Comparison
Notion vs Obsidian
Notion is a cloud-first connected workspace built for teams; Obsidian is a local-first knowledge base that keeps your notes as plain Markdown files on your own device. The right choice comes down to whether you value real-time collaboration or full ownership of your data.
| Pricing | ||
| Free tier | Yes Free plan for individuals | Yes Free for personal and commercial use; no account required |
| Paid plan | Plus $10/mo Unlocks team and workspace features | Sync $4/mo Optional add-on; Publish from $8/mo |
| Business model | Subscription workspace Proprietary cloud service by Notion Labs, Inc. | Optional services Funded by Sync, Publish and a commercial license — not by your data |
| Privacy & security | ||
| Data storage | Cloud only All content syncs to Notion's AWS-hosted cloud; no local-only mode | Local-first Notes stored on-device as plain Markdown files you fully control |
| End-to-end encryption | — Encrypted in transit and at rest, but Notion holds the keys | Yes (Sync) Optional Sync is end-to-end encrypted with AES-256 |
| Independent audits | SOC 2, ISO 27001 Plus ISO 27701/27017/27018, BSI C5 and a HackerOne disclosure program | Cure53, Trail of Bits App audits in 2023 and 2024; Sync audits with all findings remediated |
| Experience | ||
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web Full-featured web version keeps everything in sync | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Linux supported; core app works fully offline |
| Collaboration | Built-in Shared workspaces, wikis, project boards and databases for teams | — Designed for personal knowledge work rather than real-time team editing |
| User rating | 4.8 (89K) App Store | 4.3 (17.7K) Google Play |
The bottom line
Choose Notion if
Choose Notion if your work revolves around a team: shared docs, wikis, project boards and databases live in one connected, audit-backed workspace with a polished web app. Just be comfortable with the trade-off — your content lives in Notion's cloud without end-to-end encryption.
Choose Obsidian if
Choose Obsidian if you want a lifelong personal knowledge base stored in plain files you own, with no account, no telemetry and an independently audited, end-to-end encrypted sync option. It runs fully offline — including on Linux — and its free tier covers even commercial use.