Side-by-side comparison
Notion vs Obsidian
Plans, free tiers and API access for Notion and Obsidian, from each vendor's own pages. Last checked Oct 4, 2026.
The short answer
- Obsidian has the lower entry price at $5/mo, against $10/mo for Notion.
- Both Notion and Obsidian have an ongoing free plan.
Pricing and features
- Plus$10/mo
- Business$20/mo
- Sync$5/mo
- Publish$10/mo
How to choose
Notion is a single workspace for docs, tasks, wikis and AI-assisted workflows, with collaboration controls by tier. Obsidian is for writers and researchers who want private, local Markdown notes with linking. Notion's Free plan is $0 per member per month, Plus is $10 and Business is $20, shown as monthly pricing. Obsidian's core app is free with no sign-up; Sync is $5 per user per month ($4 billed annually), Publish is $10 per site per month ($8 annually), and a commercial license is $50 per user per year. Notion includes trials of its AI features on Free and Plus. API availability is Not confirmed for both.
- Notion: You want docs, tasks and wikis for a team in one place, with paid tiers at $10 or $20 per member per month.
- Obsidian: You want private local Markdown notes and are happy to add Sync at $5 per month only if needed.
- Either: You are an individual starting out; both have a free entry point.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Notion or Obsidian?
Obsidian has the lower starting price ($5/mo versus $10/mo). Compare plans before choosing, since limits differ.
Is Notion free?
Free plan. Free plan is $0 per member per month for individuals organizing personal projects, with trial AI capabilities listed on pricing.
Is Obsidian free?
Free plan. Core app is free with no sign-up; paid add-ons for Sync and Publish