Notion vs Obsidian: Which Note-Taking App Wins in 2025
You need a note-taking app that works. Not one that slows you down or locks up your data. Notion and Obsidian are two popular choices, but they solve different problems. Pick the wrong one and you will waste time fixing it later.
What Makes These Apps Different
Notion is an all-in-one workspace. You build databases, manage projects, and write notes in one place. It runs in the cloud and looks polished. Your team can jump in and work together right away.
Obsidian stores your notes on your computer. Every note is a plain text file you own. You link ideas together to build a personal knowledge base. It works offline and gives you full control.
The choice comes down to what you value more. Team collaboration or personal privacy. Cloud convenience or local control.
Pricing Breakdown
Notion has four plans. The free plan works for personal use with some limits. You get unlimited pages but only 5MB file uploads. The Plus plan costs $10 per user monthly. Business costs $20 monthly and includes AI features. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Obsidian is free for personal use. You pay nothing to use the core app. Sync costs $4 monthly if you want cloud backup across devices. Publish costs $8 monthly to share notes as a website. Most people stick with the free version and sync files through Dropbox or iCloud.
Students and educators get 40% off Obsidian's paid services.
How They Handle Your Data
Notion stores everything on their servers. You need internet to access most features. Your data lives in their cloud. This means easy access from anywhere but less privacy control.
Obsidian keeps files on your device. No internet required. No company reads your notes. You back up files however you want. This approach works well if you handle sensitive information or just want true ownership.
Your notes stay private with Obsidian. Notion shares workspace data across team members by design.
Team Collaboration Features
Notion wins here. Multiple people can edit the same page at once. You see changes in real time. Comments, mentions, and permissions make teamwork smooth. Project managers love the built-in databases and calendars.
Obsidian was built for solo users. No live collaboration exists. You can share vaults with others but they work as separate copies. Teams find workarounds using Git or shared folders, but it requires technical skill.
If you work with a team daily, Notion handles it better. Obsidian works best for individual knowledge workers.
Writing and Organization Tools
Obsidian uses Markdown. You write plain text with simple formatting. Links between notes create a web of ideas. The graph view shows connections visually. Over 1,000 community plugins add features like task lists and calendars.
Notion uses blocks. Every element is a draggable block. You mix text, images, tables, and databases freely. Templates help you start projects fast. The AI assistant writes and summarizes content for you on paid plans.
Writers who think in connections prefer Obsidian. People who need flexible layouts choose Notion.
Mobile Experience
Both apps have mobile versions. Notion's mobile app mirrors the desktop experience well. You can edit databases and collaborate from your phone without issues.
Obsidian's mobile app works but feels limited. Syncing requires the paid plan or manual file transfers. Some plugins do not work on mobile. The app runs slower with large vaults.
Notion delivers a smoother mobile experience overall.
Learning Curve
Notion looks friendly but takes time to master. The block system makes sense quickly. Building complex databases requires practice. New users often feel overwhelmed by options.
Obsidian starts simple. Open it and start writing. The complexity grows as you add plugins and customize settings. Markdown takes an hour to learn. Power users spend weeks perfecting their setup.
Expect a few days to feel comfortable with either app.
Key Takeaways
- Choose Notion if you need team collaboration and cloud access
- Pick Obsidian if you want privacy and offline access
- Notion costs more but includes collaboration features
- Obsidian is free for most users with optional paid sync
- Notion works better for project management and databases
- Obsidian excels at linking ideas and building knowledge
- Both apps require time to learn but reward the effort
- Your data stays local with Obsidian, lives in the cloud with Notion
Which App Fits Your Work
Your choice depends on your workflow. Teams managing shared projects need Notion's collaboration tools. Solo workers who value privacy and control should use Obsidian.
Try both before committing. Notion offers a free plan to test features. Obsidian is free forever for personal use. Spend a week with each and see which fits your thinking style.
The best note-taking app is the one you will use daily. Pick based on how you work, not which app sounds better.