A Notion alternative that keeps your notes in markdown
Notion is a powerful all-in-one workspace — databases, kanban boards, team wikis, a huge template gallery. If your team runs on it, it works.
Notion supports external AI assistants through its official MCP. The distinction here is the underlying note format: Notion stores pages as blocks; OneKB stores the Markdown body as the source of truth, with an explicit AI write ledger and full-library export.
| OneKB | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| Data format | Plain markdown, one-click full zip export | Proprietary blocks; export loses structure |
| AI access | Your own AI via MCP — Claude Code, Cursor, 17 tools, free tier included | Official MCP for external assistants, plus Notion AI |
| AI safety | Versioned AI writes + audit ledger + trash-first deletes | Page history; no AI-specific audit trail |
| Speed & focus | A notes app — editor opens fast, no workspace sprawl | An everything app — heavier, more to configure |
| Databases & boards | Not built in — folders, tags, and links instead | Best-in-class databases, kanban, calendars |
| Collaboration | Personal knowledge base + read-only share links | Real-time multi-user editing, comments |
| Price | Free; Pro $1.9/mo for higher AI throughput | Free and paid plans; check current plan features |
Choose Notion if…
- · You need real-time team collaboration — shared docs, comments, permissions.
- · Your workflow lives in databases, kanban boards, and relational views.
- · You want one app for docs, wikis, and project management together.
Choose OneKB if…
- · Your notes are personal and you want them in markdown you actually own.
- · You want your own AI assistant working your notes — not a bundled AI add-on.
- · You value fast capture and clean export over heavyweight workspace features.
Features checked October 2, 2026. Local and cloud editions differ; consult current official documentation.
Notion MCP documentationTry OneKB free — write in markdown, keep everything exportable