Notion vs Obsidian: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Notion vs Obsidian.
⚡ Quick Verdict
It's a tie! Both tools score 4.7/5. Your choice should depend on your specific workflow and team needs.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $50/mo | $0/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $100/mo | $0/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Unlimited pages for 1 user. 5MB file upload limit. 7-day page history. 10 guest collaborators. | ✅ All core features free. Unlimited notes. Unlimited plugins. Local storage only. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Plus | $10/mo | $4/mo |
| Business | $18/mo | $8/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | $50/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Customization | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Pros & Cons
Notion
✅ Pros
- Extremely flexible all-in-one workspace
- Powerful database and template system
- Generous free tier for solo users (unlimited pages)
- Strong API for automations and integrations
- Active community with thousands of templates
❌ Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Limited offline access — requires internet for most tasks
- Can feel slow with very large databases (1000+ rows)
- No native time tracking — need third-party integration
- AI features cost $10/mo extra per member
Obsidian
✅ Pros
- Completely free for personal and commercial use
- Local-first — your data stays on your device
- Works offline, instantly fast, no loading spinners
- 1000+ community plugins for any workflow
- Plain Markdown files — no vendor lock-in ever
❌ Cons
- No real-time collaboration (not a team tool)
- Sync requires Obsidian Sync ($4/mo) or third-party setup
- No built-in task management or project tracking
- Mobile app is decent but not as polished as Notion
- Steep plugin setup curve for non-technical users
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Notion if...
- You are a solo creators and note-takers
- You are a documentation-heavy teams
- You are a startups needing a flexible workspace
- You are a knowledge base and wiki management
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing real-time task tracking (Gantt, Sprints)
- Users who need robust offline support
- Large-scale project management (100+ members)
✅ Choose Obsidian if...
- You are a solo devs who want full ownership of their notes
- You are a privacy-conscious users (all data stays local)
- You are a pkm (personal knowledge management) enthusiasts
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing real-time collaboration (use Notion)
- Users who want a polished out-of-box experience
- Project management (it's a note-taking tool)
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Notion (4.7/5) and Obsidian (4.7/5) are excellent tools in their category. They're evenly matched — your decision should come down to your team's specific workflow and budget requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Notion better than Obsidian?
It depends on your needs. Notion excels in some areas while Obsidian has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Notion pricing compare to Obsidian?
Notion starts at Free / $10/mo, while Obsidian starts at Free / $4/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Notion to Obsidian?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Obsidian typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Notion.
Which is easier to use, Notion or Obsidian?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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