Notion — Notes, Projects, Docs is a multifunctional and universal app that combines the functions of several services at once. There are notes and to-do lists, documents and spreadsheets, Kanban boards, and knowledge bases; in general, there is everything that many of us have to deal with on a daily basis. Of course, it is not a complete list of Notion's features. The app's main goal is to replace tons of services for solving office issues to make work easier and more convenient. Instead of switching between sites and interfaces of many programs, Notion allows you to run all processes in a clean environment and keep them under control.
Interface
The app is a single workspace that each user can customize by adding the necessary blocks. It is difficult to imagine a convenient operation with so many functions. But in fact, Notion's interface is even more minimalistic than that of the other programs it replaces. If you want to diversify this simple design a little, the service can offer you a set of icons and colorful markers. On the right side of a window is its main menu with templates and settings. In the upper right corner, additional controls of styles, texts, and your actions are available.
Functionality
All content is stored here on pages that consist of various blocks; that is the main essence of the service. They can be:
- Texts;
- Lists;
- Codes;
- Images;
- Links, etc.
Blocks can be easily transformed at any time, turning a bulleted list into a checklist and text into a separate page, code block, or quote in a second.
Several others can be collected on one page, which in turn can hide inside multi-level drop-down lists. You can add tables, kanban boards, wikis, and databases to them. It opens up almost limitless possibilities for putting anything on the shelves. A sidebar with a tree structure is used to navigate through the records, conveniently displaying all the content. Also, you can use a quick search with tips.
When you create a new file, a dialog opens where you can start from a blank page or choose one of the many ready-made templates for various purposes. When you click on the search bar with a "/" icon, a menu of commands opens, which serves to add basic blocks such as subheadings, lists, and separators, as well as reminders, tables, boards, and calendars. Moreover, the embedding of media and files from various services is available here, including Google Drive, GitHub Gist, Framer, Figma, and many others.
App Purchases
Notion exists as an iOS and Android app, as well as a browser version. If you plan to use the application only for your personal purposes (for one user), it will be free. If you need this service for the whole team, its cost will depend on the number of users and the features you need.
Pros
- Minimalistic design
- Huge number of features
- Files import
- Integration with third-party resources
Cons
- Slightly challenging to learn functionality.
In Conclusion
Notion is really a powerful tool, having mastered the possibilities of which, you can establish personal and work affairs. The service saves time and helps to be more productive due to a single space in which notes, documents, cases, and projects are collected. Perhaps the only drawback of this application is the abundance of functions and options, which can be difficult to figure out on your own; you have to watch tutorials.