Alternatives
Best Notion alternatives in 2026
Notion is hosted workspace for notes, databases and project pages. These 20 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Obsidian
Also runs on Linux. Keeps notes as plain Markdown files on your disk, with the deepest plugin ecosystem in this list. Sync and publishing cost extra, and the app is not open source, unlike Joplin and Logseq.
Best for Local-first notes and personal knowledge bases
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 2
Asana
A balanced tool for team projects, with timeline views, portfolios and a free plan for one or two people. Seat pricing adds up for larger teams, and the free plan stops at two users.
Best for Team projects with timelines and goals
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 3
Airtable
The most complete of these for business apps, with interfaces, portals and automations. Plans are charged per seat, and the Team plan is listed at $20 per user a month billed annually.
Best for Business apps with linked tables and interfaces
WebiOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 4
ClickUp
Also runs on Linux. Covers tasks, docs, sprints and boards in one workspace, with unlimited tasks on the free plan and apps on Windows, macOS, Linux and phones. The breadth means a longer setup than Trello or Basecamp.
Best for One workspace for tasks, docs and sprints
WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 5
monday.com
Customizable boards with eight column types and a free plan for two seats. Costs rise with each seat, and the free plan is capped at three boards, unlike Trello's 10-board limit.
Best for Customizable boards for cross-functional teams
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 6
Baserow
Is open source. Open source core under MIT, a free forever plan and a Docker install for self-hosting. Unlike Airtable and Knack, it can run on your own server, and premium features sit outside the MIT core.
Best for Self-hosted no-code databases with a hosted option
WebSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 7
Microsoft OneNote
A free notebook that runs on Windows, Apple devices, Android and the web, with pen and drawing support. Its canvas pages suit sketches more than plain typed notes.
Best for Free mixed-media notebooks across Windows and Apple
WindowsmacOSiOS, iPadOSAndroidWebFree
- 8
Jira
The standard tool for software teams, with backlogs, Scrum and Kanban boards and custom workflows, free for up to 10 users. It feels heavy for small non-technical teams compared with Trello or Basecamp.
Best for Software teams that run sprints and workflows
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 9
Joplin
Is open source; also runs on Linux. The open-source choice here, AGPL-licensed, covering desktop, mobile and terminal with end-to-end encrypted sync. Its interface is plainer than the commercial apps, and sharing runs through Joplin Cloud.
Best for Open-source notes with end-to-end encrypted sync
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 10
NocoDB
A spreadsheet-style database that can be self-hosted, with a free plan for up to three users. Its Sustainable Use License is not an OSI open source license, and paid seats start at $12 a month.
Best for Airtable-style databases on your own server
WebSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgrades
- 11
Grist
Is open source. A relational spreadsheet with an Apache-2.0 open-source core, a generous free plan and self-hosting. It suits teams that need linked tables, but its ecosystem is smaller than Airtable's.
Best for Teams outgrowing spreadsheets without building an app
WebSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 12
Trello
Simple boards that most teams learn quickly, with unlimited cards on the free plan. Complex dependencies and reporting need Jira or a timeline tool such as Asana.
Best for Simple kanban boards for small teams
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 13
Apple Notes
Free and built into Apple devices, with iCloud sync, scanning and audio transcription. It runs only on Apple platforms and has fewer organizing tools than Obsidian or Logseq.
Best for Quick notes across Apple devices with iCloud
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree
- 14
Wrike
Work management with Gantt charts, resource planning, request forms and automation, aimed at marketing, operations and PMO teams. The free plan covers essential task management only, and larger tiers are sold through sales contact.
Best for Operations and PMO teams that run request-driven work
WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 15
Basecamp
Flat monthly pricing with no per-user fees, and a free plan for one project. It is less suited to detailed scheduling and resource planning than Asana or monday.com.
Best for Small teams that want flat pricing and simple projects
WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 16
Logseq
Is open source; also runs on Linux. An open-source outliner for linked notes and a daily journal, released under AGPL-3.0. Its README marks the database version and mobile app as beta or alpha, so Obsidian and Joplin are steadier for daily notes.
Best for Linked outlines and daily journals on the desktop
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 17
AppSheet
A Google-backed no-code app builder that turns data tables into internal apps, with AI creation from a description. Pricing is per user, so cost rises with headcount, and it is not self-hosted.
Best for Teams building internal apps on Google's platform
WebSubscription
- 18
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style work management with Gantt, Kanban and dashboard views and a template gallery. It is a per-member subscription with a free trial, built for teams that already think in rows and sheets.
Best for Teams that plan projects in sheets and grids
WebiOSAndroidSubscription
- 19
Bear
A focused Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with tags and inline sketches. The free tier stays local, and iCloud sync needs PRO, unlike Apple Notes where iCloud is part of the built-in app.
Best for Markdown writing on Mac, iPhone and iPad
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 20
Budibase
Is open source. An open-source low-code platform for internal tools and automations, licensed GPLv3 overall, so it can run on your own infrastructure. Hosted plan pricing is not on the homepage, and packages carry their own licenses.
Best for IT teams that want open-source internal tools
WebSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
Narrow the alternatives
Open-source alternatives to Notion
Compare Notion head to head
- Notionversus
Airtable - Notionversus
Asana - Notionversus
Obsidian - Notionversus
Baserow - Notionversus
ClickUp - Notionversus
monday.com
Or build your own comparison table with Notion and up to three other products.
About Notion alternatives
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Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
1:20How to run a software trial that tells you somethingRun a software trial that answers your question. Set criteria first, use real files, test import, export and sharing, then decide before the end date.Articles that mention Notion
All articles- Guides · 4 min readHow to choose a note-taking app: storage, sharing and priceChoose a note-taking app by where notes are stored, how sharing works, platform reach and price. Compare Obsidian, Notion, Joplin and other top picks.
- Guides · 4 min readHow to choose project management software for your teamChoose project management software by how pricing scales, how much planning you need and whether to self-host. Compare Asana, ClickUp, Jira, Trello and more.
- Comparisons · 6 min readNotion vs Obsidian: Which Note-Taking App Fits You?Notion keeps pages on its servers for shared work, while Obsidian keeps Markdown files on your device. Compare pricing, platforms, sync and data control.