Notion vs Obsidian (2026)
Two philosophies of note-taking. Cloud-first flexibility vs local-first ownership. Which builds a better second brain?
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Notion for team collaboration, databases, and all-in-one workspace needs.
Choose Obsidian for personal knowledge management, privacy, and owning your data forever.
Notion is better for teams. Obsidian is better for individuals who think in connections.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Data Ownership | Cloud (Notion servers) | ★ Local markdown files |
| Team Collaboration | ★ Excellent (built-in) | Limited (sync required) |
| Databases & Tables | ★ Powerful relational DB | Plugin-dependent |
| Linking & Graphs | Basic backlinks | ★ Graph view, deep linking |
| Offline Access | Limited | ★ Fully offline |
| Customization | Templates, blocks | ★ 1000+ plugins, themes |
| AI Features | ★ Notion AI (built-in) | Plugins (various) |
| Free Tier | Generous (personal) | ★ Completely free (core) |
| Paid Plans | $10/mo (Plus) | $50/yr (Sync) optional |
Philosophy: Cloud vs Local
This is the fundamental difference. Notion stores everything on their servers — convenient, collaborative, but you're dependent on them. If Notion disappears or changes pricing, your data is at their mercy.
Obsidian stores everything as plain markdown files on your computer. Your notes exist independent of the app. You can open them in any text editor, version control with Git, and keep them forever. This matters to people who think long-term.
Team Collaboration
Notion is built for teams. Real-time collaboration, permissions, shared databases, team wikis — it's a workspace, not just a note-taking app. For companies, this is often the deciding factor.
Obsidian is primarily personal. You can share vaults via Obsidian Sync or Git, but it's not the same seamless collaboration. For solo knowledge work, this is fine. For teams, Notion is built for it.
Knowledge Graphs & Linking
Obsidian's graph view is legendary in the PKM community. See how your notes connect, discover unexpected relationships, navigate by association. The linking system (backlinks, block references, aliases) is deeper than Notion's.
Notion has backlinks and synced blocks, but it's not built around the "everything is connected" philosophy. For Zettelkasten-style note-taking or serious personal knowledge management, Obsidian's approach is more powerful.
Databases & Structured Data
Notion's database system is genuinely excellent. Create tables with relations, rollups, filters, and views. Build a CRM, project tracker, or content calendar without code. For structured information, Notion is remarkably capable.
Obsidian has database plugins (Dataview is powerful), but they require more setup and markdown knowledge. For casual users wanting tables, Notion is easier. For power users, Obsidian can match it with effort.
The Bottom Line
- Teams & companies: Notion (collaboration built-in)
- Personal knowledge management: Obsidian (graphs + local files)
- Project management: Notion (databases + views)
- Writers & researchers: Obsidian (distraction-free, long-term)
- Privacy-conscious: Obsidian (your files, your control)
- Non-technical users: Notion (easier learning curve)
Try Both Free
Notion's personal plan is generous. Obsidian's core app is completely free.