We've released GSync, a free, open-source plugin for Obsidian that keeps your notes in sync with a Google Drive folder across all your devices. It's now listed in Obsidian's official community plugin directory.
Why we built it
Our own notes already lived in Google Drive, synced from the PC by Google Drive for Desktop. That works fine on a computer, but phones and tablets can't run Drive for Desktop, so there was no clean way to get the same vault onto an Android phone or an iPad.
Most of the existing options meant signing up for yet another subscription. We didn't want one, and honestly, we like a challenge. So we built the sync ourselves, directly on the Google Drive API.
What it does
GSync runs a full two-way sync between your vault and a Google Drive folder you choose, on startup, on a timer, or whenever you tap Sync now. What sets it apart:
- Works alongside Google Drive for Desktop. GSync sees every file in the folder, however it got there: uploaded by Drive for Desktop, added on the Drive website, or synced from another device.
- No empty-vault requirement. Point it at a vault and a Drive folder that both already have notes. The first sync compares them and only transfers what differs.
- Catches edits made outside Obsidian. Changes are detected by comparing files on every sync, so edits from other apps, scripts, or while Obsidian was closed still get picked up.
- Never silently picks a winner. If a note changed in both places, you keep both versions. The Drive version is saved beside yours as a conflict copy.
- Safe to interrupt. Progress is saved as it goes, so if the app closes or loses its connection mid-sync, the next sync picks up where it stopped.
- No middleman server. Files and sign-in tokens go directly between your device and Google, using your own Google OAuth client.
The trade-offs
GSync makes a few deliberate choices you should know about:
- Setup takes about 10 minutes, because you create your own Google Cloud sign-in credentials. That's the price of not routing your account through anyone else's server.
- Settings and plugins aren't synced. Each device keeps its own Obsidian configuration, plugins and themes.
- The Drive folder is found by its path. If you rename or move it in Google Drive, update the path in GSync's settings.
Get GSync
In Obsidian, go to Settings → Community plugins → Browse, search for GSync, then install and enable it. Or open the directory page and click Add to Obsidian. The step-by-step setup guide is in the project's README on GitHub.
Found a bug or have an idea? Open an issue on GitHub. We read them.
Behind the build
GSync is a small example of the kind of work we do every day: connecting two systems that weren't designed to talk to each other, and doing it reliably. Under the hood that meant working directly with the Google Drive API and OAuth sign-in, writing change detection that doesn't trust timestamps alone, handling conflicts without losing data, and getting the whole thing through Obsidian's plugin review so it runs on desktop and mobile alike.
The same skills go into our client work, from websites and hosting to keeping older business software running and connected to modern tools.
Need two systems to talk?
Whether it's syncing files, moving data out of an old database, or connecting your software to a modern service, tell us what you're trying to connect and we'll tell you what it would take.
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