Notion to Markdown: Plain Folder & Syncthing Workflow

Switching from Notion to a plain folder of Markdown files synced with Syncthing gives you full ownership of your notes, offline access, and freedom from vendor lock-in, while keeping your data in a simple, portable format. This article explains how that workflow works, why it beats a proprietary database for many users, and what you need to set it up yourself.

Why People Leave Notion

Notion is powerful, but it stores everything in a proprietary database that lives on Notion’s servers. You access it through their app or website, and exporting your data is a manual, often lossy process (especially for nested pages, databases, and embedded content). You also need an internet connection to sync across devices, and if Notion changes pricing, features, or goes offline, you have little recourse. A plain folder of Markdown files avoids all that: Markdown is plain text, readable by any editor, and Syncthing syncs it directly between your devices without a cloud intermediary.

What You Get with a Plain Notes Folder

A plain notes folder is just a directory on your computer containing .md files, organized however you like. Each note is a text file with Markdown formatting (headings, lists, links, etc.). The benefits are immediate:

• Ownership: The files are yours, on your disk. No one can delete them or hold them hostage.
• Portability: Any text editor (VS Code, Obsidian, Typora, even Notepad) can open and edit them.
• Simplicity: No database to corrupt, no sync conflicts from a central server, no vendor lock-in.
• Offline: Your notes are always available, even without internet.
• Versioning: You can use Git or Syncthing’s built-in versioning to track changes.

How Syncthing Fits In

Syncthing is a free, open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool. It runs on your devices (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, etc.) and syncs folders directly between them over your local network or the internet, encrypted. Unlike cloud services, there is no central server; your devices talk to each other. You designate a folder (your notes folder) to share, and Syncthing keeps it identical on all connected devices. If you edit a note on your phone, it appears on your laptop within seconds. If you’re offline, you edit locally and it syncs when you reconnect.

How to Export from Notion

Notion’s built-in export is the starting point. To move your content:

1. In Notion, go to Settings & Members → Settings → Export.
2. Choose Markdown & CSV as the format (for pages with databases, you may also want to export each database separately).
3. Select whether to include subpages and the export scope (current page or entire workspace).
4. Download the ZIP file, extract it, and you’ll have a folder of .md files and attachments.

Be aware that Notion’s Markdown export is not perfect: nested toggle blocks become plain text, databases become CSV files, and some formatting (like colors or callouts) is lost. You may need to clean up the files manually, especially if you used complex databases.

Setting Up Your Plain Notes Folder

Once you have your exported files, create a dedicated folder, e.g., ~/Notes. Move your Markdown files there. Then install Syncthing on each device you want to sync with:

1. Download Syncthing from the official website (or your package manager) and install it.
2. Open the Syncthing web UI (usually at localhost:8384).
3. Click Add Folder, give it a label (e.g., “Notes”), and set the folder path to your notes folder.
4. On your other devices, install Syncthing as well, then add the same folder (you can share the folder ID with a QR code or text).
5. Accept the folder on the other device, and it will start syncing.

That’s it. You now have a live, two-way sync of your notes across all your devices, with no cloud in between.

Choosing a Markdown Editor

Your plain folder works with any text editor, but for a Notion-like experience, consider an editor that understands Markdown and a folder of files. Popular options include:

• Obsidian: Free, local-first, uses a folder of Markdown files, supports backlinks, tags, and plugins. It’s the closest to Notion in terms of linking and graph view.
• VS Code: Free, with Markdown preview and many extensions, but more developer-oriented.
• Typora: Paid but simple, with a clean writing interface.
• Standard Notes: Cross-platform, but not folder-based (it uses its own sync).

Obsidian is often the go-to because it reads your plain folder directly, so you can use it alongside any other tool. It doesn’t lock you in; you can stop using Obsidian anytime and still have your notes.

Common Problems and Solutions

Moving to a plain folder is not without challenges. Here are the most common issues and how to handle them:

• Sync conflicts: If you edit the same note on two devices before they sync, Syncthing creates a conflict file (e.g., note.sync-conflict-20240101-123456.md). You can merge manually or set up a versioning policy in Syncthing to keep old versions.
• Attachment handling: Images and files are stored as separate files in a subfolder (attachments or similar). Keep them relative to your notes so links work across devices.
• Mobile editing: On Android, you can use apps like Obsidian or Markor to edit. On iOS, the Files app can access Syncthing’s folder via the Syncthing app, but editing is clunky; you might prefer a dedicated editor like 1Writer.
• Lost formatting: Notion’s export may lose some formatting. You’ll need to manually fix tables, callouts, and embedded content. For databases, consider exporting each one as a CSV and linking to it, or converting to a simple Markdown table.
• Search: Plain files don’t have Notion’s instant search. You can use your editor’s search (Obsidian has fast full-text search) or a tool like ripgrep.

Comparison: Notion vs. Plain Folder + Syncthing

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

• Data ownership: Notion stores your data on their servers; plain folder is on your devices.
• Offline access: Notion has limited offline mode; plain folder works fully offline.
• Sync: Notion syncs via their cloud; Syncthing syncs peer-to-peer, no cloud.
• Collaboration: Notion has real-time multi-user editing; plain folder is single-user (though you can use Git for collaboration).
• Database features: Notion’s databases are powerful; plain folder requires you to manage data as files or use a tool like Obsidian’s Dataview plugin.
• Cost: Notion’s free plan is limited; Syncthing is free and open-source.
• Learning curve: Notion is easy to start but complex to master; plain folder requires some setup but is conceptually simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Syncthing with my phone?

Yes, Syncthing has Android and iOS apps. The Android app is full-featured; the iOS app is more limited but can sync a folder that you can access in the Files app. You can edit Markdown files on mobile with apps like Obsidian (Android/iOS) or Markor (Android).

Will I lose my Notion databases?

Notion exports databases as CSV files, not as Markdown tables. You can view them in a spreadsheet app, but you lose the relational features. If you rely heavily on databases, consider whether a plain-file workflow can replace them (e.g., with Obsidian’s Dataview plugin), or keep Notion for those specific tasks.

Is Syncthing secure?

Syncthing encrypts all traffic between devices using TLS. It uses device-to-device authentication, so only devices you approve can connect. You can also set up relays to help connect devices behind NAT, but the data remains encrypted end-to-end.

What if I want to collaborate with others?

Plain folders are not designed for real-time collaboration. You can share the folder via Syncthing with another person, but you’ll both need to be online and you’ll get conflict files if you edit simultaneously. For collaborative work, consider using a Git repository (with a service like GitHub) or stick with Notion.

Can I keep using Notion for some things and plain files for others?

Yes, many people use a hybrid approach. Keep Notion for project management or databases, and use a plain folder for daily notes, journaling, and long-form writing. You can even export Notion pages periodically to keep a backup.

How do I back up my plain notes folder?

Since the folder is just files, you can back it up with any method: copy to an external drive, use a cloud storage service (like Dropbox or Google Drive) as an additional sync target, or use Syncthing’s built-in versioning to keep snapshots of changed files. You can also use Git for version control.

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