Notion - The Productive Engineer

In this article, you will learn about two note-taking applications: Notion and Obsidian Notes. We will compare the features of these apps to help you make a decision as to which app is best for your needs. Let's get started! What is Notion? Notion Notion is a note-taking application that has been designed with business people in mind. It can be used as an information hub where you can share files, documents, and folders across your team members easily. This application also integrates well with other tools such as Google Drive and Slack to provide more features for its users. If you are looking to master Notion, you should check out our Beginner's Guide to Notion. This guide will get you from newbie to productive in Notion quickly. You can also embed web content into Notion from services like Google Calendar and Google Sheets. What is Obsidian Notes? Obsidian Notes Obsidian Notes is a note-taking application that was designed to be as minimal and straightforward as possible. It provides users with just the basic functionalities without any distractions, allowing them to focus on the task at hand. This app can also be used across multiple platforms such as Windows, iOS, and Android so you will never have trouble accessing your notes from anywhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47hOfPGsrqk Beginner's Guide to Obsidian Notes Notion vs Obsidian Feature Comparison Table FeatureNotionObsidianCommentsbasic note-takingYYmarkdown supportY*YNotion supports markdownfor markdown-supportedfunctions but some additionalfunctionality, like databases,boards, etc. that are not definedin Markdown are notsupported.spell checkYYWeb clientYYWindows clientYYMacOS clientYYLinux client(s)NYAndroid clientYYiOS clientYYSync across devicesYY*Notion is web-based and sync is enabled by default. Obsidian hasits own syncing service. Obsidian supports Dropbox sync on all butiOS devices. Users wanting syncacross Apple devices should use iCloud Drive Sync or ObsidianSyncDatabase SupportYNKanban Board SupportYY*Obsidian supports but requiresthird-party community pluginKnowledge GraphNYAPI supportYY*At the time of writing this guide, Obsidianhas an alpha version of its API availableon GitHubCustom Theme SupportNYBacklink SupportYYProgrammable Hot KeySupportNYWhile Notion supports keyboardshortcuts, you cannot create your ownprogrammable hot keysAbility to embed webcontent from third-partyservicesYNAbility to publish notes/pages as web pagesYYNative Calendar supportYY*Obsidian requires third-party communityplug-in for calendarTemplate supportYY*Obsidian requires third-party communityplug-inAbility to display notesin Mind Map viewNY*Obsidian requires third-party communityplug-inNotion vs Obsidian Feature Comparison Table Notion Strengths The core strengths of Notion, when compared to Obsidian Notes, is it's: FlexibilityAPI for Third-Party Integrations Notion API page Notion is a great application that offers users an array of different functionalities. The core strength of this app revolves around the fact that it has been built with flexibility in mind, allowing its users to build their own workflows and processes according to what works best for them. In addition to this, Notion also provides a rich API that can integrate with automation services like Zapier and IFTTT, allowing users to connect with other tools they may be using. Obsidian Notes Strengths The core strengths of Obsidian Notes, when compared to Notion, is that it: Lightweight InterfaceMinimalism and SimplicityKnowledge Graph Obsidian Notes is a minimalistic note-taking application that can definitely get the job done. This app provides its users with a lightweight interface where there are no distractions and unnecessary menus to navigate through, allowing for increased focus on what matters most - taking notes! Knowledge Graph In addition to this, Obsidian provides a knowledge graph to can be used to visually represent relationships between various notes. Obsidian leverages back-linking to create relationships between notes. Notion also supports backlinks but does not currently have a knowledge graph view. Obsidian Community Plug-ins Obsidian also has a vibrant community that builds themes and plugins that greatly extend the functionality of Obsidian. You must turn off Safe Mode in order to access community plugins in Obsidian You must turn off Safe Mode in order to access community plugins in Obsidian. There is some risk as these plugins have enhanced permissions to access your account as Obsidian prompts you in the message below: Obsidian warning message regarding third-party community plugins As referenced by the prompt, if you are going to use third-party plugins, it is a good idea to make regular backups of your Obsidian vaults to protect against data loss. Use Cases for Notion Notion is a good choice if you are looking to create a central hub where all of your data can be collected and shared, as well as being able to access this information across multiple devices. It will also provide you with integrations with other applications such as Slack, Google Calendar, and others. Notion can be used for: Note-takingCalendaringProject ManagementTask ManagementDatabase ManagementHosting Web Content The list of use cases Notion can support underlines its flexibility and versatility. Use Cases for Obsidian Notes Obsidian Notes is a good choice if you are looking to move away from all of the distractions on other note-taking apps and just want a simple, straightforward solution. Obsidian can be used for: Blog writingNote takingView relationships between notesPublishing content to web via Obsidian PublishTask Management Which Application is Best for Your Needs? Both Notion and Obsidian Notes are good applications depending on the needs of each individual user. If you want an information hub where you can share files, documents, and folders with your team members easily across devices, Notion is the app for you. However, if you are looking to move away from all of the distractions on other note-taking apps and just want a simple solution that will allow you to focus on your task at hand, Obsidian Notes might be the better choice. It can be difficult to manage all of your tasks, projects, and notes in one place. That's where Notion comes into play. Notion gives you an overview of everything so it’s easy to see what needs attention next. For those who prefer note-taking apps instead, Obsidian Notes is the perfect tool for organizing thoughts by linking related ideas together across different documents with backlinks between them.