Best Note-Taking Apps 2026
Notion vs Obsidian vs Roam Research vs Logseq - Complete Comparison
🏆 Quick Summary
For most users, Notion offers the best balance of features and usability. Obsidian is ideal for power users who want local control. Roam pioneered networked thought but is expensive. Logseq offers a free, open-source alternative.
Real-time collaboration, shared workspaces, and team permissions
Local-first, powerful linking, extensive plugins
Bidirectional links, daily notes, and outliner interface
Fully open source, local files, privacy-focused
📊 Complete Rankings
Notion
Note Taking
All-in-one workspace for notes, docs, wikis, and project management
Obsidian
Note Taking
Local-first knowledge base with powerful linking and graph view
Logseq
Note Taking
Open-source knowledge base with privacy-first approach
Roam Research
Note Taking
Networked thought tool for research and note-taking
📋 Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Obsidian | Logseq | Roam Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / $10/month | Free / $50/year | Free | $15/month |
| Free Tier | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Features Score | 95/100 | 90/100 | 80/100 | 85/100 |
| Ease of Use | 90/100 | 70/100 | 65/100 | 65/100 |
| Integration | 95/100 | 80/100 | 70/100 | 60/100 |
🎯 Best For Each Use Case
Team Collaboration
Real-time collaboration, shared workspaces, and team permissions
Personal Knowledge Management
Local-first, powerful linking, extensive plugins
Research & Academia
Bidirectional links, daily notes, and outliner interface
Open Source & Privacy
Fully open source, local files, privacy-focused
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which note-taking app is best for beginners?▼
Notion is the most beginner-friendly with its intuitive interface and templates. Obsidian has a steeper learning curve but more flexibility.
Which app works best offline?▼
Obsidian and Logseq work completely offline since they use local files. Notion and Roam require internet for syncing.
Which is the most affordable option?▼
Logseq is completely free and open source. Obsidian is free for personal use. Notion has a generous free tier. Roam is the most expensive at $15/month.