I’ve been there: gazing a clean Notion web page, feeling the burden of a slow-loading database, or conversely, taking a look at Obsidian’s empty vault and questioning if I would like a pc science diploma simply to hyperlink two ideas.
The actual problem in evaluating Obsidian vs. Notion isn’t nearly options — it’s about how a lot friction you’re prepared to tolerate in alternate for flexibility, pace, and management over your considering.
TL;DR: What are the variations between Obsidian and Notion?
- Notion is finest for individuals who thrive on construction, collaborative initiatives, and delightful, data-driven dashboards. Nevertheless, I’ve usually hit a wall with its cloud-only lag and the nagging feeling that information is trapped in a company silo.
- Obsidian, then again, is finest for deep analysis, long-form writing, and anybody on the lookout for complete privateness and lightning-fast offline entry. Nevertheless it comes with a studying curve and the DIY effort required to make it purposeful.
Whether or not you’re battling database fatigue in Notion or plugin paralysis in Obsidian, choosing the proper instrument is about matching the software program to your cognitive model. Hold studying to know the important thing variations between Notion and Obsidian primarily based on my expertise with each instruments.
Obsidian vs. Notion: What are the important thing variations?
Obsidian and Notion are two in style note-taking apps and information administration instruments accessible in the present day. Whereas I’ve used each to seize ideas and arrange info, they’re constructed on totally different philosophies that cater to distinct person wants.
- Information possession and privateness: Probably the most elementary distinction is the place your information lives. Obsidian is local-first, storing your notes as plain-text Markdown information straight in your arduous drive for complete privateness and offline entry. Notion is a cloud-based platform, which means your information resides on their servers, which could be a concern for these searching for absolute information sovereignty.
- Construction and group: Notion makes use of a top-down method powered by databases, Kanban boards, and multi-layered pages. It’s preferrred for customers who wish to construct extremely organized, visible programs like content material calendars or pupil planners. Obsidian makes use of a bottom-up philosophy centered on bidirectional linking. Its Graph View means that you can visualize how your concepts join, making it appropriate for long-term analysis and artistic synthesis.
- Collaboration and teamwork: Notion affords native, real-time collaboration the place a number of customers can edit pages, go away feedback, and assign duties concurrently. Obsidian is constructed primarily for people. Whereas I might share information through third-party instruments, it lacked the seamless, multiplayer infrastructure that makes Notion the go-to for startups and groups.
- Customization and studying curve: I appreciated Notion’s drag-and-drop expertise that usually seems like enjoying with digital Legos. Obsidian has a steeper studying curve as a result of it depends on Markdown and a large ecosystem of community-developed plugins so as to add superior options. Nevertheless, this enables energy customers to customise each pixel of the interface.
- Stability and longevity: As a result of Obsidian makes use of plain-text information (.md), you’ll be able to open your notes with any textual content editor a long time from now. Notion’s proprietary database format means your notes are more durable to export of their authentic construction.
How the options tally: Detailed comparability of Obsidian vs. Notion
Obsidian is a local-first, markdown-based instrument constructed for personal, non-linear bidirectional linking, whereas Notion is a cloud-based, block-integrated platform designed for collaborative databases and multi-user mission administration.
| Obsidian | Notion | |
| G2 ranking | 4.3/5 (primarily based on 2 critiques) | 4.6/5 (primarily based on 9.2K critiques) |
| Pricing | Beginning at $4/person/month (when billed yearly) | Beginning at $10/person/month (when billed yearly) |
| Free plan accessible | Sure | Sure |
| Structure | Notes are saved in your gadget as plain-text Markdown (.md). | Content material is saved in a proprietary database on Notion’s servers. |
| Group logic | Makes use of bidirectional linking to construct a graph view and current an internet of concepts. | Acts as an working system for paperwork by utilizing a block-based system with hierarchical pages and sub-pages. |
| Information energy | Gives an infinite spatial canvas for mapping concepts and supplies bases for database-like desk views of Markdown information. | Options strong tables with filtered views (Kanban, Calendar, Gallery, Timeline). |
| Collaboration | Collaborative modifying requires the paid Obsidian Sync or technical workarounds like Git. | Designed for groups with real-time modifying cursors, @mentions, feedback, and job assignments. |
| AI integration | Doesn’t have native AI. Customers should set up group plugins so as to add AI options. | Gives built-in AI brokers that may routinely search your workspace, draft emails, and autofill database properties. |
| Privateness and safety | Obsidian can’t learn your notes. You personal the information. Encryption is normal on its Sync service. | SOC2 Sort 2 and ISO 27001 licensed. Information is encrypted in transit and at relaxation, however accessible to Notion admins. |
| Cellular expertise | Optimized for lightning-fast startup. The cell app mirrors the desktop vault construction precisely. | Contains Notion Mail and Notion Calendar apps that sync straight together with your workspace. |
| Integrations | Open API permits customers to rebuild your complete interface or add specialised logic. | Plug-and-play with Slack, Jira, GitHub, and Google Drive. Helps a public API for builders. |
| Longevity | Because it makes use of .md information, your notes will be learn by any textual content editor even after a very long time. | Shifting information out of Notion’s proprietary blocks into different codecs usually loses complicated formatting. |
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Obsidian vs. Notion: What’s my take primarily based on G2 critiques?
G2 reviewers steadily reward Obsidian for its lightning-fast efficiency and the future-proof safety of native Markdown information, which grant customers full possession of their information. In return, for customers who worth extensibility and privateness, the upfront complexity unlocks a stage of flexibility few instruments can match.
What G2 reviewers like about Obsidian:
“I like the simplicity of it whereas having tremendous flexibility and energy. Whereas it’s so minimal and there’s nothing to distract me, I can have an unlimited variety of plugins that make the ecosystem appropriate for my totally different workflows, akin to journaling, YouTube script writing, thoughts mapping, database, session note-taking, and studying processes. Additionally, with the ability of tags and linking, it made a fantastic construction for information administration.”
– Obsidian evaluate, Kayvon Okay.
What G2 reviewers dislike about Obsidian:
“For novice customers, the training curve could also be somewhat steep, notably when you want to make the most of subtle options like plugins or customized workflows.”
– Obsidian evaluate, Sabri S.
In distinction, Notion is well known as a extremely intuitive all-in-one pillar for group. Reviewers spotlight its strong databases and efficient AI integration as invaluable for centralizing complicated workflows. Regardless of this, customers usually complain about database fatigue attributable to cloud-only lag and an onboarding course of that may really feel overwhelming and cluttered for these searching for a easy note-taking expertise.
What G2 reviewers like about Notion:
“Notion is by far one of the best instrument I’ve used for bringing my initiatives, concepts, and duties all right into a usable area with out overwhelm or litter. The databases are extremely strong, and utilizing the views to shortly get actionable data or create a private dashboard has been invaluable. I’ve additionally lately began making an attempt the AI Brokers, however to date they have been each useful and genuinely thrilling to make use of. The benefit of use is spectacular given how complicated their database linkage will be. I’ve additionally been very proud of the convenience of integration into my very own workflows. As for frequency of use, I began with enjoying round with Notion, maybe a few occasions every week, to now a number of occasions a day to trace all of my initiatives.”
– Notion evaluate, John M.
What G2 reviewers dislike about Notion:
“The efficiency can lag once I’m working with massive databases, particularly when filtering or sorting complicated views. Additionally, the cell app wants severe enchancment. I can barely do fast edits on the go. Actual-time collaboration generally feels clunky in comparison with different instruments.”
– Notion evaluate, Souptik D.
In my expertise, Notion needs to be your go-to instrument whenever you want a collaborative, all-in-one workspace for mission administration. Select Obsidian when you prioritize private privateness, deep analysis, and proudly owning your information perpetually.
Shifting past Obsidian and Notion? Listed below are the options I like
After spending loads of time toggling between Obsidian and Notion, I’ve realized that almost all of us get caught as a result of we’re making an attempt to drive our brains right into a system that does not fairly match. If Obsidian feels too technical and Notion feels too gradual or public, you’re doubtless on the lookout for a center floor. After testing at the least 25+ instruments much like Obsidian and Notion, I’ve discovered a number of options that deal with the in-between a lot better.
What are one of the best options when you’re shifting from Obsidian?
These are finest when you love Obsidian’s privateness and linking logic however need a totally different interface.
- Logseq is an open-source, local-first outliner that prioritizes privateness and non-linear note-taking by way of a day by day journal interface. I take advantage of it for deep analysis and braindumping as a result of the bullet-point construction makes connecting ideas really feel easy. It’s preferrred whenever you need the safety of Obsidian however favor a movement that routinely hyperlinks your day by day entries with out guide folder administration.
- Anytype is constructed on a decentralized, local-first structure. It affords a modern, block-based interface with end-to-end encryption. I’ve switched to Anytype for my most delicate initiatives as a result of it supplies the polished really feel of Notion with out compromising on information sovereignty. It’s finest for these on the lookout for a personal Notion that works flawlessly offline and retains your info off company servers.
- HeptaBase features as a visible information base, permitting customers to arrange notes on an infinite spatial whiteboard utilizing a card system. I attain for this throughout complicated studying phases as a result of it lets me actually see how my analysis takes form. It’s preferrred for visible thinkers who have to map out intricate matters and see the large image of their information.
What are one of the best options when you’re shifting from Notion?
These are finest when you like Notion’s mission administration however discover it gradual or restricted.
- Coda combines paperwork, spreadsheets, and constructing blocks right into a single collaborative workspace outfitted with highly effective formulation and automations. I favor Coda when my notes evolve into workforce initiatives that require customized instruments or enterprise apps to perform. It’s preferrred for collaborative environments the place you want extra purposeful logic and automation than an ordinary doc editor supplies.
- Craft is an Apple-native writing software that focuses on high-quality doc design, efficiency, and a seamless person expertise throughout gadgets. I take advantage of it each time I have to create aesthetic paperwork or skilled consumer proposals that require a extra polished look than Notion. It’s preferrred for writers who need a quick, distraction-free atmosphere that produces lovely, shareable outcomes.
- ClickUp is a complete mission administration platform that mixes duties, docs, and targets right into a extremely structured, collaborative hub. I change to ClickUp each time my notes flip into high-stakes initiatives with strict deadlines and workforce dependencies that require greater than a easy record. It’s preferrred for individuals who discover Notion’s mission administration too free and want a professional-grade execution instrument with built-in time monitoring and strong job flows.
What are one of the best options if you need a mixture of Notion and Obsidian?
Select these instruments when you’re on the lookout for a 3rd means of productiveness, shifting past easy information and folders to deal with your info as a residing, AI-integrated community of knowledge.
- Capacities makes use of an object-based system to arrange info by sort (for instance, folks, books, or conferences) quite than conventional information. I’ve discovered it to be the proper answer once I need my library to type itself as I work. It’s for individuals who discover Notion’s databases too inflexible and need a system that builds a fantastic, structured library routinely.
- Tana is a classy computational outliner that treats every bit of data as an information node inside a relational construction. I take advantage of it to construct extremely automated workflows the place my tags act as reside databases that filter and question my notes immediately. It’s preferrred for information nerds who wish to construct a really clever second mind that manages info with granular precision.
- Mem.ai is an AI-powered workspace that makes use of machine studying to arrange, search, and resurface info with out the necessity for folders or tags. I take advantage of it for no-organization note-taking the place I can merely write and belief the AI to seek out related context later. It’s preferrred for busy professionals who wish to eradicate the friction of guide submitting and let an AI copilot deal with the retrieval.
Wish to examine different instruments much like Notion?
Obsidian vs. Notion: Regularly requested questions and solutions
Received extra questions? We’ve bought you lined!
1. What does Obsidian do higher than Notion?
Obsidian excels at information sovereignty and pace, because it shops notes domestically as plain-text Markdown information that work 100% offline. Its bidirectional linking and Graph View additionally make it superior for locating non-linear connections between concepts in comparison with Notion’s hierarchical construction.
2. What are the disadvantages of Obsidian?
The first downsides are a steep studying curve and an absence of native, real-time collaboration for groups. As a result of it’s local-first, syncing throughout gadgets requires a paid subscription or technical workarounds, and it lacks the built-in, out-of-the-box database energy of Notion.
3. What are the downsides of Notion?
Notion is a cloud-only platform, which might result in efficiency lag with massive databases and a complete lack of entry with out an web connection. Moreover, customers usually face database fatigue resulting from its complicated interface and lack of complete privateness, as information is saved on firm servers.
4. Do you have to select Obsidian or Notion for worldbuilding?
Select Obsidian if you need a personal, non-linear wiki the place you’ll be able to visualize hyperlinks between lore. Select Notion when you want a extremely structured, visible database to trace character stats and quest timelines. Most worldbuilders favor Obsidian for its offline reliability and the web-like nature of artistic brainstorming.
5. Which instrument is healthier for integrating with LLMs like ChatGPT: Obsidian or Notion?
Notion is healthier for customers who need an all-in-one expertise with its native Notion AI constructed straight into the editor. Nevertheless, Obsidian is healthier for energy customers who wish to join their non-public information to varied LLMs through group plugins utilizing their very own API keys.
6. Are you able to practice or fine-tune a language mannequin utilizing Obsidian vault or Notion workspace?
You may’t practice them straight contained in the apps, however an Obsidian vault is less complicated for builders to make use of as a coaching set as a result of its information are already in clear, native Markdown format. Notion information should first be exported through API or CSV/Markdown earlier than it may be used to fine-tune or present context to an LLM.
7. How effectively are you able to construct a private information assistant utilizing Notion and Obsidian?
Each are glorious for this, however they perform in another way. Notion means that you can construct a structured assistant utilizing its native AI to question your databases. Obsidian permits for a extra hackable assistant the place you should use native plugins to let an LLM learn your total Markdown vault for extremely customized, non-public responses.
8. Are you able to sync your Notion or Obsidian notes with an LLM-powered chatbot?
Sure, you’ll be able to sync Notion utilizing its official API or instruments like Zapier to feed information right into a chatbot. Obsidian will be synced through native plugins that index your folders. Many customers use retrieval-augmented era to let a chatbot reply questions particularly primarily based on their saved notes.
9. Which is one of the best software program for making a information database?
Obsidian is one of the best for a private information administration (PKM) database resulting from its longevity and linking capabilities. Notion is one of the best for a company wiki or shared information database due to its superior collaboration and structured database views.
10. Which information administration system is finest for tech startups?
Notion is mostly finest for tech startups as a result of it centralizes mission administration, assembly notes, and firm wikis in a single collaborative, searchable cloud area. Its plug-and-play integrations with Slack and GitHub make it preferrred for fast-moving, remote-first groups.
11. What’s the prime instrument for organizing project-related notes?
Notion is the highest instrument for project-related notes as a result of its databases will let you flip easy notes into actionable duties with deadlines, homeowners, and standing boards. Whereas Obsidian can handle initiatives through plugins, Notion’s native structure is designed particularly for high-level mission execution and visibility.
Your subsequent transfer: When to select from Obsidian vs. Notion
Finally, the selection between Obsidian and Notion is about deciding the way you wish to work together with your individual ideas.
Go for Obsidian if you’re a lone researcher who craves pace, privateness, and the flexibility to weave a fancy net of concepts. If you’re a builder or workforce chief who wants a structured, collaborative command middle to drive initiatives ahead, Notion is your powerhouse.
In my very own journey, I’ve discovered that one of the best instrument is just the one which stops getting in your means. Whether or not you go together with one of many two or enterprise into the third means with a hybrid, keep in mind that the aim is the work itself, not the proper group of it. Cease over-optimizing, decide the system that matches your pure cognitive model, and begin creating.
Should you’re nonetheless undecided, exploring the finest AI note-taking software program or information base instruments may also help you discover that good friction-free match.
