Notion vs. Obsidian for Worldbuilding and Fantasy Writing
Notion vs. Obsidian is one of the biggest debates among worldbuilders and fantasy writers who want to keep their worlds and stories organized. Both apps are powerful, but they approach writing and worldbuilding in very different ways.
In this post, I’ll compare Notion vs. Obsidian for worldbuilding and story planning. You’ll see how each tool handles characters, magic systems, timelines, and big-picture planning, along with the pros, cons, and pain points I ran into while testing both.
By the end, you’ll know which one actually fits your writing style and why I personally think Notion is the best choice for worldbuilding and story planning.
Table of contents
Why Use Digital Tools for Worldbuilding?
Before we start the duel, let’s get one thing straight: you don’t need fancy tools to build your world. You can try to organize everything in a Google Doc or even a physical notebook.
It’s not ideal, but it’s doable if you have the patience and the discipline to keep everything consistent.
For the rest of us who don’t (and who are juggling sprawling worlds, dozens of characters, complex magic systems, and political intrigue), those simple tools won’t cut it.
A well-organized worldbuilding system means:
Less time hunting for notes.
More consistency.
Easier drafting when everything connects.
That’s why so many of us end up exploring Notion vs. Obsidian for worldbuilding and story planning.
How Notion vs. Obsidian Actually Work
Notion
Notion is a cloud-based workspace where you can build databases, pages, and linked dashboards. It’s visual, flexible, and kind of addictive once you start. Think: all-in-one digital binder that you can customize however you want.
Notion
Obsidian
Obsidian, on the other hand, is a local-first note-taking app that relies on plain Markdown files. The magic is in its graph view and backlinking, which let you connect notes like a spiderweb of ideas. Think: conspiracy theorist wall of string, but tidy.
Obsidian
Both have cult followings. Both can be game-changers. But they’ll click with different types of worldbuilders.
Direct comparison: Notion vs. Obsidian for worldbuilding
Here's how they stack up across the key worldbuilding features:
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of setup | Very fast. Templates, dashboards, databases built-in. | Slower start. Needs configuring, metadata setup, Markdown knowledge. |
| Databases | Mature, polished, relations + rollups, strong filtering. | New Bases feature adds database-like views. Powerful but evolving, less polished. |
| Visualization | Dashboards, timelines, kanban, gallery views. | Graph view + backlinks. Bases add tables/boards, but UI feels clunkier. |
| Collaboration | Real-time sharing + editing. | Mostly solo; sync requires setup. |
| Offline use | Yes: apps support offline pages; some limitations. | Offline first by default. |
| UI & learning curve | More intuitive, drag-and-drop, beginner-friendly. | Steep learning curve; UI less intuitive, requires tinkering. |
| Best for | Worldbuilding, story planning, structured novel prep. | Knowledge management, idea webs, writers who love Markdown. |
When Notion shines for worldbuilding
If you’re someone who likes structure, dashboards, and a sense of “big picture at a glance,” Notion is going to feel like home.
Why worldbuilders and writers love it:
Databases for everything. Create a character database with properties like age, faction, relationships—and then link it to a magic system database or a timeline.
Interconnectivity. Notion’s biggest strength for worldbuilding is how easily everything links together. A character can be tied to their hometown, the magic system they use, and the scenes they appear in—all connected automatically.
Custom views. Switch between a clean list of your story arcs, a gallery of locations with images, or a timeline of events in chronological order.
All-in-one hub. Worldbuilding, planning, drafting, even to-do lists—you can keep everything you need for your world and story in the same space.
Offline mode. Notion recently rolled out true offline capabilities for desktop and mobile apps. You can mark pages as “Available Offline,” and on paid plans, recent and favorited pages auto-download. It’s not perfect (embeds, permission changes, and some advanced database features don’t work offline), but it means you can finally keep working on your novel in a cabin without Wi-Fi.
For example, my own Notion Worldbuilding & Story Planning Template takes this to the extreme. I’ve built in worldbuilding and magic system wikis, relationship trackers, and a scene planner that ties directly into your outline.
Notion Worldbuilding & Story Planning Template
Potential pain points
Overwhelm. Notion can feel like a blank canvas that expects you to be both the artist and the architect. That’s why a lot of writers grab templates to skip the “set up from scratch” headache. (If you want some starting points, I’ve rounded up 5 best Notion templates for fantasy writers).
Offline limitations. Yes, offline works now, but don’t expect everything—rollups, embeds, or real-time collaboration—while disconnected.
When Obsidian shines for worldbuilding
Obsidian is great for people who think in webs, not lists. If you like the idea of your world growing organically (i.e., one note linking to another until you’ve got an ecosystem), this is your tool.
Why worldbuilders like it
Backlinks + graph view. Write a note about dragons, link it casually in your “Magic Systems” file, and suddenly you’ve got an interconnected network of ideas that feels alive.
Databases with Bases. A big update recently gave Obsidian database-like features via its “Bases” plugin. You can now add properties to notes (like “Type = Character” or “Location = Continent A”), then view them in tables, boards, or galleries. It’s not as polished as Notion’s databases, but it means you can filter and sort your worldbuilding in structured ways without leaving your Markdown vault.
Offline by design. Everything is local, so you’re not fighting sync issues or waiting for data. Great if you prefer working off-grid.
Portability + ownership. Markdown + frontmatter = your files are yours. If you ever stop using Obsidian, your data isn’t locked away behind a proprietary format.
Source: Reddit post by PetitRedMage
Where it’s tougher (my experience included)
I tried Obsidian, and while its features like Bases and graph view impressed, the UI isn’t intuitive for me. Things like figuring out where to set properties, how to build views, or even exporting bases can feel elusive unless you dig through docs or community threads.
The learning curve is real. If you’re not familiar with Markdown, templates, YAML/frontmatter etc., there’s quite a bit to learn. Many features feel like they assume you want to tinker.
Some base features that sound obvious for story planners (export to CSV, embed views, built-in dashboards) are still patchy or changing depending on the version.
How to decide between Notion vs. Obsidian
Both tools are strong, but they fit different kinds of writers. Here are a few concrete ways to tell which one might suit you:
How structured do you want your worldbuilding to be?
If you like clear categories (characters, locations, magic, factions) that automatically talk to each other → Notion.
If you’d rather build organically, linking notes as you go without worrying about database design → Obsidian.
How important is the visual overview?
Need to see everything at a glance—dashboards, galleries, timelines, kanban boards? → Notion wins.
Prefer a graph of connections and backlinks that shows how ideas interlink? → Obsidian wins.
Do you want productivity baked in?
If you want to manage tasks, writing goals, and real life alongside your world → Notion.
If you only care about your notes, and nothing else → Obsidian.
How much patience do you have for setup?
Notion: Faster to get running, especially with templates.
Obsidian: Steeper learning curve (Markdown, properties, plugins) but more customizable long-term.
How much does offline use matter?
Notion: Now has offline mode, but with some limitations (embeds, rollups).
Obsidian: Always offline-first, everything stored locally.
Worldbuilding examples in Notion vs. Obsidian
Here’s what the differences between Notion and Obsidian look like in practice.
In Notion:
You’d create databases for your characters, locations, magic systems, religions, and more. Then you’d use Notion’s Relations feature to link them together, so when you update one, the others automatically stay in sync.
In the example below, the character profile is connected to species & races, locations, other characters, magic systems, factions, and religions.
Once you fill out those entries in their own databases, the information updates everywhere it’s linked, so you never lose track of details or end up with inconsistent notes.
Notion character profile template - Quill&Steel
In Obsidian:
You’d create individual notes for your characters, locations, or magic systems, then add properties to each note using frontmatter (like Type: Magic System, Cost: Exhaustion, or Location: Continent A).
You can then connect notes with [[links]], so your “Blood Magic” note automatically shows up as related to the character who uses it.
With the Bases feature (screenshot below), those properties can be displayed in table or board views. For example, you could filter a database view to show only notes where Type = Magic System and instantly see all your systems with their associated costs and users.
It’s not as polished as Notion’s databases, but it still gives you a structured way to track and cross-reference your world.
Obsidian’s Bases feature
Wrapping up: Notion vs. Obsidian – Which is better?
For me, Notion wins hands down for worldbuilding and story planning.
Obsidian is still a good option, especially if you’re running a DnD campaign or other TTRPG where the focus is on organic connections, lore tracking, and improvisation.
But if you’re writing a fantasy novel and need structure (timelines, beat sheet, scene planning, character arcs, magic systems, etc.) Notion is the tool that actually keeps you moving forward.
If you want to try Notion without the “blank page” headache, I built a Notion Worldbuilding & Story Planning Template designed specifically for fantasy writers. It’s ready to go with 15+ pre-built (and interconnected) databases, so you can skip setup and get straight to building your world and writing your story.
Frequently asked questions about Notion vs. Obsidian
Can I use both Notion and Obsidian together?
Yes, you can. Some writers use Notion for structured planning (databases, timelines) and Obsidian for messy idea dumps and linking concepts. It takes extra effort to maintain both, but if you like the strengths of each tool, it’s possible.
Is Obsidian free to use?
Obsidian has a generous free plan. You’ll only pay if you want extras like Obsidian Sync (cloud syncing across devices) or Obsidian Publish (sharing notes online). For most writers, the free version is enough.
Does Notion cost money for writers?
Notion has a free plan that covers almost everything a solo fantasy writer would need, including databases and offline mode. Paid plans add advanced features (like unlimited version history and better offline syncing), but you can easily worldbuild on the free plan.
Is Notion or Obsidian better for collaboration?
Notion is much stronger for collaboration. You can invite co-writers, set permissions, and edit in real time. Obsidian is mostly a solo tool unless you add plugins or use third-party sync setups.
Is Notion or Obsidian better for DnD and TTRPG campaigns?
If you’re running a DnD or TTRPG campaign, Obsidian might be the better fit. Its graph view and flexible note linking are great for tracking NPCs, sessions, and lore. For writing a fantasy novel, though, Notion’s structured databases and planning tools are usually the clear winner.
