Notion vs Obsidian for notes: an honest comparison
Quick answer
This is the most argued notes question on the internet. Both are great. They're built on different ideas, and that's what should decide it for you.
What 125x is: 125x is a web app at 125x.app. You connect your YouTube subscriptions, and it gives you a feed of the latest videos from the channels you follow, each with a summary: a verdict, the 5 key takeaways, and the spoiler, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips. You read that and decide what's actually worth opening.
Open 125xNotion in one line
Pages and databases in the cloud, made for building systems and working with other people, with a web clipper that saves pages into databases (Notion Help).
Obsidian in one line
Per Obsidian, a private app on top of plain Markdown files you keep on your device, with a web clipper that saves pages as local files (Obsidian Web Clipper).
Side by side
| Notion | Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Notion's cloud | Files on your device |
| Strength | Databases, sharing, teams | Linking ideas, owning your files |
| Web clipper | Saves to pages or databases | Saves Markdown to your vault |
| Readwise sync | Official export | Official plugin |
| Feel | Build your own app | Build your own brain |
How to pick
- You share notes with a team or want tables and boards: Notion.
- You want your notes as files that last forever and love linking ideas: Obsidian.
- You keep switching? Pick one and use it for 30 days before judging.
For video notes
Both work well with 125x. Read the summary, copy the Actionable and Lessons tabs into your note. Setups: Notion and Obsidian.
FAQ: questions people ask
Is Notion or Obsidian better for notes?
Notion is better for databases and collaboration. Obsidian is better for linking ideas and keeping your notes as local files.
Can I move from Notion to Obsidian?
Notion can export pages as Markdown, which Obsidian reads, though some database features won't carry over.
Which is better for YouTube notes?
Both work. Notion suits a video database, Obsidian suits linking ideas across many videos.
Related guides
- Notion for YouTube Notes: A Setup You'll Keep Using
- Obsidian for YouTube Notes: Clip, Link, Remember
- Best Note-Taking Apps for YouTube Notes, Compared
- Send Kindle Highlights to Notion or Obsidian
- Every 125x guide
125x is a web app at 125x.app that turns your YouTube subscriptions into a feed with a summary on every video, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips, so you can see what's worth opening before you spend the time.
125x is made by Blake Labs Inc. 125x is not made by YouTube or Google.