Notion is undeniably popular and powerful, offering an all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and more. But even the mightiest tool isn’t perfect for everyone. Whether you crave a specific feature Notion lacks, yearn for a simpler interface, or simply want to explore new options, there are fantastic alternatives waiting to be discovered. In this guide, we dive into the 10 best Notion alternatives you can try in 2024 according to our wide experience, catering to a variety of needs and preferences. Keep scrolling!
Table of contents
How did we evaluate these apps?
At 2sync, we connect apps to Notion for a living. That means we’re experts in what makes Notion tick, how it works, and what features users crave when considering alternatives. We used this deep understanding to evaluate these apps, ensuring they offer functionalities that go toe-to-toe with Notion or provide unique strengths for those looking to move beyond it.
What makes a good Notion alternative?
Finding the perfect Notion alternative depends on what you feel Notion is lacking or if you need more robust features that Notion already has.
Some key features in other tools can make a worthy replacement:
- Core note-taking & organization: The cornerstone of Notion is capturing thoughts and ideas. A strong alternative needs a flexible note-taking system, hierarchical organization (pages within pages), and easy ways to link related information.
- Database functionality: Notion’s power lies in how it treats information like building blocks. A good alternative should offer database capabilities to structure data and customize views (tables, boards, etc.). However, some users may prefer something more simplified and may not need databases.
- Collaboration: If you work with teams, the alternative should support real-time editing, commenting, and task assignment for smooth project management.
- Customization: Notion users love a personalized experience. Look for alternatives that let you tailor the workspace, add different content blocks, and offer templates to get started.
- Interface: We know that Notion’s interface may not be for everyone. There’s a lot to play with. Other alternatives may simplify this aspect by offering more streamlined approaches.
- Beyond the basics: Some excellent Notion alternatives win users over with unique strengths like:
- Offline capability for working without an internet connection (Notion does not currently offer a complete offline mode).
- Deep focus on specific use cases (writing, task management, etc.)
- Superior speed and performance
The best Notion alternatives: comparison table
| App | Best for | Platforms | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coda | Teams needing docs with database power | Web, Windows, iOS, Android | Free | Pro: $12/month |
| Todoist | Task management & personal organization | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Free | $4/month |
| Confluence | Team knowledge base & collaboration | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Free | $6.05/month |
| Obsidian | Building a second brain with linked notes | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Free | $25 |
| Microsoft Loop | Collaborative workspaces in Microsoft ecosystem | Web, iOS, Android | Free |
| Slab | Documenting company knowledge | Web, Windows, Mac | Free | $8/month |
| Slite | Simple, focused note-taking for teams | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Free | $10/month |
| Mem | AI-powered note organization for quick recall | Web, Windows, iOS | Free | $14.99/month |
| Evernote | Collaborative workspaces in the Microsoft ecosystem | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Free | $8.99/month |
| Anytype | Data-rich organization, offline focus | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Free (early access) |
1. Coda
✨ Best for: Teams needing docs with database power
✅ Pros:
- Intuitive
- Very flexible
- Several integrations
- Efficient collaboration
- AI integration
❌ Cons:
- No desktop app is available
- API limits
💻 Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Pro plan: $12/month per Doc Maker
Coda is often considered one of the best Notion alternatives. It blends the power of documents and spreadsheets for ultimate flexibility. Think of it as your team’s collaborative building block. Build customized tables, set up automations, integrate external tools, and bring project management into the same organized canvas as your notes and ideas. It’s a powerhouse for teams who need docs that do more than just hold text, and it also offers more automation.
2. Todoist
✨ Best for: Task management & personal organization
✅ Pros:
- Streamlined approach to task management
- Clean and easy-to-use interface
- Useful iPhone widget
- Excellent integrations
- Low learning curve
❌ Cons:
- It’s not as powerful as Notion
- Not suitable for big projects
- No messaging with teammates
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Pro plan: starts at $4/month
Todoist is an excellent Notion alternative if you are leaning into more simplicity and an easy task management approach. Organize projects, set deadlines, track progress, and collaborate with a team. You can also use Kanban boards to organize your tasks better. Its clean interface, natural language input, and intuitive organization system make tackling to-do lists feel satisfying rather than overwhelming. Thanks to 2sync, you can also use Notion and Todoist at the same time in a full 2-way synchronization.
👉 Learn more: Notion vs. Todoist: Which Task Management App Is the Best?
3. Confluence
✨ Best for: Team knowledge base & collaboration
✅ Pros:
- Perfect for teamwork
- Excellent knowledge base
- Several templates and macros to choose from
- Automations
❌ Cons:
- Adapting the interface is not easy
- Advanced functionalities are expensive
- Other functionalities are only available with paid plugins
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Standard plan: $6.05 per month per user
Coda is a dynamic and innovative platform that redefines traditional document and project management. With its all-in-one workspace, Coda allows users to combine notes, tasks, databases, and spreadsheets into customizable docs, catering to a variety of project needs. Its flexible design and powerful integration capabilities make it a compelling alternative to Notion for those seeking a versatile tool to streamline collaboration and increase productivity.
4. Obsidian
✨ Best for: Building a second brain with linked notes
✅ Pros:
- Excellent for long-form note-taking
- Elegant interface
- Highly customizable with numerous plugins
- Fully localized for 100% privacy of data
❌ Cons:
- The syncing option is expensive
- Steep learning curve
- Not the best for collaboration
💻 Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
💲 Price: Free | Catalyst: $25 one-time | Commercial: $50/year per user
Obsidian is a unique note-taking app that values privacy and adaptability, storing notes locally for secure, offline access—it’s often considered an excellent Notion alternative because of this. It’s also known for its flexibility, allowing users to customize their workspace with plugins and themes to fit their thinking style. Obsidian’s strength lies in linking thoughts and visualizing connections, making it an ideal tool for those looking to map out their ideas in a non-linear fashion.
👉 Learn more: Notion vs. Obsidian: Which Tool Is Better in 2024?
5. Microsoft Loop
✨ Best for: Collaborative workspaces in the Microsoft ecosystem
✅ Pros:
- Suitable if you’re already using Microsoft tools
- Great for real-time editing and sharing small bits of information
- Can be used for different kinds of content (lists, notes, etc.)
- Still under development, so there’s potential for it to become even better
❌ Cons:
- Less structured than Notion, it’s designed to be more free-flowing
💻 Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free
Microsoft Loop is designed as a collaborative platform that merges teams, content, and tasks across various devices and tools. It’s built for co-creation, enabling users to think, plan, and create in unison. Loop’s innovative components stay in sync across applications, offering a seamless experience that adapts to evolving project needs. It’s still under development, although it is considered an excellent Notion alternative that will become even better in the future.
6. Slab
✨ Best for: Documenting company knowledge
✅ Pros:
- Sleek and intuitive interface
- Exceptional search functionality
- High-quality customer support
- Fast performance and ease of use
- Rich integrations with other tools
❌ Cons:
- Instances of downtime affecting workflow
- It lacks some formatting options
- It can get expensive for large teams
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac
💲 Price: Free | Startup: $8/month
Slab is a knowledge hub tailored for the contemporary workplace, designed to enhance team potential through shared learning and documentation. It’s praised for its user-friendly editor, swift search capabilities across integrated applications, and a wide range of integrations, including Slack and GitHub. This makes Slab a valuable Notion alternative for teams aiming to streamline their workflows.
7. Slite
✨ Best for: Simple, focused note-taking for teams
✅ Pros:
- User-friendly interface with a focus on simplicity
- Great for straightforward, organized note-taking for teams
- Excellent search function
- Generous free plan
- AI-powered
❌ Cons:
- Offers less depth of features compared to Notion
- It lacks some integrations found in other alternatives
- It lacks some options for importing/exporting
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Standard plan: $10/month
Slite offers a focused alternative to Notion, prioritizing simplicity and ease of use for team note-taking. It provides a clean workspace to capture ideas, share knowledge, and keep your team organized. If you find Notion’s vast feature set overwhelming, Slite’s streamlined approach and intuitive interface can be a refreshing change.
8. Mem
✨ Best for: AI-powered note organization for quick recall
✅ Pros:
- Uses AI to organize your notes and find information quickly
- Lets you take notes and import information easily
- Beautiful, easy-to-use interface
- Includes smart features like summarization and translation
❌ Cons:
- It can be difficult to learn how to use the AI tools
- Not as customizable as some other options
- Doesn’t work very well offline
- Still in development, so it may have bugs
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, iOS
💲 Price: Free | $14.99/month
Mem is an innovative note-taking app designed to streamline the process of capturing and organizing thoughts and information. It stands out for its clean, distraction-free interface, and its support for Markdown, making note-taking both efficient and visually appealing. The app also introduces unique features like bidirectional note-taking and the ability to create notes through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. Mem focuses on using tags for organization, simplifying the management of notes, and integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
9. Evernote
✨ Best for: Collaborative workspaces in the Microsoft ecosystem
✅ Pros:
- Excellent at organizing notes
- It saves almost anything: text, web clips, images, audio, etc.
- Handwritten notes
- Powerful search feature
- Web Clipper
❌ Cons:
- It can look outdated and less flexible compared to Notion
- Limited free plan (attachments up to 60MB per month)
- Expensive paid plans
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Personal plan: starts at $8.99/month
Evernote is a well-established note-taking tool that excels at capturing and organizing a wide variety of content. It shines for saving articles, recipes, research, handwritten notes (via scanning), and almost anything else you want to keep for reference. Its robust search functionality makes retrieving old information easy, but the interface might feel dated compared to Notion and newer alternatives. At the same time, the 60MB limitation for attachments in the free plan is no competitition for Notion.
👉 Learn more: Notion vs. Evernote: Which Tool Should You Use in 2024?
10. Anytype
✨ Best for: Data-rich organization, offline focus
✅ Pros:
- Data protection with local storage and encryption
- Creation of notes, databases, and more with flexible tools
- Offline mode
- It has an active community of users and developers
❌ Cons:
- Can be difficult to learn and understand
- Still in development, so you might run into bugs
- Mobile apps are not as good as the desktop version
💻 Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free (early access)
Anytype is an “everything app” that prioritizes trust and autonomy, offering a platform for a wide range of personal and professional activities, from journaling to strategic planning and more. It stands out with its local-first, fast loading times, peer-to-peer secure syncing, and open code for verifiable autonomy and security. Anytype is designed for anyone looking for a versatile tool that supports creativity and organization without compromising privacy or control. It’s free during its early access.
Conclusion
Notion is an incredibly powerful tool, but it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. The alternatives explored in this article offer a diverse range of features and approaches to note-taking, knowledge management, and collaboration. Whether you prioritize offline access, simplicity, AI-powered organization, or a specific use case, there’s likely a tool above that aligns better with your needs.
Not ready to fully ditch Notion? If you’re still on the fence, remember that you don’t have to make an all-or-nothing choice. With 2sync, you can connect apps like Todoist, Google Calendar, and upcoming ones to Notion, allowing you to leverage the strengths of both platforms simultaneously. Experiment, find what works best, and create a productivity system that empowers you!
