Head to head
Notion vs Obsidian
Notion is a shared online workspace of pages and databases. Obsidian is a private notes app that keeps plain markdown files on your own device. The real question is whether the notes are for a team or for you.
Notion
Docs, databases, and wikis in one workspace
Choose Notion if a team needs to plan and document in one place, with databases and templates.
Obsidian
Local-first knowledge base with linked notes
Choose Obsidian if the notes are yours, you want them stored locally as markdown, and you like linking ideas together.
| Notion | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Plus from $10/user/mo | Free for personal use + Sync/Publish paid |
| Free option | Yes | Yes |
| Toolora score | 92/100 | 95/100 |
| Known for | Flexible page blocks · Relational databases · AI writing and Q&A · Templates and team spaces | Local markdown vaults · Graph view and backlinks · Huge community plugins · Canvas and bases |
Neither fits?
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