All-in-one project management software allows you to blend docs and spreadsheets into a single space, engineer breezy workplace collaborations, and break down tasks without the hustle and bustle of infinite spreads, sticky notes, or flowery drawings.

There is a whole heap of options to choose from, but Coda and Notion seem to be all the rage nowadays. These no-code document creators thrive on docs, blocks, and databases but differ in their approach to project management.

After spending time using each app—taking notes and creating workflows—here is what I found: Coda vs. Notion.

• Notion is easy to learn
• Coda got hundreds of power-up packs (integrations)
• Notion’s root as a note-taking app shines through
• Coda supports robust tables and advanced formulas

Coda vs. Notion at a glance

At a crossroads, Coda is better suited for organizations in need of a project management tool with excellent database functionality; Notion is a fine app for a community of users in need of an awesome wiki with a nice-to-have database.

But that’s not all. Here’s a deep dive into the features I evaluated to learn how Coda and Notion stack up, plus my findings. It’s up to you to fish or cut bait for my recommendation to stand.

Coda offers a simple and neatly defined interface; Notion is easy to learn  

This is quite weird; Coda’s user interface is not as girthy as Notion’s, but somehow, it’s got a steeper learning curve. It’s usually the opposite with these apps.

Notion’s user interface is quite complex. Log in to the app, and you’d be faced with a feature-rich overview homepage. The interface is cluttered, so it might take a minute to get the hang of things. But once you do, voila!

Coda’s user interface is uncomplicated and intuitive, offering a handful of neatly-defined and expandable options, all direct and self-explanatory.

However, with Coda, minimal hand-holding would only get you through the front door; you’d need to watch videos and ask questions in the community to get the ball rolling.

Notion is great for solo users; Coda wows in team collaboration

If your goal is to keep track of your personal, family, or community affairs, ride with Notion. But if you’re looking to serve a Fortune 500 company, Coda is the way to go.

Notion offers flexibility on a wheel. You’ll get access to as much functionality as you need to keep track of your daily activities.

Coda is popular for centralizing work, project management, and company-wide goal tracking. It offers all the bric-a-brac large organizations need to power a seamless workflow.

With more features on Notion’s mobile app, you won’t have to sort through multiple templates or get lost trying to navigate a suitable integration when info-dumping or keeping track of habits on the go.

However, whether you subscribe as an individual or company, Coda can help you structure complex pages with submenus without needing to be a programmer.

Notion is superb for straight-up note-taking; Coda has all the bells and whistles

Notion and Coda are easy and intuitive for task creation and doc sharing. The only difference, Notion loves to talk about its doc capabilities; Coda puts docs and spreadsheets on equal footing.

Both apps offer many options to create, format, and share tasks. You can easily track projects or schedule assignments while enjoying fluid collaboration and communication.

If, like me, you love to speedily create and jump between docs, Notion has the upper hand. There is this straightforward and relatively lightweight feel about Notion.

I rarely experienced a delay with loading time, and everything syncs quicker and faster—primarily because everything in a notion workspace is a doc; plus, you’ll also get font choices outside of serif and sans serif. The only hindrance, you’ll have to rely on formulas to get by.

Coda offers bigger ceilings for doc formatting with multiple options to customize your experience. Note-taking on Coda works like Google Docs and sheets but with tables and far-more intuitive templates.

Coda allows you to structure and manipulate data your way. You get to flex hybrid and collaborative docs that will enable you to mix text and numbers without having to Google formulas at every turn. Coda is relatively slow but worth the wait.

Notion’s user’s fanatism runs wild across the globe; Coda offers a dedicated support team

Overall, Coda’s dedicated support process, in some ways, transcends Notion’s. But Notion’s community is way above Coda’s pay grade.

Log in to Coda or Notion, and you’ll find a dedicated help button at the bottom right of your screen. Thankfully, they are both active but in different ways. For context, you will need a back story.

Notion wasn’t always a project management tool. They started as a note-taking app. And as such, Notion rarely had a reason to provide 24/7 support.

For years, Notion’s Reddit and Twitter accounts, a few third-party platforms (Super and Notionery), and a Location-based group across over 40 countries stood as the backbone of their support team.

Notion now offers a dedicated support team, but compared with Coda, they are pretty late to the show.

Coda’s 8 to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) support—for individuals and enterprise—are always active to tackle any issue you might encounter. And you can always throw minor tantrums in the community.

All in all, Coda and Notion won’t leave you hanging on your worst days. With Notion, asking questions in their community is the quickest route. For Coda, a dedicated support team eases the experience.

Coda’s magic lies in its databases, tables, and integrations; Notion thrives on its knowledge management expertise

For the most part, a well-organized database makes it easy to perform and automate tasks. With Coda, Databases run the gamut. Notion, on the other hand, thrives on its knowledge management capabilities.

Notion stands tall as a better knowledge management app for its super crisp and uber-organized catalog with subtle frameworks like the bulletproof workspace. 

Coda treats data as a first-class citizen guaranteeing a flexible and sophisticated approach to table creation and block building.

If you’ve issues mentally cataloging the whereabouts of documents, Notions’ centralized storage with single-click access to docs will come in handy.

Otherwise, manage complex and dynamic information problems with the relational databases (tables) and power packs Coda offers.

It’s a toss-up for template and views

For the first time since I set out to write this piece, I’ll recommend we call a five-paragraph truce. Because for once, I sense both apps sharing a sense of patriotism for specific features: Templates & Views.

The breath and quality of Coda and Notion’s templates are nothing to sneeze at. Swipe left, and you’ll find hundreds of templates across dozens of categories, personalized to suit a thousand needs. 

The same goes for their views. You can easily convert a single Notion or Coda database to a Kanban board, Gantt chart, or gallery.

And as usual, if you’re looking for simple & precise, limited & straightforward views, opt for Notion. But if you need a handful of form and detail views to get you in a big mood, Coda does the trick.

Ultimately, whichever project management tool you choose, whether Coda or Notion, I’d say template choice and views is a tossup—it all comes down to personal preference.

Notion’s individuals & small team plan is robust; Coda thrives as an enterprise solution

I don’t think this article will do much good if I fail to address pricing—it’s more or less the elephant in the room. And hey! Don’t lose your smile if you dread the monetary part of comparison articles; Notion and Coda offer sustainable free plans. (wink emoji)

• Coda’s pro ($10/month per Doc Maker) VS. Notion’s plus (Starting at $8.00)
• Coda’s team ($30/month per Doc Maker) VS. Notion’s business (Starting at $15.00)

No doubt, Notion is the cheaper alternative for individuals and enterprise users. You can invite hundreds of guests, enjoy unlimited file uploads and create unlimited blocks.

Coda justifies their pricing with their time-saving automation feature, power packs, and cross-doc tables, plus they only charge per doc; meaning doc editors and viewers get a free pass. 

While Notion is cheaper for small teams and individuals, I will advise large organizations to take Coda’s price tags at face value only after understanding the benefit of its per-doc pricing structure.

Coda vs. Notion: Which Should You Use?

At this point, the ball is in your court. You can’t go wrong with either app if you know what you want from a project management tool.

But one thing remains: if you run an organization—large or small—settling for Coda or Notion isn’t a lone decision; your team needs to be in the know. Plus, you can always link Coda and Notion for a seamless experience.