Microsoft Project vs Notion comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
Microsoft Logo
9,710 views|3,754 comparisons
92% willing to recommend
Notion Logo
226 views|145 comparisons
90% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Project and Notion based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Project Management Software solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Project vs. Notion Report (Updated: May 2024).
772,679 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Time tracking and budget tracking are the most valuable features of the solution.""It's most useful feature is that it interfaces with Project Server so we can, from my perspective, from a portfolio perspective, we can see across the organization.""The pricing is pretty good on the enterprise agreement we have.""The most valuable features of Microsoft Project are the availability of being online and within Teams. My entire team can use it and see it, versus the full Microsoft Projects, such as Project Professional, you need to have a license.""It's a scalable product, especially the online version.""The Gantt chart view is great.""The project tracking, resource utilization and the cost are the most beneficial aspects of this solution.""It served the purpose. It was pretty user-friendly."

More Microsoft Project Pros →

"Notion is a great tool for note-keeping and note-sharing.""The product has a valuable feature for databases. It has a table and a calendar view and saves various documents in the system.""The initial setup is easy.""The ability to structure data is one of the most essential functions of Notion.""I like the high level of customization in Notion.""We can install it on mobile phones, making it feasible to manage productivity.""The most valuable feature of the solution is its flexibility...The initial setup of Notion is easy.""The product is easy to use and has good responsiveness."

More Notion Pros →

Cons
"There are some things about it that I've always hated, and they haven't really changed them. It makes a lot of assumptions. It is also difficult to put business rules in it. You have to de-link it from the consecutive task if you don't want to do a What-If analysis, and sometimes, if you forget to do that, it changes everything. It is a pain in the neck to undo it. I would also like to see better integration with graphics. The graphics are primitive, and they need some major work. I would like to have the ability to do some small macros within the project for fuzzy logic. For example, if you're not sure how long a task takes, you can get the earliest guess. It is very time and manpower intensive to keep it up to date. You need to constantly update it. You will find that you are spending more time working on the Microsoft Project file rather than working on your project. I don't want to devote a person to just do that. That's silly. You can link it to some more modern applications so that it is dynamic when a real-time resource schedule changes, but it is not at all dynamic. It is only as dynamic as the person using it. It would be nice if we could plug it in real time for each project, subproject, or task. If something is going on, I want to see it in real time. Sometimes we have international clients, and they don't use the same calendar. They have a Thursday and Friday weekend, and we have a Saturday and Sunday weekend. I can change it in Microsoft Project, but I would like to be able to do it globally. There may be a way to do it, but I just haven't figured it out yet. I would like to be able to specify globally what weekend we want or what we want to call a weekend. We might have a project that works seven days a week. Some tasks are automated outside, like manufacturing processes. Embedding external processes is almost impossible because, in a practical sense, we don't have people who can do a lot of programming here, and also the interface of Microsoft Project is not the easiest because a lot of it is proprietary. It would be nice if we can link different tasks to external sources of inputs and outputs so that we could integrate them with a master project plan and see in real time what's going on. For example, you are manufacturing a batch of a chemical, and I have to rely on if a customer is making some type of complex chemical. Their system does not interfere with ours. We have to get the outputs from their system and enter them manually into the project to see the effect. That takes time. If you're talking about hours, you going to spend three to four hours, but there is the risk of getting it wrong or making a mistake. On tight projects, every minute counts. I would like to see some control system interfaces with Microsoft Project. A modern machine shop has a lot of computer numerical control (CNC) computers. In fact, virtually all machining is done with a CNC machine. Even 3D additive manufacturing is made with CNC. That data can go to a computer, and that computer can spit it out to a project so that you can see in real time whether you are going to finish a day ahead. If you had to finish a day ahead, you could talk to the systems' software, which can say that if I have this machine working for another hour and this one for one hour or less, I would be able to meet the schedule. It can then make those changes, but it can't do that. Everything needs to be done manually, which takes more time, and there's a risk of mistakes. It requires smarter automation and more machine learning. There is no machine learning capability in Microsoft Project. It just doesn't exist. That's why I say it is only suitable for small-sized to medium-sized companies and small projects. Most people don't have the problems that I have. I don't have them all the time, but when I have them, they're big. When you're bidding on a project that has to get done, you find yourself spending most of the time working on Microsoft Project, whereas you should be spending these hours managing the project. Thinking on a bigger scale, I would like better integration with Office, Visio, and Access. If you make a change in one, it should cascade to others and vice versa. It doesn't do that. It is not a dynamic program. I would like to see a dynamic program or at least the capability of being dynamic, that is, even if it is close to real time where it outputs to a module, and the module then talks to real-time things. The real-time data goes back into the module, and the module updates the project plan. Such dynamic capability would be nice. It may not be real time, but it is at least close. I would like to be able to link directly to the data in an Excel spreadsheet so that I don't have to keep going back and forth updating it. I don't want to have to create a dynamic link library. Whenever I change the data in Excel, it should update in Visio or PowerPoint. If I'm doing a pie chart or any kind of graphic, I don't want to constantly update my graphics. I want to link them together, and I want them updated automatically. I know it is a wishful thing. They don't make major changes every time they come out with a new version. They don't fix the issue. They just add a few features.""Its user interface could be a little bit more intuitive. Not everybody has the luxury of going to training and understanding which button does what and the functionality. The user interface should be improved to make it a little bit more intuitive. It is not user-friendly. I've dealt with it for a number of years, so it is not hard for me to figure it out, but you would need a quick reference guide or something to say, "Here are the basics. This is how you do X."""I find that MS Project has limited control in comparison to other solutions in the same sphere.""There are a few bugs that can affect the stability. This is typical of most applications.""Planview FLEX licensing gives us a central repository where all the projects are stored so you can check the finances, resources, etc. It's quite useful to have everything connected. We don't have that for Microsoft Project. It's disconnected. The reporting capabilities could also be better, especially with finance and resources. Everybody complains about reports. That's why we need another tool.""I have no idea about the cost because it is a corporate decision.""Once we commit our status, changing it is hard.""When a project plan becomes huge, it is painful to arrange and structure the project in Microsoft Project. Currently, you require a separate product for managing agile projects, and people are using Jira and Rally to manage stories in agile. Primarily, on the software development side, people are kind of moving away from Microsoft Project."

More Microsoft Project Cons →

"The product could be integrated with external platforms.""One area for improvement in the solution is the absence of integrated charts.""There could be an automation feature included in the product.""Adding more color options to the application would enhance its usability and flexibility, allowing users to better customize their content""It is complicated to connect Notion with external systems.""Notion's UI needs improvement.""The linked view of database, along with the sharing and permission settings, are areas with shortcomings in the solution that need improvement.""Notion's UI could be better."

More Notion Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "I am not involved with this."
  • "I do not have personal experience with pricing or licensing of this product."
  • "You do not have to invest much in terms of configuring this solution to suit your needs."
  • "It gets expensive when having to add all of the plugins and everything that you need."
  • "It probably was $30 per license on a monthly basis. There is no additional fee."
  • "I do not remember the exact cost we paid but usually, they charge per user per month."
  • "Its price could be reduced a little."
  • "It was a three-year license deal that was reconciled on a quarterly basis. It is a reasonably priced product, and I consider that we got good value for money."
  • More Microsoft Project Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The product is affordable compared to other platforms."
  • "The solution's pricing can seem steep, especially when you work with a lot of people. If you are working on your own or for another business, the solution's price won't affect you much."
  • "I rate the product's pricing a three out of ten. We only need to pay for it if we use it in the workspace."
  • "The product has good pricing."
  • "The product has good pricing."
  • "The product's pricing depends on the usage plans."
  • "The pricing structure is quite reasonable, and the basic plan covers the most essential features."
  • "Notion offers a free plan that covers most functionalities. Clients are only prompted to upgrade if they require AI capabilities, priced at $10 for unlimited usage, or if they need to add team members, typically around $10 per member."
  • More Notion Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Project Management Software solutions are best for your needs.
    772,679 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Hi @Eire Zimmermann,  I helped an organization evaluate both MS-Project and Smartsheet when they were conducting their PM tool RFP. The short of it is this, MS Project is not caught up with the… more »
    Top Answer:The product's initial setup phase is easy.
    Top Answer:The product is not expensive. My company has opted for an annual subscription.
    Top Answer:I like the high level of customization in Notion.
    Top Answer:Notion offers a free plan that covers most functionalities. Clients are only prompted to upgrade if they require AI capabilities, priced at $10 for unlimited usage, or if they need to add team… more »
    Top Answer:One area for improvement in the solution is the absence of integrated charts. I'm anticipating that update, which would significantly enhance company use cases. Currently, the workaround involves… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    9,710
    Comparisons
    3,754
    Reviews
    46
    Average Words per Review
    402
    Rating
    7.9
    16th
    Views
    226
    Comparisons
    145
    Reviews
    8
    Average Words per Review
    401
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Bitrix24 logo
    Compared 29% of the time.
    Wrike logo
    Compared 22% of the time.
    Zendesk logo
    Compared 22% of the time.
    Also Known As
    Project Pro, MS Project
    Learn More
    Overview

    Microsoft Project helps you get started quickly and execute projects with ease. Built-in templates and familiar scheduling tools help project managers and teams stay productive.

    Notion is an all-in-one workspace that enables teams to collaborate, organize, and manage their work effectively. Its primary use case is to streamline project management, knowledge sharing, and task tracking. With its versatile functionality, Notion allows users to create and customize databases, wikis, and documents, making it a powerful tool for organizing information.

    The most valuable functionality of Notion lies in its flexibility and ease of use. Users can create and link various types of content, such as text, images, files, and even embed external resources. This enables teams to centralize their work and collaborate seamlessly, eliminating the need for multiple tools. Notion's drag-and-drop interface and intuitive editing features make it accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.

    Notion helps organizations by fostering transparency, improving productivity, and enhancing knowledge management. By providing a centralized platform for collaboration, teams can easily access and contribute to shared projects, reducing communication gaps and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

    Notion's powerful search functionality and tagging system enable efficient information retrieval, making it easier to find and share knowledge within the organization.
    Sample Customers
    Aston Martin, ABANCA, Airbus Group, Capita, Cardiff University, City of Saskatoon, Intel, Pegasus Airlines, South Australia Power Network (SAPN), Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing
    Startups like Loom, Mixpanel, Blinkist, Adobe, Deel and Education facilities such as USC, Dartmouth and The University of Chicago.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm14%
    Government12%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization58%
    Computer Software Company5%
    Government4%
    Manufacturing Company4%
    No Data Available
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise46%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business10%
    Midsize Enterprise63%
    Large Enterprise27%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business67%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise22%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Project vs. Notion
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Project vs. Notion and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    772,679 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Project is ranked 2nd in Project Management Software with 77 reviews while Notion is ranked 16th in Project Management Software with 8 reviews. Microsoft Project is rated 8.0, while Notion is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Microsoft Project writes "A stable solution that very accurately runs projects". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Notion writes "Highly-recommended and customizable solution for extensive data management". Microsoft Project is most compared with Asana, Jira, Microsoft Project Server, Smartsheet and Broadcom Clarity , whereas Notion is most compared with Bitrix24, Wrike and Zendesk. See our Microsoft Project vs. Notion report.

    See our list of best Project Management Software vendors.

    We monitor all Project Management Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.