Notion review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
All-in-one workspace for wikis, docs and lightweight project databases, priced per member with SSO starting on Business.
Our take for buyers
Notion is an all-in-one workspace for wikis, docs and lightweight project databases, and G2 reviewers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across roughly 11,000 reviews. Two thirds of reviews come from small businesses. Praise focuses on the flexibility to build docs, wikis and databases, and a G2 product direction sub-score of 9.4 out of 10. Teams already comfortable with block editors tend to adopt it quickly.
Shortlist it for startups and small teams that mix wiki and project tracking, where the flexible databases earn their keep. The weak spots are a learning curve, with ease of use the lowest sub-score at 8.3, and gaps for time tracking and resource planning. For security-driven buyers, the plan ladder matters: SAML SSO starts on Business, while SCIM, audit log, data residency and a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement are Enterprise only.
Pros
- Flexibility to build docs, wikis and databases.
- Strong product direction (G2 sub-score 9.4)
Cons
- Learning curve (ease of use 8.3, lowest sub-score)
- Gaps for time tracking and resource planning.
- Best for
- Startups and small teams combining wiki and project tracking.
- Starting price
- Free; Plus $10 per member per month billed annually
- G2 rating
- 4.6 (10,967 reviews)
What is Notion?
All-in-one workspace for wikis, docs and lightweight project databases, priced per member with SSO starting on Business. Startups and small teams that want wiki pages, docs and light project databases in one place can start on the free plan. SAML SSO arrives on Business and SCIM only on Enterprise. There is no native help desk, so test how the block editor copes with wide, long documentation. Notion was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, US.
Category: Knowledge Base Software, Project Management Software
Notion key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Authoring and editing experience | Block editor with databases and docs. |
| Search and AI answers | Notion AI bundled in Business and Enterprise (third party); Free/Plus limited trial. |
| Internal vs public access control | Workspaces, teamspaces, guests (10 on Free); SAML SSO Business+, SCIM Enterprise. |
| Versioning and review workflows | Page history (7 days on Free) |
| Help desk and chat integrations | Slack link previews, GitHub and Jira embeds noted; no native help desk. |
| Pricing model | Per member per month; yearly saves up to 20%. |
| Target company size | Two-thirds of G2 reviews from small business; Enterprise tier for large orgs. |
| Task views and planning | Timeline, calendar and board views; dependencies. |
| Workflow automation | Automations for task flows and database entries. |
| Reporting and dashboards | Dashboards with charts from multiple sources. |
| Integrations | Slack, GitHub, Jira embeds. |
Notion plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | member | 7-day page history, 5 MB uploads, 10 guests |
| Plus | $10 annual / $12 monthly (2024 release notes) | member/month | Vendor page shows EUR 9.50 |
| Business | $20 annual | member/month | Includes SAML SSO; vendor page shows EUR 19.50 |
| Enterprise | Custom | quote | SCIM, audit log, data residency |
The vendor pricing page shows EUR for visitors in Europe; USD $10/$20 are from notion.com pages. Page says save up to 20% with yearly. Custom Agents: $10 per 1,000 monthly Notion credits. Older third-party pages list Business at $18.
Who should shortlist Notion
A strong fit for
- Startups and small teams combining wiki and project tracking.
- Teams wanting flexible databases and docs in one tool.
A weak fit for
- Teams needing time tracking or workload planning.
- Companies needing SCIM or audit logs below Enterprise.
Notion alternatives
ConfluenceTeams already on Jira or Jira Service Management.
SliteSmall and mid-size teams wanting an AI search wiki at a published price.
NuclinoSmall teams wanting a simple, fast wiki with a free plan.
AsanaCross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
ClickUpSmall and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps.
JiraSoftware and IT teams running agile sprints and backlogs.
Security, admin and compliance
Published: SAML SSO on Business and Enterprise, SCIM and audit log on Enterprise only, a published DPA, and certifications including SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISMAP and BSI C5. Data residency is Enterprise only, and the regions are not named. A HIPAA Business Associate Agreement is available to Enterprise only. Not published: implementation and support terms. A monthly plan is available, and billing recalculates at renewal to the current member count.
- SAML SSO
- Business and Enterprise (SAML)
- SCIM provisioning
- Enterprise.
- Audit logs
- Enterprise.
- Data residency
- Enterprise only; regions not named.
- Public DPA
- Yes, published DPA.
- Certifications
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISMAP, BSI C5.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly plan available.
- Starting price
- Free; Plus $10 per member per month billed annually.
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan.
What to test in a Notion demo or trial
Build your real wiki structure and one project database during the trial, since the learning curve is the main complaint. Test teamspaces, guest access (10 on Free) and permissions with a realistic group. Try timeline, calendar and board views with dependencies, and the automations for task flows. Check whether dashboards with charts meet your reporting needs. List what you need that Notion lacks: time tracking, resource management and a native help desk are not provided. Test Notion AI, which is bundled in Business and Enterprise.
Questions to ask Notion before you sign
These are the points Notion's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- SAML SSO starts on Business ($20); SCIM and audit log are Enterprise only.
- Data residency is Enterprise only.
- Business Associate Agreement (HIPAA) available to Enterprise only.
- Billing recalculates at renewal to current member count.
- Agent credits are metered on top of seats ($10 per 1,000 credits)
Head-to-head comparisons
Notion FAQ
What is Notion used for?
Startups and small teams that want wiki pages, docs and light project databases in one place can start on the free plan. SAML SSO arrives on Business and SCIM only on Enterprise. There is no native help desk, so test how the block editor copes with wide, long documentation. It suits startups and small teams combining wiki and project tracking.
Does Notion support SAML SSO?
Yes, on Business and Enterprise. SCIM and audit log are limited to Enterprise.
Does Notion offer data residency?
Data residency is Enterprise only, and the regions are not named. Ask Notion which regions are available.
Does Notion have a DPA and compliance certifications?
A DPA is published. Listed certifications are SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISMAP and BSI C5.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 2013.
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, US.
- Funding or owner
- About $335M to $344M disclosed; GIC bought $270M of shares at an $11B valuation in Feb 2026 (employee share sale)
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Notion's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.