Notion vs Obsidian

Notion

Notion is cloud-based and built around working together: a single page can be a document, a database, and a task list at once, and several people can edit the same workspace in real time.

Obsidian

Obsidian stores your notes as plain markdown files on your own computer — it works without an internet connection, and you keep full control over the files themselves. Its graph view, which maps the links between notes visually, plus a large plugin ecosystem, make it a strong setup for building up and connecting a personal knowledge base.

Which one should you choose?

If you're working with a team and want notes, project tracking, and documentation to live together in a shared, cloud-based workspace, Notion is the more practical choice. If you care about your notes staying as plain local files, want offline access, and like deep plugin customization, Obsidian's local-first approach is likely a better fit.

What are Notion and Obsidian?

Notion is a cloud-based workspace that stores your data on its own servers. Pages, databases and task lists open in a browser or app, and teammates can edit the same page at the same time.

Obsidian is a note app that keeps your notes as plain Markdown files in a folder on your computer, called a vault. You link notes with double square brackets, and the app can show those links as a graph.

Key differences

Where your data lives: Notion keeps notes in the company's cloud. Obsidian keeps files on your device, readable in any text editor even if you stop using the app.
Offline use: Obsidian works fully offline. Notion is designed to work best with an internet connection.
Collaboration: real-time team editing is Notion's home turf. Obsidian is essentially a personal tool.
Customization: Obsidian's community plugins and themes let you reshape the app almost completely. Notion's structure is flexible but the interface is fixed.
Sync: Obsidian syncs across devices through its paid Sync service or a cloud folder you set up yourself. Notion syncs automatically.

Who should pick which?

If you run projects as a team, link meeting notes to tasks and share knowledge with others, go with Notion. Sending your manager a page link is enough for them to read it without installing anything.

If you are a researcher, writer, student or developer building a personal knowledge base meant to grow for years, Obsidian fits better. Owning your notes as plain files is a real safeguard if you want to stay independent of any one company's decisions.

Before you switch

Going from Notion to Obsidian, export your workspace as Markdown and CSV. Database views and relations become flat files, so expect some cleanup.
Going from Obsidian to Notion, test a few notes first to see whether double-bracket links convert correctly.
In Obsidian, backups are your job. Copy your vault folder somewhere else on a regular schedule.

Bottom line

Pick Notion if teamwork and sharing come first. Pick Obsidian if you are building a personal note archive and care about offline access and keeping data on your own device. Still unsure? Ask whether anyone else will edit these notes. If yes, Notion. If no, Obsidian.