The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →I switched from Notion to a folder of Markdown files synced with Syncthing, and I feel faster in my own workflow. That is a personal result, not a measured comparison or a promise that the setup will make you faster. The practical change is that my notes are ordinary files rather than pages inside a workspace and database system.
This approach makes sense if you want files you can open and manage directly, and you are comfortable maintaining your own folder structure and sync setup. It is less suitable if your work depends on Notion databases or other workspace features that do not translate directly into Markdown.
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What changed when I left Notion
Notion organizes information inside pages, databases, and a workspace. In a plain Markdown setup, each note is a text file in a folder. You can use an editor to create and search notes, and the files remain accessible through ordinary file-management tools.
That simplicity can remove friction for someone who mostly writes and reads text. It also shifts responsibility: instead of relying on a workspace’s built-in organization, you decide how folders and filenames work, which editor to use, and how devices stay in sync.
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My sense that I work faster is specific to my own habits. The available documentation does not establish a general productivity advantage or provide a benchmark comparing the two workflows.
What a Notion export preserves—and what it changes
Notion’s export guidance distinguishes between ordinary pages and databases. A non-database page can be exported as Markdown. Full-page databases export as CSV, while their subpages can be included as Markdown files. Callout blocks export as HTML because Markdown has no equivalent. A workspace export can include pages in HTML or Markdown, database content in CSV, and uploaded files; pages the exporter cannot access may be omitted.
So an export gives you portable material, not a feature-for-feature copy of a Notion workspace. Database rows become CSV rather than a Markdown database, and callouts become HTML. If you relied on Notion’s database views or workspace structure, plan for a different way to work with that information.
Check the files before changing your daily workflow
- Open a sample of exported Markdown files and confirm headings, lists, and code blocks look right.
- Review links, attachments, and the resulting folder structure. Confirm that files you need are present and that links still lead where expected.
- Inspect database CSVs separately; they are not interchangeable with ordinary Markdown notes.
- Check callout HTML and decide whether to keep it, edit it, or accept that it will remain HTML.
These checks follow from the documented export formats; they are useful precautions, not a claim that every migration will have the same problems.
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Importing Markdown back into Notion
If you are testing both directions or need to bring files into Notion, its Markdown import guidance says it supports standard Markdown, headings, lists, and code blocks. Anchor links and advanced or nonstandard Markdown extensions may need cleanup.
The same page currently lists a per-file import limit of 5 MB on Free and 50 MB on paid plans, and up to about 120 file imports every 12 hours. Check Notion’s documentation before a large import because limits can change. These constraints matter when planning a bulk move; they do not determine whether a smaller set of notes will suit your workflow.
How Syncthing fits into a Markdown workflow
Syncthing synchronizes files between connected devices, so a notes folder can be available on more than one computer or phone without making the notes part of a database application. The folder still consists of files; Syncthing’s job is to propagate changes between devices.
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Synchronization is not the same as backup. Syncthing’s file versioning documentation says versioning is configured per folder, separately on each device, and is disabled by default. When enabled, a device can archive older files replaced or deleted by changes received from another device. It does not archive local edits made on that same device through this mechanism.
Enable versioning only with a clear recovery plan
If you want older copies retained, configure and test versioning on the relevant folder and device. Confirm where archived files go and how you would restore one. Because the documented behavior does not capture local edits on that same device, keep a separate backup of notes you cannot afford to lose. Versioning and backup address different failure cases.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens when devices disagree?
Two devices may edit a note before either has received the other’s changes. Syncthing documents conflict handling as part of bringing connected devices to a consistent state in its FAQ. That does not make simultaneous edits a good collaboration workflow: inspect any conflict copies or unexpected results rather than assuming the intended version won.
The FAQ also explains the folder marker’s role in checking that a folder is present and readable. If a volume is unmounted, Syncthing pauses syncing rather than treating every file as deleted. This is a useful safeguard, but it is still worth confirming that the intended folder is mounted and available before relying on a device to sync.
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Who should choose which workflow?
| Need or preference | Notion | Markdown folder with Syncthing |
|---|---|---|
| Pages and notes as portable text files | Export can produce Markdown for non-database pages, but the information lives in a workspace until exported. | Notes are ordinary Markdown files in a folder. |
| Database-oriented organization | Full-page databases are part of the workspace model. | Exported full-page databases are CSV, not equivalent Markdown databases. |
| Keeping several devices current | Notion uses its workspace and app workflow. | Syncthing can synchronize the folder among connected devices; you manage the folder and sync configuration. |
| Recovering older file versions | Not addressed by the cited Notion export guidance. | Syncthing offers optional per-folder, per-device versioning; it is disabled by default and does not archive that device’s own local edits. |
Choose based on the work you actually do. If your notes are mainly text and you value direct file access, a Markdown folder may fit. If your workflow depends on databases and workspace structure, exporting to files may require meaningful compromises. Neither choice is proven faster for everyone.
Quick Recap
A low-risk way to try the switch
- Export a representative set. Use Notion’s export options and include relevant subpages and uploaded files. Check the resulting Markdown, CSV, HTML, and folder structure.
- Choose a small notes folder. Start with notes you can verify easily, rather than replacing your whole workspace at once.
- Set up Syncthing for the folder on each device. Confirm the devices report the folder as available and that a harmless test edit appears on the other device.
- Test recovery before trusting the setup. If you enable versioning, create a test change and verify that you can find and restore an older copy. Keep an independent backup for important notes.
- Use the test period to assess fit. Notice whether direct files and your chosen organization reduce friction, and whether the work of managing folders and synchronization is acceptable.
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