Obsidian vs Notion
A detailed comparison of Obsidian and Notion to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Obsidian | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free for personal use | ✓ Personal use, unlimited blocks |
| Lowest Paid | $50/yr (Sync) | $10/user/mo |
| Enterprise | $50/user/yr (Commercial) | $15/user/mo |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Obsidian | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown editing | ✓ | — |
| Graph view | ✓ | — |
| Backlinks | ✓ | — |
| Community plugins | ✓ | — |
| Themes | ✓ | — |
| Canvas | ✓ | — |
| Templates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✓ | — |
| Search | ✓ | — |
| Local storage | ✓ | — |
| Block-based editor | — | ✓ |
| Databases | — | ✓ |
| Wiki pages | — | ✓ |
| API access | — | ✓ |
| AI assistant | — | ✓ |
| Calendar view | — | ✓ |
| Kanban boards | — | ✓ |
| Web clipper | — | ✓ |
| Team spaces | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.6 | ⭐ 4.5 |
Pros & Cons
Obsidian
Pros
- ✓ Local-first
- ✓ Highly customizable
- ✓ Free for personal use
- ✓ Plugin ecosystem
Cons
- ✗ No real-time collaboration
- ✗ Sync costs extra
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Not web-based
Notion
Pros
- ✓ Incredibly flexible
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ Great free tier
- ✓ Powerful databases
- ✓ Active template community
Cons
- ✗ Slow with large databases
- ✗ Offline mode limited
- ✗ Complex for simple needs
- ✗ No built-in chat
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Obsidian if: You need knowledge workers wanting local-first note-taking. Obsidian excels with its local-first and highly customizable.
Choose Notion if: You need teams and individuals wanting a flexible all-in-one workspace. Notion stands out with its incredibly flexible and beautiful design.
Best free option: Both Obsidian and Notion offer free tiers. Obsidian offers "Free for personal use" while Notion offers "Personal use, unlimited blocks".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Obsidian better than Notion?
It depends on your needs. Obsidian is better for knowledge workers wanting local-first note-taking, while Notion is better for teams and individuals wanting a flexible all-in-one workspace. Both are excellent tools rated 4.6 and 4.5 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Obsidian or Notion?
Obsidian starts at $50/yr (Sync) while Notion starts at $10/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Obsidian to Notion?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Notion's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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