktop only.iOS and Android.
SyncNone of its own. Use any folder sync you already trust.Paid sync service available.
Source codeOpen source, MIT license.Closed source.
Built withTauri and Rust, using the webview your system already has.Electron.
Your notes areMarkdown files in a folder you choose.Markdown files in a vault folder.
Wiki-links and backlinksYes.Yes.
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, Linux.macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.

Who it is for

Choose nuza

nuza suits you if you want to open a folder of markdown and write, and you would rather have an app that is small, quick and does a few things well than one you configure. It is a good fit for developers, and for anyone who wants Vim keys in their notes.

Stay with Obsidian

Stay with Obsidian if your notes depend on plugins, if you want a graph view, or if you need your notes on a phone. Those are real strengths and nuza does not try to match them.

Questions

Is nuza a good Obsidian alternative?

It is if what you want from Obsidian is the writing: markdown notes in a folder, wiki-links, backlinks, search and tabs, in a smaller and quicker app. It is not if you rely on plugins, the graph view, or mobile apps, because nuza does not have them.

Is nuza free?

Yes. nuza is free and open source under the MIT license, with no account and no subscription. The source is on GitHub.

Can I open my Obsidian vault in nuza?

nuza opens any folder of markdown files, so you can point it at an existing vault. Wiki-links and frontmatter properties work. Anything that depends on an Obsidian plugin is not rendered.

Does nuza have Vim keybindings?

Yes. Vim mode is built in. It is off until you turn it on in settings, so nobody gets it by surprise.

Is nuza lightweight?

nuza is a Tauri app: a Rust backend with the webview your operating system already provides, instead of a bundled copy of a browser. It has no plugin system to load, which is part of why it stays small and starts quickly.

Where are my notes stored, and does nuza sync them?

Your notes are plain markdown files in a folder on your computer. nuza does not upload them or sync them itself. If you want them on more than one machine, put the folder in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Syncthing or whatever you already use.

Which platforms does nuza run on?

macOS, Windows and Linux. Downloads are on the GitHub releases page.