Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Notion VS Microsoft Access

Compare Notion VS Microsoft Access 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 Access logo Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access is a DBMS that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface.
  • Notion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Microsoft Access Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

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 Access features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Microsoft Access offers a familiar, user-friendly interface similar to other Microsoft Office products, making it easy for users to get started without extensive training.
  • Integration with Other Microsoft Products
    Access integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word, and Outlook, facilitating data import/export and connectivity.
  • Rapid Development
    It allows for quick database creation and application development, making it suitable for small to medium-sized projects with limited development resources.
  • Relational Database Management
    Access supports relational database management, enabling users to create complex queries, reports, and forms to manage data efficiently.
  • Cost-Effective
    As part of the Microsoft 365 suite, it's a cost-effective option for businesses already using Microsoft products, avoiding the need for investing in separate database software.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Access

  • Limited Scalability
    Microsoft Access is not well-suited for handling very large databases or high-concurrency environments, limiting its use for larger enterprises.
  • Performance Issues
    Performance may degrade as the size of the database increases or if multiple users access it simultaneously, impacting overall efficiency.
  • Windows-Only Compatibility
    Access is primarily available on Windows, limiting its use in environments that rely on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Limited Web Integration
    Access has limited capabilities for web-based applications, making it less suitable for modern, web-centric business needs.
  • Complexity with Advanced Features
    While it is user-friendly for basic tasks, advanced database management and programming in Access can become complex and may require specialized skills.

Analysis of Microsoft Access

Overall verdict

  • Microsoft Access is a widely used and powerful database management system that can be a good choice for certain users.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Access is good for users who need a simple yet effective way to create and manage relational databases with a user-friendly interface. It offers advanced features like customizable forms, reports, and queries, and integrates well with other Microsoft Office products.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses
  • Users who are already familiar with Microsoft Office products and want easy integration
  • Individuals or teams looking for a cost-effective database solution
  • Environments where a quick and efficient database solution is required without the complexity of larger database systems

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 Access videos

Microsoft access overview

More videos:

  • Review - What is a Microsoft Access Database?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Notion and Microsoft Access)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Office Suites
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
98 98%
2% 2
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 Access

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 Access Reviews

TOP best Microsoft Access replacement software for databases
LibreOffice Base has a host of handy features, including cross-database support for multi-user databases such as MySQL, Adabas D, Microsoft Access, and PostgreSQL. LibreOffice Base is probably an almost direct copy of Microsoft Access. Both are front-end database management tools.
Source: tipsmake.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notion seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 441 times since March 2021. 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 / 9 months ago
  • Karyam: Simples everyday writing app
    Advanced Notion and Google Doc writing editor. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year 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 / over 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 Access mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft Access yet. Tracking of Microsoft Access recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Notion and Microsoft Access, 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.

Microsoft 365 - Boost your productivity with reliable access anywhere with services like email, calendar, file sharing, meetings, instant messaging, and Office Online

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.

SoftMaker Office - SoftMaker Office is one of the most powerful and reliable office suite that is fully compatible with the MS Office Suite.