Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Notion VS Microsoft 365

Compare Notion VS Microsoft 365 and see what are their differences

Notion logo Notion

All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

Microsoft 365 logo Microsoft 365

Boost your productivity with reliable access anywhere with services like email, calendar, file sharing, meetings, instant messaging, and Office Online
  • Notion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Microsoft 365 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-16

Notion features and specs

  • All-in-One Workspace
    Notion combines note-taking, task management, databases, calendars, and collaboration features in a single platform, reducing the need for multiple tools.
  • Highly Customizable
    Users can tailor Notion to fit their specific workflow with customizable templates, pages, and databases, making it versatile for various use cases.
  • Collaboration Features
    Notion offers seamless collaboration with real-time editing, comments, mentions, and shared workspaces, enhancing teamwork and productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Notion is available on multiple platforms, including web, desktop, and mobile, providing flexibility and accessibility from anywhere.
  • Integration Capability
    Notion supports integrations with various third-party applications like Google Drive, Slack, and Trello, allowing for a more interconnected workflow.

Possible disadvantages of Notion

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, new users might find Notion challenging to learn and navigate initially.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report that Notion can become slow or experience lag, especially with large databases and complex pages.
  • Offline Limitations
    While Notion offers some offline capabilities, its functionality is significantly reduced without an internet connection, which can be inconvenient for some users.
  • Pricing for Teams
    Though Notion offers a free version, its premium plans can be expensive for larger teams, which may be a constraint for startups or small businesses.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there are potential privacy and data security concerns, especially for users handling sensitive information.

Microsoft 365 features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Office 365 allows users to access their documents and applications from virtually any device with an internet connection, promoting remote and collaborative work.
  • Automatic Updates
    Software updates are automatically rolled out, ensuring that users always have the latest features, security patches, and improvements without needing to manually install them.
  • Integrated Productivity Tools
    The suite includes a wide range of integrated tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, which streamline workflow and enhance productivity.
  • Cloud Storage
    Microsoft 365 provides cloud storage options through OneDrive and SharePoint, offering users scalable storage solutions and easy file sharing capabilities.
  • Security Features
    The platform includes advanced security features like data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to protect sensitive information.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, with real-time editing and commenting features, which enhances team collaboration and productivity.
  • Scalability
    Different subscription plans are available, allowing businesses of all sizes to choose the appropriate plan based on their needs and scale as they grow.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft 365

  • Subscription Model
    Office 365 operates on a subscription-based model, which may become expensive over time compared to a one-time purchase of traditional Office software.
  • Internet Dependency
    Some features require an internet connection to function properly. Inconsistent or poor internet access can hinder productivity and limit accessibility.
  • Complexity
    With a vast array of tools and features, some users may find it challenging to navigate and utilize the full potential of the platform without adequate training.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Storing data on cloud services can raise privacy and compliance concerns, especially for organizations dealing with sensitive information.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with older versions of Microsoft Office and other third-party applications, potentially causing disruptions in workflow.
  • Cost
    For small businesses or individual users, the cost of the subscription can be a significant expense, particularly when considering ongoing payments.

Notion videos

The Most Powerful Productivity App I Use - Notion

More videos:

  • Review - I switched to Notion for a week... Here's what happened!
  • Review - Notion is Truly an All-in-One Productivity Tool (App Review)

Microsoft 365 videos

Office 365 Complete Tutorial Zero to Hero

More videos:

  • Review - What is Office 365
  • Review - The Merger - S3E8 - The Office In Review
  • Review - Performance Review - S2E8 - The Office in Review
  • Review - Checking Out Microsoft Office 365
  • Review - All 9 Seasons of The Office Ranked!
  • Review - Microsoft Office 365 review: Online, offline, any good?
  • Review - 🤷‍♂️ What is Microsoft 365 - Explained

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Notion and Microsoft 365)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Office Suites
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
87 87%
13% 13
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Notion and Microsoft 365

Notion Reviews

  1. jk22
    · consultant at GFI ·
    Notion has helped in documenting our business

    It's been very very helpful to streamline different people on our team, especially remote workers to help them understand what's going on in our business without 100s of meetings.

    👍 Pros:    Ui is very attractive|Easy to use|Great for collaboration|Good customer service|Free to use
    👎 Cons:    Steep learning curve
  2. Ramesh Kumar
    · Product Manager at Aerial ·
    Extremely helpful- made life easier

    My remote-first start-up has eliminated more than 200+ hours of meetings and 1000s of mismanaged documents because our entire communication happens through Notion.

    👍 Pros:    Clean ui|File sharing|Modular
    👎 Cons:    Learning curve
  3. Boyd Richardson
    · Writer at SE ·

    As someone who's always on the lookout for the perfect productivity app, I was excited to try out Notion. It promises to be an all-in-one tool for everything from note-taking to project management to personal wikis.

    From the moment you open Notion, you can tell that it's different from other productivity apps. The interface is sleek and modern, and it's easy to navigate. The app is divided into pages, which can be customized with different templates to fit your needs. You can create to-do lists, databases, wikis, calendars, and more.

    One of the things I love about Notion is the ability to create relationships between pages. For example, you can create a database of your favorite books and then link to a page with your book reviews. Or you can create a to-do list and link to a page with notes about the task. This feature makes it easy to keep all of your information in one place and to connect related items.

    🏁 Competitors: Microsoft Loop
    👍 Pros:    Highly customizable|All in one|Collaboration|Cross platform
    👎 Cons:    Steep learning curve

Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOS 2025
Okay, I know, I know. Notion is probably the most predictable pick for a productivity app list. But here’s the thing: It’s popular for a reason. Notion’s flexibility, customisation, and overall smooth user experience make it a standout, no matter how many times it pops up on productivity lists. Whether you’re organising tasks, taking notes, or creating databases, Notion lets...
Source: dev.to
Top 10 Notion Alternatives for 2025 and Why Teams Are Choosing Ledger
If you're looking for a Notion alternative that supports real, scalable teamwork, you're not alone. Whether you’ve outgrown Notion or are just exploring more robust, team-friendly platforms, here’s a breakdown of the top 10 alternatives in 2025—and why Ledger is becoming the go-to choice for modern teams.
How Tight-Knit Teams Get More Done with Innovative Project Management Tools
Notion: More than a task manager, it acts as a knowledge base. You can store guidelines, references, wikis, and to-do lists all under one roof.
Source: medium.com
11 Popular Knowledge Management Tools to Consider in 2025 
Notion AI (Optional Add-on) – $8 per user/month (billed annually). Available for all plans (including the free plan)
Source: knowmax.ai
11 Best Google Keeps Alternatives for 2024
Unlike other note-taking apps, Notion stands out for its endless customization. It’s like an all-in-one workspace structured by pages and blocks.
Source: upbase.io

Microsoft 365 Reviews

  1. Always backup your Office 365 data

    Microsoft Office 365 is an amazing software that helps companies establish their business, so a backup is a must since Microsoft is not offering the proper backup.

    🏁 Competitors: Google Docs
    👍 Pros:    Great set of functions
    👎 Cons:    No backup

Top Alternatives to Microsoft Office Suite
In today’s competitive business environment, having the right office suite is crucial for streamlined operations and effective collaboration. While Microsoft Office Suite has been a popular choice, these alternatives offer unique features and cost-effective solutions to cater to your specific business needs. Whether you prioritize real-time collaboration, budget-friendly...
Source: saaszeal.com
112 Best Chrome Extensions You Should Try (2021 List)
Office Editing For Docs, Sheets & Slides is an offline chrome extension that helps you edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files without Office installed on your PC. It opens Docx and other files in a new tab instead of downloading them locally.
The BEST Email Hosting Providers for Small Business in 2021
There are 4 deployment steps to set up an account on Microsoft 365 Business. The initial step is acquiring a subscription and assigning Microsoft 365 Business licenses to the user. Then you use the set-up wizard to configure the account. Once you install the Office apps on your devices, the final step is to prepare your PCs by using the Windows AutoPilot.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notion seems to be a lot more popular than Microsoft 365. While we know about 441 links to Notion, we've tracked only 13 mentions of Microsoft 365. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Notion mentions (441)

  • Cool SHIT you can do with docker
    Two of the most popular open source note taking app are affine (basically notion but open source) and obsidian (which stores notes in markdown). - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2024)
    Notion | https://notion.so | Android Engineer | SF | hybrid (in office 2x a week) | Full time
      Level: Mid/Mid+ (4-6yrs experience).
    - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Karyam: Simples everyday writing app
    Advanced Notion and Google Doc writing editor. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • My blog post workflow
    I manage my non-work and work-adjacent tasks in Notion. Whenever I have an idea, regardless of how big or small or silly or achievable it is, I'll add it to Notion, and use labels to categorise it by type of output (e.g. blog, silly project, website update). Today I wanted to write a short post for my site. I clicked on the filtered blog post view, and selected this one (because I hoped it would be a quick one!). - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • 6 AI tools that feels illegal to know🤖
    Notion.so redefines workspaces. With its intelligent organization and collaboration features, it's more than a productivity tool—it's a digital haven. Discover the art of streamlined and efficient teamwork. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

Microsoft 365 mentions (13)

  • You Are Already Using Wasm In Production
    If you use Microsoft’s online Office.com suite or the popular Figma graphics tool, you’ve already used Wasm in production. If you’ve used a device to watch streaming services like BBC or Amazon Prime, you’ve already used Wasm in production. In fact, you’re using Wasm in production right now. This website has been powered by server-side Wasm since its initial launch in February of 2022. Our serverless platform for... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Need to count calls on certain days in certain time slots
    Yes it does change, will not work for 2016, but it works for excel online at office.com, which is free with a microsoft account. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Change SharePoint Start Page for All
    When our users go to office.com, login and click the waffle for SharePoint, I want to change this landing page. Right now, it goes to https://ourdomain.sharepoint.com/_layouts/15/sharepoint.aspx and once users are in SP, if they ever click the home button it will direct them to this page as well. I want to change this to a new site we created that makes browsing our sites and sharing information/events much... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Has anyone seen same behavior with AAD laptops reaching out to internal DCs on ports 88, 389, and 445
    Authentication happens through a 3rd party so when we try to login to office.com with our company accounts it redirect us to this 3rd party company that handles our logins. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Where is the Copilot in Excel?
    I've looked in office.com (using Chrome) and Excel 365 for Mac (Version 16.79). Nothing in the top-right corner except "Analyze Data". And when I try to search for in the the Tell Me or Help menu, it acts like it has no idea what Copilot is. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Notion and Microsoft 365, you can also consider the following products

Trello - Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.

LibreOffice - Free office suite, open source, and compatible with .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx files. Updated regularly – download for free. Originally based on OpenOffice.org.

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.

Apache OpenOffice - Apache OpenOffice is an open source, office document productivity suite.

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

Google Workspace - Google's encompassing suite of cloud-based business apps.