NotionvsObsidian
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Notion
- Database performance degrades at 5,000+ records(8/10)
Obsidian
No signals
Notion
- Why is Notion AI only on the Business plan?(9/10)
- Frequent pricing changes erode user trust(7/10)
- Notion Plus plan only gets a limited AI trial(8/10)
- Account lockouts when trying to downgrade(9/10)
- Notion Custom Agents cost extra credits on top of seat price(7/10)
Obsidian
- Obsidian Sync costs $48-60/year just to use notes on your phone(6/10)
- Sync Standard's 1 GB and 5 MB file cap push users to Sync Plus(5/10)
Notion
- Notion customer support slow with billing disputes and refunds(9/10)
Obsidian
No signals
Notion
- Notion offline mode limited: 50 database rows, no browser support(7/10)
- Is Notion down? Repeated outages and slow loading in 2026(7/10)
- Notion 'Cannot save changes' and sync errors(7/10)
Obsidian
- Free sync alternatives have corruption issues(7/10)
- Obsidian Sync restores deleted files and creates conflict copies(8/10)
- Obsidian stuck on 'Loading cache' or slow to start on desktop(6/10)
Notion
- Steep learning curve leads to productivity loss(6/10)
- Jack of all trades, master of none(5/10)
Obsidian
- Plugin overload and management headaches(7/10)
- No real-time collaboration features(7/10)
- No web version - desktop app required(5/10)
- No native task management; databases only arrived with Bases(6/10)
- Plain interface lacks visual appeal(4/10)
- Search and index miss new notes in large vaults(5/10)
Notion
- Mobile app slow and unreliable for quick notes(7/10)
Obsidian
- Obsidian mobile app slow to open with large vaults(6/10)
Notion
- No end-to-end encryption - Notion can read your notes(6/10)
Obsidian
No signals
Notion
No signals
Obsidian
- Steep learning curve intimidates new users(7/10)
Pricing Comparison
Notion
Users: Individuals; up to 10 guests
Storage: 5 MB per file upload
Limits: 5 MB uploads, 7-day history, no AI beyond trial, cannot buy Notion credits
Users: Per member
Storage: Unlimited uploads (about 5 GB max per file)
Limits: No full Notion AI, no SAML SSO, no private teamspaces, PDF export with subpages requires Business
Users: Per member
Storage: Unlimited uploads (about 5 GB max per file)
Limits: No SCIM, audit log or advanced security controls
Users: Custom
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Must contact sales
Obsidian
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited (local)
Limits: No built-in sync, no web version, you manage your own backups
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1 GB total, 5 MB per file
Limits: 5 MB file cap and 1 GB total are tight for PDFs, audio and images
Users: 1 user
Storage: 10 GB (upgradable to 100 GB), 200 MB per file
Limits: Per-user pricing; no real-time co-editing
Users: 1 site
Limits: One-way publishing, not collaborative editing
Users: 1 user
Limits: Supporter license; unlocks no extra features in stable builds
Users: Per user
Limits: Optional - not required for work use
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | ||
| Real-time collaboration Multiple users can edit simultaneously | ||
| Security | ||
| Local-first storage Plain Markdown files you own | ||
| End-to-end encryption Notion can access your content | ||
| Page password protection Cannot password-protect individual pages | ||
| End-to-end encrypted sync Obsidian Sync only (from $4/mo billed annually) | ||
| Reliability | ||
| Offline mode Desktop and mobile apps only; first 50 rows of a database's first view; subpages not included | ||
| Offline access Full offline by default | ||
| Organization | ||
| Bidirectional linking Core feature | ||
| Native database views Bases core plugin (since 1.9, 2025); Dataview still more flexible | ||
| AI | ||
| AI assistant Full AI on Business ($20/seat) and Enterprise only; Free and Plus get a limited trial | ||
| Custom Agents Business/Enterprise; billed in Notion credits ($10 per 1,000) since May 4, 2026 | ||
| AI features Requires third-party plugins | ||
| Visualization | ||
| Graph view Visualize note connections | ||
| Canvas/whiteboard Built-in canvas feature | ||
| Accessibility | ||
| Mobile app Available but slow, frequent reloads needed | ||
| Customization | ||
| Community plugins Thousands available, quality varies | ||
| Custom themes Extensive theme marketplace | ||
| Data | ||
| Relational databases Available but performance degrades at 5000+ records | ||
| Charts and graphs Basic only, requires external tools for advanced visualization | ||
| Publishing | ||
| Publish to web Obsidian Publish ($8/mo annual, $10 monthly) | ||
| Integrations | ||
| API access Available on all plans | ||
| Mobile | ||
| Mobile apps iOS and Android, basic experience | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Templates library Extensive official and community templates | ||
| Templates Core and Templater plugin | ||
| Built-in task management Requires plugins | ||
| Enterprise | ||
| SAML SSO Business plan and above only | ||
| Audit logs Enterprise plan only | ||
| Custom domains Paid add-on for Notion Sites | ||
| Usability | ||
| Markdown support Core format | ||
| Web version No browser access | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Free personal use No feature restrictions | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Native Gantt charts Timeline view exists but not full Gantt functionality | ||