- Best for document management: Coda
- Best for real-time team collaboration: Taskade
- Best for project scheduling and planning: ProofHub
- Best for small teams and freelancers: ClickUp
- Best for customization: Airtable
- Best free plan: Trello
- Best for analytics: Hive
- Best for scalability: Asana
Notion was designed as a note-taking app, but has evolved into powerful project management software over time. While Notion offers several advantages, such as its flexibility, customization and specialized note-taking capabilities, it is not for everyone. In this article, we share the top Notion competitors and alternatives for 2024, including a quick comparison table and the pros, cons, pricing and features of each project management application on our list.
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Top Notion alternatives: Comparison
The following table gives an overview of how each of the Notion alternatives on our list compares in terms of their core features:
Free plan | Gantt charts | Kanban | Native time tracking | In-app messaging | Pricing | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coda | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $10 user/month |
Taskade | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | $4 user/month |
ProofHub | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $45 user/month |
ClickUp | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $7 user/month |
Airtable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $20 user/month |
Trello | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | $5 user/month |
Hive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | $5 user/month |
Asana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | $10.99 user/month |
Coda: Best for document management
With its powerful database functionality, extensive range of templates, and document management features, Coda is one of the top alternatives to Notion currently available. While Coda has a steep learning curve, it is a more comprehensive project management solution compared to Notion. With Coda, you get a higher level of customization to tailor the platform according to your business needs.
Pricing
- Free: No cost and unlimited users.
- Pro: $10 per user per month billed annually, or $12 per user per month billed monthly.
- Team: $30 per user per month billed annually, or $36 per user per month billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Customized
Features
- Document management tools with version history and user permission features.
- Access to a variety of prebuilt templates for a variety of applications.
- Formula editor with autocomplete suggestions, formula library and debugging tools.
- Workflow automation to help streamline project management processes.
Integrations
Offers the option to bundle integrations in bulk for varying fees per tier. Below are some of the free ones:
- Zoom.
- Google Drive.
- Salesforce.
- Typeform.
- OpenAI.
Pros
- Extensive range of prebuilt templates.
- Powerful database functionality.
- Feature-rich free plan
Cons
- User interface is less intuitive.
- No desktop app.
- Lack of advanced formatting.
Why we chose Coda
Just like Notion, Coda is great for writing and document management. They have an AI writing assistant, doc sharing, forms, publishing, file organization, doc syncing and task automation. If you have projects that focus on content and need a little more than Notion offers, then Coda is a great choice. Note that the app interface won’t be as sleek as Notion’s UI.
For more information, read our full Coda review.
Taskade: Best for real-time team collaboration
Taskade: Best for real-time team collaboration
Taskade is a popular project management tool. It’s similar to Notion in terms of its note-taking capabilities. However, with Taskade, you get a cleaner and more minimalist interface. While Taskade might not offer the same level of customization as Notion, it excels at real-time team collaboration tools.
Pricing
- Free: up to three users.
- Starter: $4 per user per month billed annually, or $8 per user billed monthly.
- Plus: $8 per user per month billed annually, or $16 per user billed monthly.
- Pro: $19 per user per month billed annually, or $39 per user billed monthly.
- Business: $8 per user per month billed annually, or $12 per user billed monthly.
- Ultimate: $16 per user per month billed annually, or $20 per user billed monthly.
Features
- Built-in messaging system with video chat capability.
- Nested task lists allow users to break down large or complicated projects into more manageable subtasks.
- Mind map view to visually organize and connect ideas and tasks.
- Customizable templates for a variety of use cases.
Integrations
- Taskade API.
- Apple calendar.
- Calendly.
- Outlook.
- Gmail.
- Google Drive.
- Dropbox.
Pros
- Comprehensive knowledge base.
- Excellent collaboration tools.
- Lots of pricing plans to suit different-sized teams.
Cons
- Slow loading.
- No Gantt charts or time tracking.
- Not as many integrations.
Why we chose Taskade
Taskade has great project views like Notion as well as a simple and sleek interface. They have advanced AI insights, an AI writing assistant, plenty of storage for documents and reporting. Like Notion, their features are well suited to task and document management. They are a great choice for expanding projects without getting too overwhelmed.
For more information, read our full Taskade review.
ProofHub: Best for project scheduling and planning
ProofHub: Best for project scheduling and planning
ProofHub is an all-in-one project management solution with a focus on project scheduling and planning. You get a variety of project management tools, including task management, project views, Gantt charts and time tracking. Compared to Notion, ProofHub offers a more structured approach to project management.
Pricing
- Essential: $45 per month billed annually, or $50 per month billed monthly.
- Ultimate Control: $89 per flat fee per month billed annually, or $99 billed monthly.
Features
- Collaboration tools including discussion boards, group chat and one-on-one messaging.
- Extensive proofing and review tools.
- Dashboard customization tools with a ‘quick add’ button to save favorite tools to the main dashboard. You can also easily change the interface language.
- Extensive reporting, including detailed reports on project progress and workload management.
- Advanced admin control features to protect sensitive information without restricting team productivity.
Integrations
- Google Drive.
- OneDrive.
- Dropbox.
- Box.
- Slack.
- QuickBooks.
Pros
- All-in-one solution.
- Detailed project reports.
- Excellent task management tools.
Cons
- Restrictive free plan.
- less integrations.
Why we chose ProofHub
Notion allows guests into their plans and can be great for collaborating with freelancers or team members who don’t need full access. If you need better bulk pricing, then ProofHub is a great choice for large teams that prefer a flat fee. They also aren’t as feature-dense as others on this list. They’re a good option that isn’t as overwhelming.
For more information, read our full ProofHub review.
ClickUp: Best for small teams and freelancers
ClickUp offers a wider range of features compared to Notion, making it a more robust project management solution. It also supports more third-party integrations, although there is a steeper learning curve. With ClickUp, you get more dashboard customization, so users who only need basic tools can tailor the interface accordingly. This makes ClickUp an ideal project management platform for freelancers and small teams.
Pricing
- Free: No cost with unlimited plan members.
- Unlimited: $7 per user per month billed annually, or $10 per user billed monthly.
- Business: $12 per user per month billed annually, or $19 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Contact ClickUp’s sales team for pricing information.
Features
- Agile support features, including sprint widgets, integration with agile applications and agile-optimized dashboards.
- Variety of project views, including mind maps, Gantt charts and kanban boards.
- Unlimited storage in higher-priced plans.
- Numerous built-in automation tools.
Integrations
- Google Drive.
- OneDrive.
- Dropbox.
- Slack.
- Figma.
- Loom.
- Tableau.
- Discord.
Pros
- Extensive agile support.
- Powerful automation engine.
- Variety of project data import options.
Cons
- Default notification settings can get overwhelming.
- Initial setup is confusing.
- Limited mobile app functionality.
Why we chose ClickUp
ClickUp both manage to have advanced features and a fairly small learning curve. The software goes well past Notion’s visual work views and offers 15 ways to view your data. For small teams that get overwhelmed, you can try ClickUp’s free version to test the functionality and learning curve. For complex projects, you will need to size up to higher tiers.
For more information, read our full ClickUp review.
Airtable: Best for customization
Airtable is a versatile project management platform that offers a powerful combination of database functionality and a spreadsheet-style interface. Compared to Notion, Airtable offers more advanced tools and can handle a larger volume of data. The added level of complexity does come with a steeper learning curve, but it’s worth it for teams or individuals who need project management software for large or complex projects.
Pricing
- Free: No cost with unlimited bases for up to five users, and access to Interface Designer.
- Team: $20 per user per month billed annually, or $24 per user billed monthly.
- Pro: $45 per user per month billed annually, or $54 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Contact Airtable’s sales team for pricing information.
Features
- Custom forms that can be used to collect and feed data directly into Airtable projects.
- Interface designer to build and customize apps.
- Team collaboration tools with real-time updates to support communication.
- Link documents within Airtable for easy access and to connect various files with users or projects.
Integrations
- Google Drive.
- Dropbox.
- Salesforce.
- Slack.
- Jira.
- Zendesk.
- Evernote.
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Visually appealing UI.
- Excellent document sharing and management tools.
Cons
- Steep learning curve, especially for users new to spreadsheets.
- Gantt charts are only available in higher-priced plans.
- Limited reporting and analytics.
Why we chose Airtable
In Notion, there aren’t many options for personalization. A solution that allows you to tailor-make an app to your project needs is Airtable. You can build the app you want with no code and take advantage of extensions to upgrade overall functionality. It’s best for tech-savvy teams that need an app to go beyond what Notion offers.
For more information, read our full Airtable review.
Trello: Best free plan
Trello is one of the most easy-to-use tools on this list, allowing for simplified project management. While Trello might not be suitable for more complex projects, it does offer an impressive range of features. The free plan offered by Trello is outstanding, as it offers a highly visual kanban board interface, along with collaboration tools and integration capabilities. If you’re looking for a free or simple alternative to Notion, Trello would be a top choice.
Pricing
- Free: No cost for unlimited cards and up to 10 boards per Workspace.
- Standard: $5 per user per month billed annually, or $6 per user billed monthly.
- Premium: $10 per user per month billed annually, or $12.50 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: $17.50 per user per month, purchase minimum of 50 users.
Features
- Variety of templates covering various use cases, including customizable and prebuilt layouts.
- Built-in automation with Butler AI to help minimize time spent on recurring tasks and reduce the potential for human error.
- Customizable kanban boards with drag-and-drop functionality to help simplify task management.
Integrations
- Slack.
- Microsoft Teams.
- Google Drive.
- Dropbox.
- Everhour.
- Timely.
- Timecamp.
Pros
- Outstanding free plan.
- Simple to use.
- Robust automation features.
Cons
- Not suited for complex projects.
- Limited reporting and analytics.
- Missing more advanced project management tools, such as Gantt charts.
Why we chose Trello
Out of all the comparisons on this list, Trello is probably the closest to Notion. They are both simple, intuitive and with less advanced features but great functionality for keeping track of projects in weekly sprints. If you’re worried about a steep learning curve, then Trello should be the next app you test out.
For more information, read our full Trello review.
Hive: Best for analytics
Hive and Notion share some similarities, but there are key differences between the two platforms. Most notably, Hive focuses more on reporting, analytics and team collaboration tools, making it ideal for teams that have outgrown Notion and need a solution with more powerful project management features.
Pricing
- Free: No cost for up to 10 users.
- Starter: $5 per user per month billed annually, or $7 per user billed monthly.
- Teams: $12 per user per month billed annually, or $18 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Contact Hive’s sales team for pricing information.
Features
- Hive analytics include a variety of tools, including reports and charts for project summaries, resource management and cost tracking.
- Communication and collaborative tools, including instant messaging and group chat features.
- Time tracking tools to manage project costs, optimize resource allocation and keep projects on schedule.
Integrations
- Google Drive.
- OneDrive.
- Hive API.
- Slack.
- Microsoft Teams.
Pros
- Clean and organized interface.
- Powerful analytics tools.
- Customizable dashboards.
- Visually appealing and modern UI.
Cons
- Limited user permissions.
- Extra cost for add-ons.
Why we chose Hive
Hive, compared to Notion, has more in-depth task management and collaboration features. They also have plenty of app customization choices with their add-ons, so you can pick and choose what you need. If you go with a lower tier and no add-ons, you can start simple; which can be easier if you’re transitioning from an intuitive and easy software like Notion.
For more information, read our full Hive review.
Asana: Best for scalability
Asana is one of the leading project management platforms and is well known for its ability to adapt and scale according to the needs of a project. Compared to Notion, you get better project structure and organization with Asana, making it a top choice for more complex projects. However, for basic project management, you may find it unnecessarily complex.
Pricing
- Basic: No cost for unlimited tasks, projects, messages, activity logs and file storage.
- Premium: $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 per user billed monthly.
- Business: $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $30.49 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Contact Asana’s sales team for pricing information.
Features
- Advanced data import and export tools allowing for easy transition to and from other project management applications.
- Detailed project views, including project calendars, timelines, task dependencies and Gantt charts.
- Variety of predefined workflows for users that need a standardized approach to project management.
Integrations
- Adobe CC.
- Tableau.
- Salesforce.
- Canva.
- Figma.
- OneDrive.
- Google Drive.
Pros
- Extensive list of project templates and third-party integrations.
- Variety of data import options.
- Easy to scale.
- Team-specific workflows.
Cons
- Slight learning curve and not as intuitive as Notion.
- Too complex for simple tasks.
Why we chose Asana
We added Asana to this list because, like Notion, they have great visual work views and can help you manage deadlines. It also offers more advanced features than Notion and will be great for teams looking to level up their tech stack. It’s not the best choice for those who struggle with an initial learning curve and does take a little longer to learn than Notion.
For more information, read our full Asana review.
Is Notion worth it?
Notion is worth it for businesses or individuals that value a collaborative workspace and simplicity in project management. It offers a decent range of features and is highly versatile, with numerous use cases.
That said, while Notion makes it easy to organize project information in one place, for more complex projects, it may not be the best solution. To determine whether Notion is suitable for your business, you will need to assess your specific requirements against the features it has to offer.
You can learn more by reading our full Notion review.
Notion pros and cons
As with all project management applications, Notion has its strengths and weaknesses. We’ve outlined these in the following table to help you understand whether Notion aligns with your business needs.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Specialized note-taking capabilities. | No Gantt charts. |
Gentle learning curve. | Limited security tools. |
Generous free plan. | Slow performance with high volume of data. |
Highly customizable. |
Notion pricing
- Free: The free plan offers unlimited blocks for individuals, but limited blocks for teams.
- Plus: The Plus plan, formerly known as the Team plan, is priced at $8 per user per month billed annually, or $10 per user billed monthly.
- Business: The Business plan is priced at $15 per user per month billed annually, or $18 per user billed monthly.
- Enterprise: Customized pricing.
Do you need an alternative to Notion?
Whether or not you should use Notion depends on your business requirements and priorities. If you’re a freelancer, small business or startup with basic project management requirements, Notion could be an excellent choice. One of the standout features of Notion is its note-taking capabilities, so if that’s important to you, Notion offers a key advantage over other competitors on this list.
However, if you’re managing complex projects or a large project portfolio, you may need software with advanced tools, such as ProofHub or Hive. Likewise, if you need a simple project management app with an outstanding free version, consider using Trello.
Methodology
To compile our list of the best Notion competitors and alternatives, we evaluated a wide range of software, including applications that offered project management features missing in Notion. For our evaluation criteria, we looked at the software’s scalability, customer service, usability, features, pricing and other metrics. We also factored in customer reviews and ratings from reputable websites.