Obsidian vs. Notion for AI Notes: A Real-World Showdown

You want to improve how you take notes. You've heard about AI. You're wondering if these tools are just another time sink. Good. You should be skeptical. I am.

I've tested Obsidian and Notion with their AI capabilities for months. Real work. Real projects. Here's what I found.

The Good and The Bad

Let's cut to the chase.

Pros (Obsidian with AI)	Cons (Obsidian with AI)
Total data ownership (local files)	Steep learning curve for AI integration
Deep customization with plugins	AI features require setup and external models/APIs
Powerful for personal knowledge systems	Not built for team collaboration (requires workarounds)
Works offline by default	Can feel "piecemeal" if you don't configure well
AI can be tailored to your data	Less structured for database-heavy workflows
Strong community support	No native mobile AI integration (plugin dependent)

Pros (Notion AI)	Cons (Notion AI)
Easy to start with built-in AI	Data stored on their servers (no ownership)
Good for teams and shared workspaces	AI features are generic; not tailored to your specific data
All-in-one workspace (notes, tasks, databases)	Can get messy fast; performance issues with large workspaces
Decent for common tasks (summarize, brainstorm)	AI is less powerful for deep analysis or complex queries
Native mobile AI integration	Can be expensive for what it offers
No setup required for basic AI functions	Reliant on internet connection for AI features

Is AI Note-Taking Even Real?

Let's be clear. No app will take notes for you. Not really. What "AI note-taking" means right now is using large language models to process your text. It can summarize. It can rephrase. It can brainstorm. It can find connections.

It's a tool. Like a calculator. It doesn't do the math for you. You still need to input the numbers. You still need to understand the result.

So, yes, it's real. But it's not magic.

How Does Obsidian Handle AI Notes?

Obsidian is a plain-text markdown editor. It stores your notes as local files. This is key. It means you own your data. Always.

To get AI into Obsidian, you need plugins. Lots of them exist. Some connect to OpenAI, some to local models like those running on your machine (e.g., via Ollama). This gives you control. You can pick the AI. You can pick the privacy settings.

I've used plugins that:

• Summarize long notes.
• Generate questions from text.
• Help brainstorm ideas based on existing notes.
• Refactor sentences.

It's powerful because it works with your existing knowledge graph. It can "see" your linked notes. It can draw connections across your entire vault. This is where it shines for deep personal work.

But it's not plug-and-play. You set it up. You configure it. You might even write your own prompts. It's for people who want to tinker. Who want to improve their system. Not for those who want a simple button.

What About Notion's AI Capabilities?

Notion is an all-in-one workspace. It combines notes, databases, tasks, and wikis. Its AI is built-in. You don't need plugins. You just pay for it.

Notion AI lives right in your pages. Highlight text, click "Ask AI." It can summarize, extract action items, translate, or write drafts. It's integrated. It's easy.

For teams, this is a selling point. Everyone uses the same system. The AI is consistent. It can quickly summarize meeting notes or draft social media posts.

But the AI is generic. It doesn't deeply understand your specific knowledge base. It works on the text in front of it. It's a quick assistant, not a deep thinker. And your data lives on Notion's servers. That's a deal-breaker for some.

Obsidian vs. Notion: Which is Easier to Use?

Notion, hands down.

You open Notion. You click a button. The AI does something. It's intuitive for basic tasks.

Obsidian? You install the app. You learn markdown. You find plugins. You configure API keys or local models. You learn how to prompt the AI effectively. It's a project.

If you hate complexity, Notion wins here. If you enjoy building your own system, Obsidian is your playground.

Is Obsidian or Notion Better for Teams?

Notion. No question.

Notion was built for collaboration. Sharing pages, databases, and workspaces is core to its design. Its AI features, while generic, work across a shared environment. Everyone can use them without extra setup. It's good enough for common team tasks.

Obsidian is a personal tool. You can sync vaults, but it's not true real-time collaboration like Notion. Sharing AI-driven insights means sharing the output, not necessarily the process. If your team needs to work together on AI-assisted documents, Obsidian isn't the primary choice.

What's the Cost of AI Note-Taking?

This is where it gets tricky.

Obsidian:

• The app is free.
• Plugins are free.
• You pay for the AI model API calls. If you use OpenAI, you pay OpenAI. If you use a local model, you pay for the hardware/electricity.
• Obsidian Sync (optional, for syncing notes) costs money.
• Overall, it can be cheaper if you're a low-volume AI user or run local models. It can get expensive if you hit OpenAI hard.

Notion AI:

• Notion has free and paid tiers.
• Notion AI is an add-on. It usually costs $10/month per member. This adds up fast for teams.
• You pay for the convenience. You don't worry about API keys or usage limits (within reason).

For a single user, Obsidian with AI can be cheaper, especially if you're careful with API usage or use local models. For a team, Notion's fixed monthly cost might seem simpler, but it can be a significant recurring expense.

Who Should Use Obsidian (and Who Shouldn't)?

You should use Obsidian if:

• You value owning your data above all else.
• You're a deep thinker, researcher, or writer building a personal knowledge base.
• You enjoy customizing your tools.
• You want the most powerful AI capabilities tailored to your specific notes.
• You don't mind a learning curve.
• You work primarily alone.

You shouldn't use Obsidian if:

• You need a simple, out-of-the-box solution.
• You hate configuring software.
• You need robust real-time team collaboration.
• You primarily manage structured data like project tasks and client lists.

Who Should Use Notion (and Who Shouldn't)?

You should use Notion if:

• You need an all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and databases.
• You work in a team and need shared workspaces.
• You want easy-to-use, built-in AI for common tasks.
• You prefer a graphical user interface over plain text.
• You don't mind your data living on a third-party server.

You shouldn't use Notion if:

• Data privacy and ownership are your top concerns.
• You need highly specialized or deeply integrated AI that understands your unique knowledge.
• You find its flexibility overwhelming and prefer a more opinionated tool.
• You need rock-solid offline access for AI features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Obsidian AI free?

The Obsidian app itself is free. Many AI plugins are also free. However, you'll likely need to pay for access to an external AI model (like OpenAI's API) or invest in hardware to run models locally. So, the AI part usually isn't free.

Does Notion AI work offline?

No. Notion AI requires an active internet connection to function. The AI processing happens on Notion's servers, not locally on your device.

Can I use both Obsidian and Notion?

Absolutely. Many people use Obsidian for personal knowledge management and deep work, then use Notion for team collaboration, project management, and sharing information with others. They serve different purposes well.

Is my data safe with these AI tools?

With Obsidian, your core notes are local files, so you control the data. When using AI plugins, you send text to an AI provider (like OpenAI). You need to understand that provider's data privacy policy. With Notion AI, your data lives on Notion's servers and is processed by their chosen AI partners. Again, you rely on their privacy policies. Always be aware of what data you're sending to any AI service.

The Bottom Line

Don't overthink it.

If you're a serious knowledge worker, a solo researcher, or someone building a lifelong personal knowledge system, Obsidian with its AI plugins offers unmatched power and control. But you have to earn it.

If you're part of a team, need a general-purpose workspace, and want quick, simple AI help for common tasks, Notion is the easier path. Just know its AI won't blow your mind, and your data isn't truly yours.

Pick the tool that fits your workflow, not the one with the most hype.