Notion AI vs Obsidian vs Roam Research: Best PKM Tool 2025
Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) tools have become essential for knowledge workers, researchers, and students. We compared Notion AI, Obsidian, and Roam Research to find the best fit for different workflows.
Overview
| Tool | Best For | Price | Data Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notion AI | Teams & project management | $16/mo (+$10 AI) | Cloud |
| Obsidian | Local-first, privacy-focused | Free (sync $10/mo) | Local files |
| Roam Research | Networked thinking, research | $15/mo | Cloud |
Notion AI: The Collaboration Hub
Notion evolved from a note-taking app into a comprehensive workspace platform. With AI features added in 2023, it can now draft content, summarize pages, and generate databases automatically.
Notion AI Strengths
- All-in-one workspace (notes, databases, projects)
- Real-time collaboration
- AI that works within your pages
- Huge template library
- API integrations with 60+ tools
Obsidian: The Local-First Note-Taker
Obsidian stores your notes as plain Markdown files on your device. This means full control over your data, offline access, and the ability to use your notes with any other tool. The plugin ecosystem is extraordinary.
Obsidian Strengths
- 100% data ownership (local files)
- Works offline completely
- 1,000+ community plugins
- Bidirectional linking
- Free for personal use
Roam Research: The Networked Thought Pioneer
Roam popularized the concept of “networked thought” — the idea that notes should link to each other like neurons. Its bidirectional linking and daily notes system has influenced all modern PKM tools.
Roam Strengths
- Pioneered bidirectional links
- Block-level references (not just page links)
- Daily notes workflow
- JavaScript-based plugins
Which Is Right For You?
- Teams and collaboration: → Notion AI
- Privacy-focused individuals: → Obsidian
- Researchers and academics: → Roam or Obsidian
- Students: → Notion (free plan is generous)
Should I use Notion or Obsidian?
Choose Notion for collaboration and all-in-one project management. Choose Obsidian if you value data privacy, offline access, and customization. Many people use both — Obsidian for personal knowledge and Notion for team projects.
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