The most effective program must be determined by comparing Obsidian vs OneNote vs Notion. Although Notion vs. OneNote vs. Obsidian share some features, they also have some key distinctions in terms of security, pricing, etc. Digital note-taking software is useful for recording everything from grocery lists to class notes to meeting minutes. The apps Obsidian and Notion both have the ability to create and manage notes and wikis, but they each approach this task in a fundamentally different way.
Get ready for the ultimate note-taking matchup between Obsidian vs. Notion as we compare all the features, pricing, support, security, and other aspects of each app. Obsidian and Notion will be compared and contrasted in this article to help you decide which one is best for your needs.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Overview
Your databases, wikis, and notes are all housed in one workspace called Notion. Notion is software that runs on Google Docs and is primarily used for taking notes, though it can also be useful for managing simple tasks and projects. Class notes, business meeting minutes, collaborative editing, and company wikis are all covered by Notion, which has all of these features on a user-friendly interface with plenty of templates and a supportive community that is ready to assist.
An alternative to using the cloud for file storage is the note-taking app Obsidian, which keeps files locally on your device. You can create your notes in Obsidian using Markdown. In Obsidian, all of your notes are linked together through bi-directional linking, as opposed to Notion’s database-based structure.
Obsidian vs. Notion: UI and Note Organization
In Notion, you first create a workspace before beginning to add pages to it. Subpages help you create a visual structure for your documents, and backlinking lets you connect different page sections. A page can be easily accessed from your sidebar by being added to your list of favorites. Notion for taking notes supports both drag-and-drop editing and Markdown formatting. It also provides you with a variety of features to improve your notes, including emojis, banners, headings, checkboxes, and more.
Obsidian uses the term vault in place of a workspace like Notion. Obsidian keeps your notes on your device locally in a folder called the vault. You may have one vault or several, depending on how many projects you are working on. After setting up your first vault, you can begin taking plain-text notes. Multiple files may be opened simultaneously on different panes in Obsidian. The panes can be changed or divided into two identical panes.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Backlinking
In Notion, you can link your ideas together while taking notes by using the backlinking feature. Notion automatically adds a backlink each time you link. Then you can see where each backlink to a specific page was used and view them all. This function is useful when building wikis, connecting concepts, or handling tasks in Notion. One of the core components of Obsidian Notes is backlinking, which makes creating wikis much easier.
Obsidian allows you to construct a connected web of ideas using a knowledge graph rather than hierarchical folders or databases, making it the perfect tool for students, academics, software engineers, and other professionals who are constantly taking notes.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Note Sharing and Collaboration
Collaboration and note-sharing are strengths of Notion. To collaborate on a new project or to organize a trip, simply send a friend or member of your team a link to your Notion workspace.
You must put in extra effort if you want to work together on editing an Obsidian vault. While a plugin can be used, the experience will not be as seamless as with Notion. The ability to send someone a link that lets them view your vault in Obsidian is also unavailable. Only exporting a vault in text or PDF format allows it to be shared.
The public URL for your vault is available for sharing via Obsidian publish and sharing, though.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Importing files
If you have never used Obsidian before, the process entails manually exporting your notes as Markdown files (.md), uploading them, and then repeating the process.
You can upload files in five different formats using Notion: plaintext (.txt), markdown (.md or. markdown), Microsoft Word (.docx), CSV (.csv), and HTML (.html). It also provides import utilities for several other applications, such as Confluence, Asana, Evernote, and Trello.
No matter how you currently take notes, switching from another service to Notion is much simpler.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Pricing
Notion and Obsidian both provide free plans for individual use. However, Notion also offers a pro plan for individual use. However, Obsidian charges a higher fee for business use as well as additional fees for publishing and syncing features.
Notion
- Personal (Free): Unlimited pages and blocks, device sync, sharing with up to five guests, and an API for custom integrations
- Personal Pro ($4 monthly): With Personal Plus, you can view and restore versions of any file and have an unlimited number of guests. dating 30 days back.
- Teams ($8 per month): All-in-one Personal Pro plus, countless team members, sharing permissions, a working environment, and administrative tools
- Enterprise (Custom Pricing): All in Teams Plus, SAML SSO, user provisioning (SCIM) Audit LogNEW, Advanced Security & Controls, Unlimited Version History, Devoted Success Manager (100+ Seats), Custom Contract
Obsidian
- Personal (Free): No account registration is necessary, community support, availability of plugins and APIs
- Catalyst ($25 one-time fee) offers early access to new features, unique community badges, and access to the private dev channel.
- Commercial ($50 per user annually): Commercial use and priority assistance
Add-ons: Sync ($8 monthly) and Publish ($16 monthly per site)
Obsidian vs. Notion: Plugins and Integrations
Plug-ins form the foundation of Obsidian. Except for a few, almost all of Obsidian’s features can be used. As a result, you can expand the functionality of Obsidian by merely installing the necessary plugins. Installing the Dataview plugin enables you to utilize Obsidian as a database. Alternatively, you can install the Kanban plugin and use Obsidian as a Kanban organizer.
Even though Obsidian does not have a ton of built-in features, it still gives you a platform that you can customize with different plugins to fully optimize your workflow. If you have a very specific plugin in mind, you can attempt to create it yourself using the free Obsidian API, which is available on GitHub.
In contrast, Notion lacks any plugins. It makes up for this by having a plethora of features that are already included in the app. You will not even need a plugin with Notion because it has so many features unless you need one to integrate other apps with Notion.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Online and Offline Storage
Obsidian is typically where data is localized. This translates to the ability to access your vault even when you are not connected. Obsidian’s storage practices guarantee the files’ long-term technical viability. Obsidian’s method of storing files also ensures their technical longevity. Your files are saved as.MD files, which you can open and edit in any other Markdown editor. On the other hand, offline storage prevents you from accessing your vault from other devices.
Contrarily, Notion stores data on its cloud servers. When you log in to Notion, your workstation will automatically load because it is saved under your Notion account. In other words, you will not need to carry a physical copy of your Notion workstation around with you.
However, if you are unable to access your Notion account for any reason, your workstation will be inaccessible. Notion’s collaboration feature is one of the benefits of being online. You can invite others to your workspace and collaborate on various projects and pages in real-time.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Obsidian vs. Notion Support
Obsidian has a support website in seven languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Danish, Russian, and Italian. You can reach Obsidian support via email.
There is a Notion Community as well, where you can participate in events and webinars or just exchange ideas and advice with other members. Sending an email or a message through the app are the two ways to get in touch with Notion support. You can hire a dedicated success manager for your Enterprise plan to assist you in making the most of Notion.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Privacy and Accessibility
With a live internet connection, Notion is accessible at all times. Your data will be available even if the Notion servers are unavailable. Because the actual data will be kept in the cloud (on Notion’s servers), this has both advantages and disadvantages in terms of privacy.
Contrarily, Obsidian is completely local, which is great for privacy but can limit accessibility depending on your local network configuration. VPN access is my preferred method for getting to my Obsidian vault when I am not on my local network. By using a VPN, you can make sure that the information is reachable from any location in the world.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Supported Platforms
The well-liked note-taking and knowledge management apps Obsidian and Notion were created to meet the needs of various users. Both tools are compatible with the main operating systems in terms of supported platforms.
Notion is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Web-based versions while Obsidian is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Obsidian vs. Notion Security
If the thought of disclosing personal information makes you uncomfortable, Obsidian might be the best option for you since you can use it anonymously. You are not required to create an account or supply an email address. Additionally, since every note you make is stored locally on your device, it is your responsibility to protect it.
But if you use Obsidian Sync, your data is stored on Obsidian’s servers. They offer: while protecting your data with AES-256 encryption.
- All data entering and leaving your device is encrypted from beginning to end, and only your encryption key can decrypt it.
- Managed encryption means that, in this case, Obsidian will look after your encryption password so you will not have to.
Notion uses a cloud server to store data, in contrast to Obsidian. To guarantee the security of your data, Notion:
- Encrypts data both at rest and in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher,
- Offers two-factor authentication for all plans,
- Complies with the GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO 27001, among other standards.
Obsidian vs. Notion: Ease of Use
With Notion, users can quickly create and customize pages thanks to its intuitive user interface and drag-and-drop capabilities. Various application domains, including note-taking, project management, and even the creation of wikis, are catered to by the platform’s extensive selection of templates and features. Additionally, Notion supports real-time collaboration, enabling numerous users to work on a document concurrently.
While using Markdown files created locally first, Obsidian is a knowledge management tool that is used for taking notes. In contrast to Notion, it has a simpler interface that focuses on linking notes and creating knowledge graphs. Obsidian lacks real-time collaboration tools and may have a slightly higher learning curve for users who are not familiar with Markdown. However, it is a well-liked option for users who favor local storage over cloud-based solutions due to offline storage and the privacy-focused design.
Obsidian vs. Notion vs. Onenote
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Overview
If you currently have a subscription to Office 365, pick OneNote to access the premium features. You should use it if your job requires you to do a lot of basic math and budgeting. The included calculator makes work easier and prevents you from having to leave the app.
However, those who prefer to organize their notes under headings should use Notion. Other benefits that Notion provides include a variety of icon and text color options.
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: User Experience
With Notion, you can build pages from “blocks,” which serve as sections. The notion, in contrast to OneNote, has a sidebar that makes it easier to locate a particular block within a page. With just a few clicks or without having to go back and forth, you can jump between notes using the search feature in this convenient sidebar.
Extensive customizability is Notion’s main drawback, which negatively impacts user experience. You can customize the documentation for your projects to get the most value out of it, but this openness is a drawback because it makes it more difficult for new users to get up to speed.
A neat layout in OneNote makes it simple to access elements and notes. You can make individual notes or gather them into a notebook using this note-taking tool.
Different notes may be made on various pages and then collected into one notebook. This is a more “modern” version of an “ancient” method of taking notes. OneNote for mobile devices does not have a sidebar, which would be useful for quickly finding a certain section in a particular notebook.
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Security
The notion does not support password-protecting files as OneNote does. You can decide who has access to which files in the app, though. Private content can be set up with different permissions from public notes. So you can continue to share content you want others to see without being concerned that they will access your personal information.
OneNote was built by Microsoft with security against prying eyes in mind. You can password-protect particular note sections to control access if you use the app to keep track of personal information, meeting minutes, school assignments, or class notes.
This is essential if you share content from the app with others. Your personal information is safe in the shared workspace of OneNote from unauthorized access. You must remember the password used to encrypt your notes, though. If you forget your password, not even Microsoft support will be able to assist you.
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Integrations
Although Notion integrates with more than 200 necessary apps, it loses a lot of ground in this category by excluding Google Calendar. Although it is possible to embed a “view-only” calendar, most users find it to be more work than it is worth. Unfortunately, you must open the Google Calendar application each time you want to edit or add an event.
OneNote is a master of integration and offers additional crucial apps like Google Calendar. OneNote integrates with more than 850 apps, in addition to a large number of media-friendly apps.
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Customer Support
The following customer support services are provided for particular premium plans by OneNote and Notion alike:
- Phone support
- 24/7 live rep support
- Chat
- Email/help desk
- FAQs/forum
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Platform Availability
Task management is one of Notion’s key selling points, but neither its desktop nor mobile apps offer sophisticated features to support it. The functionalities of concept project management are not developed enough to enable seamless collaboration. It lacks features for task management tools like time tracking, integrated Gantt charts, and OKRs.
OneNote is available on all platforms, but the Android app lacks features like math calculations, tools for drawing shapes and symbols, and so on. If you value these features, the Android version of OneNote might not be the best note-taking app for you.
Notion vs. Microsoft OneNote: Storage and Pricing
A free plan and three paid plans are available from Notion:
- Free plan: Five guests can share files with you, and the largest file you can upload is 5MB.
- Personal Pro: Unlimited file sharing and uploading for $4 per month per user
- Team: $8 per user per month for limitless sharing, file uploads, team members, and sharing permissions
- Enterprise: Individualized pricing, full access to features, and specialized support
Your OneNote data is accessible through OneDrive using your Microsoft account. But there is a 5GB cap on the amount of free storage. You must purchase one of the Microsoft 365 premium plans to get more storage:
- Personal: Each user pays $6.99 per month.
- Family: $9.99 per month per user
- Business Basic: $6 per month per user
- Business Standard: $12.50 per month per user
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Overview
OneNote and Obsidian differ primarily in that Obsidian is used for projects requiring visualizations. OneNote is merely a note-taking application for storing your ideas in rich text format. Additionally, OneNote might work better for you if you want something to use for project collaboration. Obsidian allows for collaboration, but it costs money, or you have to send files to your teammates.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Pricing
Through the online work-saving feature, Obsidian promotes cross-platform compatibility. There is a $10 monthly fee. Additionally, for a one-time fee, the app offers Catalyst and Commercial licenses. For $25, you can subscribe to Catalyst, which grants you early access to new features as well as community badges and other advantages. You can use the program for profit if you purchase the Commercial license, which is $50 overall.
In contrast, OneNote is free. To use it and collaborate, you must have a free Microsoft account. Microsoft OneNote is free to download and use. To upgrade your basic note-taking features to more sophisticated ones, you can choose a subscription plan through a Microsoft 365 account, which starts at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
Additionally, you have the option of selecting the Microsoft basic plan, which has 50 GB of OneDrive storage and costs $1.99 per month or $23.88 per year.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Compatibility and Syncing
Obsidian is a cross-platform program that runs on a variety of operating systems, including iOS and Android on smartphones and tablets as well as macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Furthermore, you can access all the features and tools required for device synchronization through the special add-on included with Obsidian called Obsidian sync. You can connect your iPad to a Mac or an Android smartphone with the help of this program, which also makes it easier for you to keep your work in sync across multiple devices.
Microsoft OneNote automatically appears on Windows in the desktop app format because it is a component of Office 2019 and Microsoft 365. Additionally, if you do not have either service, you can use the app version, which runs without a hitch on any PC, including Windows and Mac versions.
Furthermore, Microsoft OneNote supports both Windows 10 and Windows 11 as operating systems. It also works on Android and iOS-powered smartphones and tablets.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Security
Obsidian ensures complete security and privacy for all of your data stored in its notes. End-to-end encryption is provided by Obsidian, which encrypts your vault using a different encryption key on each synced device.
OneNote OneNote offers total privacy and security for all of your notes. It has a 128-bit AES encryption feature to help safeguard password-protected notebook sections and individual notes. In other words, Microsoft OneNote makes it easy to protect your notes with a special password.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Templates
Obsidian offers a ton of templates and customization options to satisfy all of your preferences because it recognizes that you may not always have the time to create a page from scratch that meets your requirements. The Templates function in the Obsidian app is a useful tool for quickly adding formatting, prewritten text, tags, links, and other custom information to your notes.
A variety of options are available in OneNote’s templates section. OneNote includes templates for each of the aforementioned tasks, as well as for creating a calendar or an in-depth report with graphics, tables, distinct parts, etc. Because the OneNote template includes pre-made page designs with attractive backgrounds and standardized formats, adding pages to your notebook is made simple.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Best for
Obsidian is a cutting-edge note-taking program that works best when used for learning-related, information-related, and other purposes. Although Obsidian is a meticulous note-taking tool, it can also be used for jobs that do not call for a lot of specialized equipment, like multi-device compatibility. You can find it there because OneNote lacks some of the tools and features you require to hasten your workflow.
If you need to complete a task quickly, OneNote is an easy tool to use. It functions best when you are recording information, making notes during a meeting or presentation, etc. Therefore, OneNote can be useful if you want to order your workshop or study notes methodically. Microsoft OneNote is an excellent choice if you want to keep a journal, learn something new, put your knowledge to use, etc.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: User Interface
The user interfaces of Obsidian and OneNote are both simple to use, but they do so in different ways. OneNote has a slick, user-friendly interface just like other Microsoft Office applications. The Microsoft ecosystem veterans will find it simple to use. Contrarily, Obsidian has a straightforward user interface that prioritizes functionality. It strives to eliminate as many distractions as it can to allow users to concentrate on their ideas and notes.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Note-taking Features and Organization
In their unique ways, both apps are excellent for taking notes. OneNote provides a variety of formatting options, including text styles, tables, and media embedding. Additionally, it has strong organizational features like sections, notebooks, and tags that assist users in keeping their notes well-organized and simple to find. On the other hand, obsidian is all about the power of connections. Its linking feature enables users to create a network of related ideas, providing a more comprehensive view of knowledge.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Collaboration and Sharing Options
Due to its co-authoring and real-time sharing capabilities, OneNote is excellent for group projects. It is ideal for group projects or discussions because it enables multiple people to work on the same note at once. OneNote also makes it easy to share notes with others. Users have the option of sending notes to others via email or cloud storage services. Contrarily, Obsidian emphasizes independent note-taking over collaborative effort. Despite having some sharing options, OneNote may be a better option in this regard.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Integrations and Third-Party Support
The remainder of the Microsoft Office program and other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive, integrate well with OneNote. As a result of this integration, users can easily add notes to other Microsoft apps and vice versa. On the other hand, Obsidian is compatible with a large selection of third-party plugins and extensions. By integrating with other productivity tools and services, users can enhance their note-taking.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Customization and Extensibility
OneNote users have a lot of control over the appearance of their notebooks, sections, and pages thanks to the program’s various formatting options. Obsidian raises the bar for customization with its ecosystem of user-created plugins and themes. Users can modify the application to suit their needs and even create their own add-ons to expand its functionality.
Obsidian vs. OneNote: Privacy and Data Security
There are differences between the privacy and data security policies of OneNote and Obsidian. OneNote stores its notes in the Microsoft cloud, which facilitates device syncing and access. However, users who value having total control over their data may find this concerning. Because Obsidian is a local-first app, the user has more privacy and control over their notes because they are stored on their device. Users can specify how their data should be used.
Are Obsidian Notes Worth Using?
Obsidian has a limited set of default features, but you can expand its functionality by installing open-source plugins. These plugins give the app a ton of helpful features. Although it is not free, collaboration in Obsidian may not be as simple as it is in other note-taking programs.
Why Do People Love Notion So Much?
It is simple to customize, capable of handling both significant and minute details, inexpensive or free, and it helps to keep a workspace neat and organized. Additionally, it is simple to pick up and learn.
Can Obsidian be used Offline?
Markdown, an easy-to-learn markup language for formatting text, is used by the offline note-taking application Obsidian. Even though it is only a few years old—it has only been available since 2020—it is already quite well-liked. Because Obsidian only functions offline and stores all of your data locally rather than in the cloud, it maintains the privacy of your data.
Does Notion work Offline?
Being a web-based application, Notion works best when connected to the Internet. The notion is technically usable offline if the page has already been preloaded, but this severely restricts the service’s functionality.
Can I use Notion for Everything?
Worldwide productivity experts frequently endorse Notion as a great platform. Notion has the advantage of being able to meet a wide range of business requirements, including those for documentation, knowledge bases, project management, task tracking, roadmap planning, and more. It’s even great for personal use as well
Does Obsidian have Databases like Notion?
Rafael Gomez’s Obsidian Database folder is the newest component of the community-developed Obsidian plugin. You can use this plugin to make a database in your obsidian vault that is similar to Notion. The database has a unique kind of view. Various sources, including folders, tags, links, and data view queries, will be used to search all notes. The specified columns and metadata will then be displayed.
How Safe is Obsidian?
The best thing about Obsidian is that it can be downloaded to computers and used without users needing a constant internet connection. It is among the top note-taking apps in our opinion.
Obsidian is thus ideal for those who prefer to work offline, are on the go, and want to concentrate on their writing in locations where Wi-Fi is difficult to find.
What are the Cons of the Obsidian app?
There is not a mobile app accessible yet. Obsidian is still a relatively new platform, so users anticipate the release of an app for mobile devices shortly. The fact that Obsidian can only be accessed through a desktop is one of its biggest drawbacks.
- No website version
- Expensive add-ons
- Minimal free assistance
Is Obsidian Free Forever?
For personal use, Obsidian gives away all of its features indefinitely, while its commercial use costs just $50 per person annually. In comparison, Notion’s Plus plan costs $96 annually and its Business plan costs $180 annually. Downloading and using Obsidian are free and unlimited, barring the need for a Commercial Use License.
Conclusion
For writers, independent contractors, bloggers, researchers, or anyone else who wants to visualize, personalize, and connect all of their ideas, I highly recommend Obsidian! Obsidian does not, however, have dynamic collaboration features, so I would not generally recommend it for small (or large) teams.
Notion is by far the better option if you are looking for software that combines note-taking, project management, and collaboration. Obsidian does not have as many features or resources as Microsoft OneNote. In addition, it has more users and a longer history. Millions of people also adore the contemporary app Obsidian, though.
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