5 min read
Notion vs Obsidian

Here’s a point-by-point comparison of Notion and Obsidian, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses, particularly for an indie developer who may collaborate in the future:

Notion

Advantages:

  1. Collaborative Capabilities:
    Notion is built with collaboration in mind. You can share workspaces, pages, and databases with others and collaborate in real-time. This would be highly beneficial for you if you plan to collaborate with other developers in the future.

  2. All-in-One Workspace:
    Notion integrates note-taking, project management, task lists, wikis, and databases. It’s a comprehensive tool where you can manage all aspects of a project from ideas to execution.

  3. Easy to Use & Organized Interface:
    The interface is clean, user-friendly, and customizable, making it suitable for non-tech-savvy users as well. You can easily create rich documents with text, code snippets, images, and databases.

  4. Powerful Templates:
    Notion provides a vast library of templates for different use cases, including software development, project tracking, and personal notes. These can save a lot of time setting up workflows.

  5. Cross-Platform:
    Notion works across desktop and mobile devices (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), syncing seamlessly. Your data is always up to date and accessible anywhere.

  6. Team Collaboration:
    Teams can leave comments, assign tasks, and track changes on a shared page. This functionality ensures smoother team communication.

  7. Web Clipper:
    Notion’s web clipper allows you to save any web page or content directly into your workspace for later reference, making research easier.

Disadvantages:

  1. Online-Only (Mostly):
    Notion requires an internet connection for most of its functionality, and while it has limited offline features, it’s not as reliable for offline note-taking as Obsidian.

  2. Price:
    The free plan is somewhat limited in terms of collaborators and file uploads. The Personal Pro plan (for more advanced features like unlimited file uploads) comes at a cost.

  3. Speed:
    For very large databases or complex pages, Notion can sometimes feel slow or laggy, which might affect productivity in fast-paced environments.

  4. Data Privacy:
    Since Notion is cloud-based, all your notes are stored on their servers, which could be a concern if you are handling sensitive information and prefer more control over data privacy.

Obsidian

Advantages:

  1. Local-First, Privacy-Oriented:
    Obsidian stores your data locally on your device, giving you full control and ownership of your notes. This is ideal for developers who are concerned about cloud storage and privacy issues.

  2. Markdown-Based:
    Obsidian uses Markdown for note-taking, which is lightweight and easy to learn. Markdown is great for developers who prefer a text-based format and want to embed code, make task lists, and format text easily.

  3. Linked Notes:
    Obsidian excels at linking notes together, creating a web of interconnected ideas (often called a “second brain”). You can easily create and navigate relationships between ideas, which is useful for developers managing complex projects or ideas.

  4. Offline Access:
    Because Obsidian stores notes locally, it works fully offline. This can be a big advantage if you are working in environments with limited or no internet access.

  5. Highly Customizable & Extendable:
    Obsidian allows plugins to extend functionality (e.g., for task management, coding, or visualizing notes). Its customization options appeal to power users who want to tailor their workflow exactly to their needs.

  6. Free for Personal Use:
    Obsidian is completely free for personal use, with no limits on note-taking or the number of notes. You only need to pay for additional services like Obsidian Sync (for cloud syncing) or commercial use.

  7. Graph View:
    Obsidian’s graph view allows you to visualize the relationships between your notes, which can be a powerful way to see how ideas or pieces of information are connected.

Disadvantages:

  1. Limited Collaboration:
    Obsidian is not designed for real-time collaboration. While you can share your vault or notes through file sharing, it lacks the real-time collaboration features that Notion offers. This could be a drawback if you’re working with other developers and need immediate feedback.

  2. Learning Curve:
    Obsidian’s interface can be overwhelming for beginners or those not familiar with Markdown or linking notes. While powerful, it may take some time to fully leverage its features.

  3. Syncing Requires a Paid Add-On:
    While Obsidian stores data locally, cloud syncing across devices is not included for free. You either need to use third-party sync services (like Dropbox or Google Drive) or purchase Obsidian Sync for seamless multi-device access.

  4. Not an All-in-One Tool:
    Unlike Notion, Obsidian is primarily a note-taking tool. It doesn’t include built-in task management, databases, or other productivity features, though some of these can be added through plugins.

Summary & Recommendation:

  • If Collaboration is Key:
    Notion is the better choice. It offers built-in collaboration tools, real-time editing, and task management features that make it ideal for projects involving multiple people. Its all-in-one workspace is useful for developers managing both code and project details in one place.
  • If You Prioritize Privacy & Offline Access:
    Obsidian stands out. It’s perfect for local, privacy-focused note-taking with rich linking features. However, you may face limitations when working on shared projects unless you are comfortable with manual syncing and collaboration workarounds.

Since developers collaborate with another developers alot, Notion may be the better fit for future projects that require real-time collaboration. However, Obsidian could be a better personal tool for privacy-focused, offline, and deep linking note-taking when working alone.