Notion AI vs Obsidian (Plugins)
Cloud Convenience vs Local Privacy. Building the ultimate AI Second Brain.
| Feature | Notion AI | Obsidian (AI Plugins) |
|---|---|---|
| Data Storage | Cloud (Notion Servers) | Local (Your Device) |
| Cost | $10/mo add-on | Free + API Costs |
| Model Choice | Locked (GPT-4/Claude mix) | Any (OpenAI, Anthropic, Local LLM) |
| Ease of Use | Plug & Play | Requires Setup |
The Core Difference
Notion AI is a seamless, paid add-on. It works out of the box to summarize meeting notes, draft emails, and brainstorm ideas. However, your data lives on their servers.
Obsidian has no native AI. You must install community plugins like "Smart Connections" or "Text Generator." This allows you to connect your own API key (paying per use) or even run a Local LLM (like Llama 3) on your own computer for 100% privacy.
The Verdict
- Team Collaboration? Use Notion AI.
- Privacy / Local-First? Use Obsidian.