7 Best Notion Alternatives: Top Brainstorming Tool in 2025?

by | Last updated Mar 23, 2025

Best Overall
clickup
9.5
  • Project Management
  • Product Development
  • Knowledge Management
  • Resource Management
  • Workflows
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plans from $7/month
Best Value
coda
9.0
  • Coda AI Integration
  • Project Management
  • AI-powered templates
  • Assignment Assistant
  • Sales Team Hub
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plans from $10/month
Most Featured
craft
8.5
  • Notes
  • Templates
  • Calendar
  • Backlinks
  • Collaboration
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plans from $8/month
notion alternatives

Ever feel like your brain is a messy desk? Papers everywhere!

You need a tool to organize it all. Notion is cool, but it’s not your cup of tea. 

Or maybe, you want something better. You’re not alone.

Lots of folks want a simpler, more powerful way to organize their thoughts.

And guess what? There are awesome options out there.

This article? It’s your shortcut. We’ll dive into the 7 best Notion alternatives that might change how you think.

Get ready to find your perfect brainstorming buddy!

What is the Best Notion Alternative?

Tired of Notion’s complexity? You want something simpler. 

Or maybe more powerful? Good news! There are other tools out there.

Tools that could fit you better. Let’s look at the best options.

We’ll find the perfect fit for your needs.

1. Clickup

ClickUp is a productivity app that helps you manage tasks, projects, and more.

It is like your digital workspace, keeping everything organized.

clickup homepage

Our Take

9.5out of 10

Discover why ClickUp increased team efficiency by 25% for our testers. Explore its features and start organizing your projects now!

Key Benefits

  • Task management and project tracking.
  • Customizable dashboards and views.
  • Time tracking and reporting.
  • Integrates with many other tools.

Pricing

  • Free: Great for getting started.
  • Unlimited: $7 per user/month.
  • Business: $12 per user/month.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing. For organizations with specific needs.
clickup pricing

Pros

  • Wide Range of Integrations
  • All-in-One Platform
  • Highly customizable for any workflow.
  • Excellent for project management.
  • It’s a good mobile app.

Cons

  • Mobile App Can Be Slow
  • Steep learning curve.
  • CRM features are not as robust.
  • Customer support can be slow.

2. Coda

The code is like a super-smart document.

It mixes documents and spreadsheets—imagine that!

You can build powerful tools all in one place, which is great for teams.

Coda Homepage

Our Take

9out of 10

See how Coda cut document creation time by 40% for our users. Start building your own powerful docs and spreadsheets today!

Key Benefits

  • Combines documents and spreadsheets.
  • Customizable building blocks.
  • Automates workflows.
  • Real-time collaboration.

Pricing

  • Free plan: Basic features for small teams.
  • Pro plan: $10 per user/month. More features, bigger teams.
  • Team plan: $30 per user/month. Advanced controls, support.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations.
coda pricing

Pros

  • Highly customizable workspaces.
  • Flexibility in doc creation.
  • Powerful automation features.
  • Real-time collaborative editing.
  • Coda AI offers assistance.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve initially.
  • Pricing can increase with teams.
  • Complex setups can be slow.

3. Craft

Craft is a beautiful document and note-taking app that focuses on design.

It makes your work look good and is simple yet powerful.

Craft

Our Take

8.5out of 10

Create stunning documents 50% faster with Craft. Join thousands who’ve transformed their note-taking experience. See the visual difference now!

Key Benefits

  • Beautiful and intuitive interface.
  • Easy to create visually appealing documents.
  • Collaborative editing features.
  • Strong focus on design.

Pricing

Craft pricing

Pros

Cons

4. Anytype

Anytype is a privacy-focused, all-in-one workspace.

It’s a local-first app, which means your data is yours. Thus, it is very secure.

Anytype homepage

Our Take

8out of 10

Experience 60% more privacy and control over your data with Anytype. Join the early adopters and shape the future of personal knowledge management. Learn more now!

Key Benefits

  • Local-first, privacy-focused.
  • Connects different types of information.
  • Customizable object-based system.
  • Offline access.

Pricing

  • Explorer: Free
  • Builder: $99/month
  • Co-Creator: $299/month
  • Business: Contact Them for the Pricing.
Anytype pricing

Pros

Cons

  • It can be complex at first.
  • Still under development.
  • Mobile apps are limited.

5. Capacities

Capacities are a personal knowledge base that links your ideas.

They are like a second brain, helping you connect thoughts.

Capacities

Our Take

8out of 10

Connect your ideas 35% more effectively with Capacities. See how visual knowledge graphs can transform your thinking. Start your journey today!

Key Benefits

  • Focuses on connecting ideas.
  • Visual graph view of your knowledge.
  • Simple and intuitive interface.
  • Good for personal knowledge management.

Pricing

  • Capacities Basic: Get started, basic features.
  • Capacities Pro: $9.99/month
  • Capacities Beliver: $12.49/month
Capacities pricing

Pros

  • A unique approach to note-taking.
  • Powerful organization features.
  • Intuitive and easy to use.
  • Strong focus on knowledge building.

Cons

  • It can be pricey for some.
  • The mobile app is still in beta.
  • Limited offline functionality.

6. AFFiNE Pro

AFFiNE Pro is an open-source knowledge base platform that combines databases, documents, and whiteboards.

It is very flexible.

AFFiNE Pro

Our Take

7.5out of 10

Build flexible workspaces and collaborate visually with AFFiNE Pro. See a 20% increase in team project clarity. Explore the open-source power today!

Key Benefits

  • Combines multiple tools.
  • Open-source and customizable.
  • Good for visual collaboration.
  • Strong focus on flexibility.

Pricing

  • FOSS + Basic: Free Forever
  • Pro: $6.75/month
  • Team: $10/per seat/month
AFFiNE Pro pricing

Pros

  • Incredibly flexible and versatile.
  • Feature-rich and powerful.
  • Local-first and privacy-focused.
  • Active community and regular updates.
  • A unique blend of notes and canvas.

Cons

  • It can have a steep learning curve.
  • Mobile apps are still in beta.
  • Limited offline functionality.
  • Some features are still under development.

7. XTiles

XTiles is a visual workspace that organizes information using tiles.

It is a new, easy, and visual way to work.

xTiles Homepage

Our Take

7out of 10

Organize your information visually and simplify your workflow with XTiles. Users report a 45% increase in information clarity. Experience the tile-based revolution today!

Key Benefits

  • Visual tile-based interface.
  • Easy to organize information.
  • Good for visual thinkers.
  • Simple and intuitive.

Pricing

  • Free: $0
  • Starter: $5.75/month
  • Plus: $8.25/month
  • Team: $24.92/month
xtiles pricing

Pros

  • Visual Organization is Powerful.
  • Real-Time Team Collaboration.
  • Flexible Template Use Saves Time.
  • Cross-Platform Access is Handy.
  • Integrations Boost Workflow.

Cons

  • Advanced Features Need Paid Plan.
  • Learning Curve for New Users.
  • Mobile App Functionality Limited.

Buyer’s Guide

When finding the best Notion alternatives, we used these key steps:

  • Pricing: We compared the cost of each tool’s plans.
  • Features: We tested each tool’s core functions and unique offerings.
  • Negatives: We identified limitations and missing features.
  • Support or Refund: We checked for help resources and refund policies.
  • User reviews: We read many user reviews to see what others like and dislike.
  • Ease of use: We tested each tool to see how easy it was to learn and use.
  • Customization: We looked at the level of flexibility each tool provided.
  • Integration: We considered what other applications each tool could connect to.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! The 7 best Notion alternatives.

Each one has its strengths. Coda is super powerful.

ClickUp is great for teams. Craft makes things look good.

Anytype is all about privacy. Capacities connect your ideas.

AFFiNE Pro is flexible and open. XTiles is simple and visual.

Finding the right tool depends on you. What do you need? Think about your workflow.

Consider your team. We did the hard work. We tested each tool.

We looked at the pros and cons. We want to help you find the perfect fit.

Trust our research. Pick the tool that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good Notion alternative?

A good Notion alternative offers flexibility and ease of use. It should fit your workflow. Look for strong features, consider pricing, and check for good support. The best tool helps you stay organized and boosts your productivity.

Are any Notion alternatives free?

Yes, many Notion alternatives have free plans. ClickUp, Craft, Capacities, and XTiles offer free options. Free plans may have limits, but they are good for personal use and can be tried before paying.

Which Notion alternative is best for teams?

Coda and ClickUp are great for teams. They have strong collaboration tools, let you share and work together, and can be customized for your team’s needs. They also help keep everyone on the same page.

Is there a Notion alternative focused on privacy?

Yes, Anytype is a Notion alternative that focuses on privacy. It’s a local-first app, so your data stays on your computer. It is very secure. If privacy is important, Anytype is a good choice.

Which Notion alternative is the most visual?

XTiles is the most visual tool. It organizes information using tiles and is simple and easy to use. Craft is also visual. It makes your documents look nice. If you like visual tools, try XTiles or Craft.

Fahim Joharder

Fahim Joharder

Author

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for AI and software innovations. He simplifies complex topics to help readers stay ahead in the digital world.

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