Notion vs Markdown Editors

Cloud Convenience vs Local Control: Which is Right for You?

Quick Comparison

Aspect Notion Markdown Editors (Obsidian, Typora, Diwadi)
Format ⚠️ Proprietary blocks (NOT markdown) ✅ Standard Markdown (.md files)
Privacy ⚠️ Cloud upload (content on servers) 🔒 Local storage (your device)
Vendor Lock-In ⚠️ High (hard to migrate) ✅ None (plain text files)
Price $0-20/mo ($96-240/year) Free to $29 one-time
AI ✅ Cloud (GPT-4.1, Claude 3.7) - $240/year ✅ Local AI (Diwadi) - Free
Collaboration ✅✅✅ Real-time ⚠️ Export & share (most)
Offline ⚠️ Limited ✅ Full functionality
Best For Teams, databases Individual workflows, portability

The Big Question: Is Notion Markdown?

Short Answer: NO.

Notion uses proprietary block format, NOT standard markdown.

What this means:

  • ❌ Can't open Notion content in other editors
  • ❌ Export creates messy markdown with UUIDs
  • ⚠️ Vendor lock-in - Your content is trapped in Notion
  • ⚠️ If Notion shuts down or changes pricing, migration is painful

Example Notion Export:

# My Note

[Untitled](https://www.notion.so/Untitled-abc123def456)

<aside>
💡 This is a callout block (doesn't work anywhere else)
</aside>

Messy, filled with Notion-specific markup, links to Notion servers.

True Markdown:

# My Note

This is a simple note that works in ANY text editor, forever.

Clean, portable, works everywhere.

Detailed Comparison

Format & Portability

Notion:

  • ❌ Proprietary block format
  • ⚠️ Export to markdown is messy (UUIDs, callouts)
  • ⚠️ Vendor lock-in risk - Hard to migrate
  • ⚠️ Dependent on Notion's existence
  • ⚠️ Can't use with Git, standard tools

Good for: Teams that prioritize collaboration over portability

Markdown Editors:

  • ✅ Standard Markdown - Plain .md files
  • ✅ Future-proof, portable
  • ✅ No vendor lock-in - Your files, your control
  • ✅ Works with ANY text editor
  • ✅ Git-friendly, version control

Good for: Anyone who values data ownership

Why this matters: If Notion shuts down, changes pricing dramatically, or alters terms, your content is trapped. True markdown files work with ANY editor forever. You own your data.

Privacy & Data Storage

☁️ Notion:

  • ⚠️ Cloud-based - All content uploaded to servers
  • ⚠️ Subject to their privacy policy
  • ⚠️ Requires internet connection
  • ⚠️ Third-party access possible (employees, AI training, legal requests)
  • ⚠️ Data breaches impact all users

Not suitable for: Sensitive content (legal, medical, proprietary business docs)

🔒 Markdown Editors:

  • ✅ Local-first - Files stored on YOUR device
  • ✅ No cloud upload (unless you choose optional sync)
  • ✅ Works completely offline
  • ✅ Perfect for sensitive content
  • ✅ You control data access

Diwadi Unique: Local AI processing - AI runs on device, not cloud

Cost Comparison (1 Year)

Notion

  • Free: Limited features, 5MB uploads
  • Plus: $96/year ($8/mo annual) - no AI
  • Business: $240/year ($20/mo) - with AI

Obsidian

  • Personal: Free
  • Sync: $48-60/year (optional)
  • Publish: $120/year (optional)

Diwadi

  • Free
  • No subscription
  • AI included

Save $96-240/year vs Notion

AI Features

Notion

  • ✅ AI features (GPT-4.1, Claude 3.7)
  • ⚠️ Only in Business plan ($240/year)
  • ⚠️ Cloud-based (content uploaded to AI servers)
  • ⚠️ Privacy concerns (AI training, data access)

Diwadi

  • ✅ Built-in AI (editing, tables, diagrams, export)
  • ✅ Free (no $240/year required)
  • ✅ Local processing (AI runs on your device)
  • ✅ Privacy-preserving (content never leaves your machine)

Winner: Diwadi (AI + privacy + free)

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: "I need real-time team collaboration"

✅ Use Notion:

  • • Best real-time collaboration (like Google Docs)
  • • Comments, mentions, permissions
  • • Team wikis, shared databases

❌ Markdown Editors:

  • • No real-time collaboration
  • • Export & share workflows only

Winner: Notion (only tool with true real-time collaboration)

Scenario 2: "I work with sensitive content (legal, medical, proprietary)"

❌ Notion:

  • • All content uploaded to cloud
  • • Privacy policy applies
  • • Potential third-party access

✅ Markdown Editors:

  • • 100% local storage
  • • Files on your device
  • • Complete control

Winner: Markdown Editors (Obsidian, Diwadi) - Essential for privacy

Scenario 3: "I want my data to be portable and future-proof"

❌ Notion:

  • • Proprietary format
  • • Messy export
  • • Vendor lock-in
  • • Dependent on Notion's future

✅ Markdown Editors:

  • • Standard markdown (.md)
  • • Works in any text editor
  • • No vendor lock-in
  • • Future-proof forever

Winner: Markdown Editors - You own your data

Scenario 4: "I want AI features but care about privacy and cost"

Notion:

  • • AI in Business plan: $240/year
  • • Cloud-based (privacy concerns)

✅ Diwadi:

  • • AI included: Free
  • • Local processing (privacy-preserving)

Winner: Diwadi (save $240/year + better privacy)

Who Should Use What?

Choose Notion If:

  • ✅ You need real-time team collaboration (top priority)
  • ✅ You want all-in-one workspace (docs + databases + projects)
  • ✅ You're comfortable with subscriptions ($96-240/year)
  • ✅ Privacy is NOT a concern (public/internal content)
  • ❌ You don't care about portability or data ownership

Choose Markdown Editors If:

  • ✅ You value data ownership and portability
  • ✅ Privacy is important (sensitive content)
  • ✅ You want no vendor lock-in (future-proof)
  • ✅ You're budget-conscious (save $96-240/year)
  • ✅ You work offline frequently
  • ✅ You want Git version control

Specific tools: Obsidian (knowledge graphs), Typora (WYSIWYG), Diwadi (AI + documents)

Migrating from Notion

⚠️ It's Harder Than It Should Be

Notion makes it difficult to leave (vendor lock-in by design). Export is messy, formatting is lost, and you'll spend hours cleaning up files.

Migration Steps:

  1. Export from Notion (Settings → Export → Markdown & CSV)
  2. Clean up files:
    • Remove UUIDs from filenames
    • Fix broken internal links
    • Convert Notion callouts to standard markdown
    • Remove links to Notion servers
  3. Import to markdown editor (Obsidian, Typora, or Diwadi)
  4. Reorganize structure (Notion's export structure may not match your needs)

Time required: 2-10 hours depending on content volume. This reveals the true cost of vendor lock-in.

Final Recommendation

For Teams Needing Real-Time Collaboration:

Use Notion - It's the only tool with true real-time collaboration like Google Docs.

But be aware: Vendor lock-in, $96-240/year cost, privacy concerns, proprietary format

For Everyone Else:

Use Markdown Editors - Better privacy, portability, cost, and no vendor lock-in.

  • • Diwadi: AI-powered, easy, professional documents (free)
  • • Obsidian: Knowledge graphs, power users (free + optional $48-60/year sync)
  • • Typora: WYSIWYG, writers ($15 one-time)

Best Strategy:

Use markdown editors for 90% of work (privacy, portability, AI, cost)
Use Notion only when real-time team collab is essential

Own Your Data with True Markdown

Get AI features, privacy, and portability without vendor lock-in or expensive subscriptions.

Download Diwadi Free Compare All Markdown Editors

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Notion markdown?

No. Notion uses a proprietary block format, NOT standard markdown. While it looks similar, Notion's export creates messy markdown with UUIDs and platform-specific markup that doesn't work well in other editors. True markdown editors use plain .md files that work everywhere.

Can I export my Notion content to markdown?

Yes, but the export is messy and includes Notion-specific UUIDs, callout blocks that don't work elsewhere, and links to Notion servers. It's not clean, portable markdown. Migrating away from Notion is difficult by design.

What is vendor lock-in and why does it matter?

Vendor lock-in means your content is trapped in one company's proprietary format. If Notion changes pricing, shuts down, or changes terms, migration is painful. True markdown files work in ANY text editor forever - you own your data.

Which is more private - Notion or markdown editors?

True markdown editors (Obsidian, Typora, Diwadi) are far more private - they're local-first with files on your device. Notion is cloud-based and uploads all content to their servers. For sensitive content (legal, medical, proprietary), local markdown editors are essential.

Can I use Notion offline?

Notion has limited offline mode - you can view and edit recently accessed pages, but it requires internet for full functionality. True markdown editors (Obsidian, Typora, Diwadi) work 100% offline with complete functionality.

How much does Notion cost vs markdown editors?

Notion: $96-240/year ($0-20/month). Markdown editors: Obsidian (free + optional $48-60/year sync), Typora ($15 one-time), Diwadi (free). You can save $96-240/year by switching to markdown editors.

Does Notion have AI like Diwadi?

Yes, Notion has AI (GPT-4.1, Claude 3.7) but it's cloud-based (privacy concerns) and only included in the Business plan ($240/year). Diwadi has local AI processing (privacy-preserving) and it's free.

What if Notion shuts down or changes pricing?

With Notion's proprietary format, you're at risk. Export is difficult, and you lose all the structure. With true markdown, your plain .md files work in any text editor forever. You own your data, not dependent on one company.

Which is better for teams - Notion or markdown editors?

Notion is better for real-time team collaboration - it's the only tool with true real-time editing like Google Docs. For individual or export-based workflows, markdown editors are better (privacy, portability, cost).

Can I migrate from Notion to markdown editors?

Yes, but it takes effort. Export from Notion (messy markdown), clean up the files (remove UUIDs, fix formatting), then import to your markdown editor. The process reveals how vendor lock-in works - they make it hard to leave.