What's the best free Notion AI alternative?

Obsidian with local LLM plugins gives similar AI capabilities for free after hardware investment.

Can I use local AI for writing assistance?

Yes! Jan or LM Studio provide AI chat that you can use alongside any writing app.

Is there a Notion alternative with built-in AI?

Not with local AI built in. Best approach is Obsidian/Logseq with local LLM plugins.

Alternatives GuideUpdated December 2025

Notion AI Alternatives

AI writing assistants without subscription costs

Notion AI adds $10/month to your Notion subscription. Here are alternatives that provide similar AI assistance at lower cost.

What You're Replacing

Notion AI

AI writing assistant integrated in Notion

$10/user/month (on top of Notion subscription)

Limitations:

Additional monthly cost
Only works in Notion
Data processed externally
Limited customization

Quick Comparison

Alternative	Type	VRAM Needed	Quality vs Original
Obsidian + Local LLM	Runs Locally	8GB+	80-90%
Logseq + Ollama	Runs Locally	8GB+	75-85%
ChatGPT + Any Notes App	Cloud Only	Cloud	100%+
Jan + Your Writing App	Runs Locally	8GB+	80-95%

Detailed Breakdown

Obsidian + Local LLM

Runs Locally

Markdown notes with local AI via plugins.

VRAM: 8GB+Quality: 80-90%

Best For:

Privacy-focusedMarkdown loversPlugin extensibility

Setup Guide →View GPU →

Logseq + Ollama

Runs Locally

Outline-based notes with local AI integration.

VRAM: 8GB+Quality: 75-85%

Best For:

Outline styleGraph-based thinking

Setup Guide →View GPU →

ChatGPT + Any Notes App

Cloud Only

Copy-paste workflow with ChatGPT.

VRAM: CloudQuality: 100%+

Best For:

FlexibilityBest quality AI

Jan + Your Writing App

Runs Locally

Local AI assistant alongside any app.

VRAM: 8GB+Quality: 80-95%

Best For:

App-agnosticPrivacyNo subscription

Setup Guide →View GPU →

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Alternatives

ChatGPT Alternatives

GitHub Copilot Alternatives

Need Hardware for Local AI?

Check our GPU buying guides and setup tutorials.