I’m considering using Notion, but unsure if it’s the right productivity app for my needs. It seems versatile, but I’d like to hear others’ thoughts and experiences to understand its strengths or issues. Any advice or insights would help me decide better.
Oh, Notion? It’s like that one friend who’s good at everything—annoyingly versatile but also kinda overwhelming. I started using it thinking, “Oh, let’s keep things organized,” and BAM, I’m in a rabbit hole of templates, databases, and endless customization. Seriously, it can do so much that you’ll waste hours just deciding how to do stuff.
The good: it’s great if you like building systems. You can customize workflows and layouts however you want. I’ve got pages for work, life, meal planning, travel, even tracking which random socks I can no longer find. It’s satisfying if you’re into that kind of control.
The “meh”: it can be TOO flexible. You end up spending more time tweaking and making it look pretty than actually being productive. Also, it’s not great for, like, task reminders. If you’re looking for a “set-it-and-forget-it” app, this ain’t it.
The bad: the mobile app. Just… why? It’s slow, clunky, and a pain to navigate compared to the desktop version. Also, if you’re offline, good luck. It’s basically useless without internet, so don’t expect to get much done in a dead zone with no Wi-Fi.
Advice though? Unless you’re ready to spend time learning how to use it effectively, you might not get the most out of it. But if you’re the kind of person who loves to tinker, organize chaos, or turn every aspect of your life into a color-coded system of doom, go for it. Just beware you might lose days redesigning your “weekly goals” template.
Honestly, Notion is like a swiss army knife, but imagine someone handed you the most complex one ever made. You start out thinking, ‘Oh, I’ll just use it to jot down ideas or organize projects,’ and then WHOOPS, suddenly you’re creating nested pages, relational databases, and color-coded task boards. It’s brilliant if you love customization, but it’s not the friendliest app to just pick up and use.
Here’s where it shines: You can build your own system. Like @hoshikuzu mentioned, it’s amazing for creating workflows tailored to your life. I’ve used it for work project management, a reading tracker, and even to map out a wedding guest list (don’t ask, long story). Once you learn how it works, it’s insanely powerful.
But here’s the flip side: it’s not a quick-fix tool. It takes TIME. Way too much time, honestly. You’re building everything from scratch unless you use templates, and even then, those templates usually need tweaking to actually be useful. And yeah, I’ll echo the mobile app critique—it’s like Notion was forced into a phone against its will. I avoid it unless absolutely necessary.
One thing I disagree with @hoshikuzu on, though, is task reminders. You CAN technically set up reminders on Notion, but it’s clunky—more like an afterthought. If you need something intuitive for reminders and alarms, I’d say Notion is not it.
Here’s my advice: if you’re already using something straightforward like Todoist or Trello for tasks and you’re happy with that, don’t switch to Notion thinking it’s a better simple replacement. It’s not simple. But if you’re someone who thrives on creating their own systems—or honestly just nerds out on organizing stuff—it might actually make you happy. Just…prepare to sink hours into making it work for you.
Let’s go with a ‘Humorous Take’ style today:
Using Notion is like trying to bake a 20-layer wedding cake when all you wanted was a cupcake. You start with ‘just one workspace for my to-do list,’ and three hours later, you’re redesigning your ‘Pet Care Tracker’ database in three-column-mode with color codes based on animal species. It’s chaos, but the fun kind of chaos.
Here’s the deal though: Notion is stupidly powerful. Want to organize your life into databases? Cool. Prefer Kanban boards? Done. Nested pages within nested pages until you’re lost in your own digital maze? Go ahead, we won’t stop you. But that Swiss-army-knife energy comes at a cost—they give you all the tools, but no instructions, so you’re left staring at the screen like, “Why do I even need a relational database for meal prep again?”
Pros:
- Customization is king. Build workflows, planners, dashboards, or a catalog of your Star Wars merch collection. There’s no limit.
- Templates can give you a head start, which is ideal … unless you’re like me and spend five hours tweaking templates into oblivion.
- Perfect for project management, tracking habits, or even planning that trip you’ve been putting off forever.
- If you’re a nerd for organization, Notion will become your happy place.
Cons (because nothing’s paradise):
- The mobile app. Seriously, how did we end up here? It’s clunky, slow, and feels like it’s protesting the entire time you’re using it.
- It’s online-dependent—terrible news for people in areas with trashy Wi-Fi or someone planning to Notion-from-the-mountain-cabin.
- Paralysis from too many choices! Sometimes less is more, but Notion hasn’t heard that saying.
- Subpar task reminders. If you need, “Hey, go to that meeting NOW!” alert setup, just get Todoist—or even Google Keep, honestly.
Now, comparing it with competitors: Trello is better if you’re into simple task tracking (Kanban boards). Evernote is solid for quick notes and syncing across devices, but doesn’t have the same level of customization as Notion. And ClickUp? Another great alternative if you’re more team-focused and want reminders/more robust task options.
In conclusion: Notion is awesome… but only if you’re willing to put in the time to make it awesome for you. If not, you might find yourself endlessly customizing while your actual tasks pile up in the corner. Trust me, skipping that nap to reorganize your Travel Wishlist into categories based on continent? Worth it. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.)