HenkSuiteTL;DRThe fastest way to migrate from Notion is to prune first, import second, and run both apps in parallel for two weeks before cancelling. Export Notion as Markdown plus CSV, delete the 70% of pages you stopped using months ago, then import the rest into HenkSuite, Obsidian, or Anytype. Skip the urge to rebuild every database - most of them weren't load-bearing.
Quick answer: how to migrate without regret
Migrating from Notion is the productivity equivalent of moving house. The pile of stuff in your workspace looks essential until you have to carry it somewhere new. Most successful migrations end up moving 30% of the original workspace - the load-bearing part - and quietly leaving the other 70% behind.
Here's a step-by-step plan that works for individuals and small teams, plus the three local-first destinations worth considering.
Before you start the migration
The right reasons to leave
These are the durable reasons - the ones that won't fade after the novelty of a new app wears off.
- Speed: Notion's cloud round trips have stopped feeling acceptable.
- Privacy: You don't want your journal, notes, and client data on someone else's servers.
- Offline: You travel, fly, or work from places with bad internet.
- Stack consolidation: You want one app instead of Notion plus Todoist plus a calendar plus a time tracker.
- Cost: Per-seat subscriptions add up - a one-time license starts to look reasonable.
The wrong reasons to leave
These are the reasons that lead to regret. If they're your only motivation, fix the underlying issue first - the migration won't help.
- You're bored. A new app is fun for two weeks. Then it's another app to maintain.
- You saw a cool YouTube setup. Other people's systems rarely fit your work.
- Your Notion is a mess. A messy Notion becomes a messy anything-else. Clean up first.
The 5-step migration plan
Step 1 - Export everything from Notion
Settings → Export. Choose Markdown plus CSV. Wait for the email with the zip file (large workspaces can take an hour). Save the zip somewhere safe - this is your portable backup regardless of where you migrate.
The export includes pages as Markdown files and databases as CSV files. Images and attachments come along, with file paths rewritten to local references.
Step 2 - Prune ruthlessly before importing
Open the unzipped export and look at it with fresh eyes. The rule of thumb: if you haven't opened a page in 6 months and it's not reference material, delete it. Most workspaces shed half their volume at this step.
The 30/70 ruleMost Notion workspaces are 30% load-bearing and 70% abandoned templates, half-finished projects, and screenshots. Migrate the 30%.
Step 3 - Pick the destination app
Three serious local-first destinations dominate the market in 2026:HenkSuite for an all-in-one suite, Obsidian for notes-first workflows, and Anytype for encrypted privacy-maximalist users. Pick based on what your Notion was actually doing - not what you wish it had been doing.
Step 4 - Import and rebuild structure
Most local-first apps have Markdown importers. Drag the pruned export folder in. Pages should land as notes; databases need more thought.
Resist the temptation to rebuild every Notion database one for one. Notion databases are often a workaround for missing features - in a different app, the same need is solved by tasks, calendar events, or simple notes.
Step 5 - Run both in parallel for 2 weeks
Don't cancel Notion immediately. For two weeks, do new work in the new app while keeping Notion read-only. Every time you find yourself reaching for Notion, log what you needed. After two weeks, you'll have a list of the actual gaps - and you'll know if the new app fills them.
Where to migrate: HenkSuite, Obsidian, Anytype
HenkSuite - the all-in-one local-first option
HenkSuite is the right destination if your Notion was holding tasks, projects, notes, and a calendar all together. It ships 21 native modules backed by a single local SQLite database: Projects, Tasks, Notes, Calendar, Mail, Spreadsheets, Time Tracking, Habits, Goals, and Finance. One app, offline-first, one-time license.
Best fit if you're consolidating from Notion plus Todoist plus a calendar plus other separate tools - HenkSuite replaces most of them at once.
Obsidian - notes-first power users
If your Notion was 80% writing, linking, and reference material, Obsidian is the natural destination. Markdown files on disk, instant search, an enormous plugin ecosystem, and a graph view for serious knowledge work. The Markdown export from Notion drops in cleanly.
Anytype - encrypted by design
Anytype is the destination for users whose primary motivation is privacy. Local-first with end-to-end encrypted sync, optional self-hosting, and a Notion-like page model. The UX is improving fast. Best for people who want the Notion shape with serious privacy underneath.
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
Migrating everything at once
The single most common mistake. You're not moving a warehouse - you're moving the things you actually use. Pick a starting subset (maybe just notes, or just projects) and expand from there.
Trying to recreate every Notion database
Notion databases are powerful precisely because they're generic. In a purpose-built app, you don't need a custom database for tasks - you have tasks. You don't need a database for habits - you have a habits module. Let go of the databases.
Cancelling Notion too early
Keep the subscription for at least a month after migration. If you cancel and discover something didn't make it across, recovery is annoying. Once two weeks of parallel use are clean, downgrade or cancel - not before.
FAQ: migrating from Notion
How long does a migration take?
For an individual workspace, the export takes 5-30 minutes, the prune takes 1-2 hours of focused attention, and the import takes another 1-2 hours. The parallel-run phase adds two weeks before you can fully cancel. Plan for a week of evenings, not a weekend.
What happens to my Notion databases?
They export as CSV files. In Obsidian and Anytype, you can import them as tables. In HenkSuite, the Spreadsheets module opens CSVs natively, and structured data like tasks or contacts often maps better to a dedicated module than a generic database.
Can I migrate a team workspace?
Yes, but expect more friction than an individual migration. Team workspaces have shared pages, permissions, and external collaborators. Plan a longer parallel-run period (4-6 weeks), and migrate teams one at a time rather than all at once.
The bottom line
Migrating from Notion is straightforward when you treat it as pruning plus moving, not as a full system rebuild. Export, cut 70%, import the rest, run in parallel, then cancel with confidence.
If you want one local-first app to replace the whole stack - notes, tasks, projects, calendar, time tracking - take HenkSuite for a spin. Install, drop your Notion export in, and feel the difference local SQLite makes.
About the author
Emilia is the founder of HenkSuite. She builds productivity tools because the internet has 47 of them and none of them feel fast, private, or finished.