Notion vs Obsidian

Choose Notion if…

• Teams that want docs, wikis and simple databases in one place
• You need Web, which Obsidian doesn't list
• Flexible blocks and databases
• Large template gallery

Choose Obsidian if…

• People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files
• You need Linux, which Notion doesn't list
• Notes are plain Markdown files you own
• Works fully offline

What is Notion?

Notion combines documents, wikis and lightweight databases in a single workspace built from blocks. You can start with a blank page, turn a list into a table or kanban board, and link pages together into a team wiki. Templates cover common setups such as meeting notes, roadmaps and personal trackers. Teams use it as a shared home for planning and documentation, while individuals use it for notes and life admin. It runs in the browser and has desktop and mobile apps, and it relies on a cloud account rather than local files.

What is Obsidian?

Obsidian is a note-taking app that keeps your notes as plain Markdown files in a folder on your own device. Notes link to each other with double-bracket links, and a graph view shows how ideas connect. A large community plugin ecosystem adds features such as task lists, calendars and spaced repetition. Because the files are ordinary text, you can back them up, sync them with any tool and open them in other editors. The app is free for personal use, and optional paid services add end-to-end encrypted sync and web publishing.