5 Notion vs Obsidian things

Jan Marc
2 min readApr 11, 2023

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Notion and Obsidian are two popular note-taking and knowledge management tools that are designed to help individuals and teams organise, collaborate and share information. Here are some of the differences between the two:

1.User Interface: Notion has a modern and visually appealing user interface, whereas Obsidian has a more minimalist interface.

Obsidian is more capable, but it can be harder to manage. You need to be an advanced user to set up everything you like and need…

2.Organization: Notion has a flexible database system that allows users to organise their notes, tasks, and projects in various ways, including lists, tables, calendars, and boards. In contrast, Obsidian’s organisational system is based on a network of interconnected notes, also known as a “knowledge graph.”

But the notion is more flexible and more productivity-oriented in general…

Obsidian graph view

3.Collaboration: Notion is designed for collaborative work, and allows users to share pages, databases, and projects with others, while Obsidian is primarily intended for individual use, and does not have built-in collaboration features.

The Notion app does not have an offline mode, so be aware that if you need to access something quickly in an area without internet coverage, you may be out of luck…

4.Pricing: Notion offers a freemium model, with a limited free plan and various paid plans with additional features, whereas Obsidian has a one-time purchase fee for access to all features.

If you want to sync notes within the Obsidian server, you need to pay 10 USD. However, you can set up the sync yourself after completing a lot of tasks that are not user-friendly at all…

Notion database list view

5.Customisability: Obsidian offers more customisation options, including the ability to use custom CSS, themes, and plugins, while Notion is less customisable in terms of design and functionality.

Obsidian may have more power, but it is intended for advanced users. On the other hand, Notion is an all-in-one solution that is ready to use out of the box…

Notion and Obsidian have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two depends on personal preferences, use cases, and requirements. Notion may be a better fit for teams or individuals who need a flexible and collaborative workspace, while Obsidian may be a better choice for those who prioritise privacy, customisation, and a networked approach to knowledge management.

JM.

5 things that I like about Notion

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