Notion vs Obsidian: Which Note-Taking App in 2025?
Notion and Obsidian take completely different approaches to note-taking and knowledge management. Here is how to choose between them in 2025.
Notion vs Obsidian: Complete Comparison (2025)
Core Philosophy
Notion: Database-driven workspace. Notes are entries in databases that can be filtered, sorted, and related. Better for teams, project management, and structured information. Everything is stored in Notion’s cloud.
Obsidian: Local-first, plain Markdown files. All notes are stored on your computer as .md files you own completely. Network of links creates a “second brain” knowledge graph. Highly customizable with plugins.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Data ownership | Cloud (Notion’s servers) | Local files you own |
| Collaboration | Excellent | Limited (Obsidian Sync) |
| Offline access | Limited | Full (always) |
| Customization | Moderate | Extensive (plugins) |
| Database views | Excellent | Plugin-dependent |
| Price | Free / $10/user/month | Free / $8/month sync |
| AI integration | Yes (Notion AI, $10/month) | Via plugins |
Who Should Use Each
Choose Notion if: You work in teams, need project management features, want databases and structured information, or prefer an all-in-one workspace.
Choose Obsidian if: You want to own your data completely, prefer plain text and Markdown, want to build a personal knowledge graph, or value speed and offline access above all.
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