People leave Notion when a second person needs the same database with different permissions, or when a page loads slowly enough that the team stops opening it.
The real decision is whether you need a database that behaves like a document, or a document that happens to hold a table.
Side by side
| Tool | Pricing | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craft | Freemium | A consultant writing client proposals who wants documents that look designed without a template. | macOS, iOS, Windows |
| Obsidian | Freemium | A researcher who wants a decade of notes in files they can open without the app. | macOS, Windows, Linux |
The options, and what each one costs you
- Better if
- A consultant writing client proposals who wants documents that look designed without a template.
- You give up
- It started Apple-first, so the Windows and web versions lag behind, real-time collaboration is weaker than Notion's, and moving a large workspace out later is fiddly.
- Better if
- A researcher who wants a decade of notes in files they can open without the app.
- You give up
- The plugin ecosystem is also the risk, since a heavy setup can become fragile, and there is no real-time collaboration.
Frequently asked
What is the best alternative to Notion?
It depends on what you are leaving for. The real decision is whether you need a database that behaves like a document, or a document that happens to hold a table. Our closest match on features and price is Craft.
Is there a free alternative to Notion?
Craft is free to start. Obsidian is free to start.
How much does switching from Notion cost?
Migration is usually the expensive part, not the licence: exports rarely preserve permissions, history or automations. Budget a day per active workspace for anything with a database in it.
How we picked
Every tool here is in our Productivity directory, which means we have used it and written down where it falls short. Nothing on this page is sponsored, and the order is not for sale.