Compare
Notion vs Obsidian
Notion is a cloud-based workspace with built-in syncing, while Obsidian stores notes locally.
NotionConnected workspace for docs, wikis and projects
ObsidianPrivate Markdown notes stored as local filesWhich to pick
Pick Notion if you want…
- AI-powered collaborative workspace
- All-in-one cloud workspace
- Integrations with Slack, Google Drive or GitHub (on Notion's list, not Obsidian's)
Pick Obsidian if you want…
- Local-first markdown knowledge base
- Integrations with Markdown, Obsidian Sync or Obsidian Publish (on Obsidian's list, not Notion's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Notion:Notion is an AI-enhanced workspace for docs, wikis, projects and custom agents.
- Obsidian:Obsidian is a free, local-first Markdown note-taking app that lets you build a personal knowledge base.
- Best for
- Notion:AI-powered collaborative workspace
- Obsidian:Local-first markdown knowledge base
- Who it’s for
- Notion:Teams and individuals who need a unified, searchable knowledge base with AI automation.
- Obsidian:Individuals and teams who want private, offline-first note taking and knowledge management.
- Pricing
- Notion:Freemium
- Obsidian:Freemium
- Plans
- Notion:Free $0 per member / month · Plus* $10 per member / month per month · Business $20 per member / month per month
- Obsidian:Sync $4USD per user, per month, billed an · Sync $5USD per user, per month, billed mo · Publish $8USD per site, per month, billed an · Publish $10USD per site, per month, billed mo · Catalyst $25USD one-time
- Works with
- Notion:Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Asana, Jira, Box, OneDrive, Salesforce
- Obsidian:Markdown, Obsidian Sync, Obsidian Publish
Notion features
- Notion AI & Custom Agents. Chat, generate, autofill docs and run autonomous agents for repetitive tasks.
- Unified databases & blocks. Create unlimited pages, databases, subtasks, dependencies and custom properties.
- Integrations & Enterprise Search. Connect Slack, GitHub, Asana, Jira, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams and more for cross-app search.
- Teamspaces & granular permissions. Private or open teamspaces with row-level database permissions and SSO.
- Automation & Workers. Build custom code, webhooks and API automations to sync data and trigger workflows.
- Publishing & forms. Publish pages as websites, use basic or custom forms with conditional logic.
- Security & compliance. SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, zero-retention LLMs for Enterprise.
- Analytics & insights. Page and workspace analytics, verified page badges and AI citations.
Obsidian features
- Local Markdown files. Notes are stored as plain-text Markdown files on your device, giving you full ownership.
- Bidirectional linking. Create links between notes to build a personal wiki and see connections in a graph view.
- Canvas workspace. An infinite canvas for brainstorming, diagramming and visual research.
- Extensible plugins. Thousands of community plugins and an open API let you customize the app to fit any workflow.
- Obsidian Sync. End-to-end encrypted sync across devices with version history and selective file sync.
- Obsidian Publish. Turn a vault into a fast, SEO-friendly public website or digital garden with custom themes.
- Collaboration. Shared vaults let multiple users edit notes together while keeping data private.
Notion vs Obsidian FAQ
Is Notion or Obsidian free?+
Notion has a free plan; paid plans start at $10/month per user (Plus*). Obsidian has a free plan and paid plans.
Do Notion and Obsidian integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Notion lists Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Asana and 5 more; Obsidian lists Markdown, Obsidian Sync and Obsidian Publish.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.