Small businesses require efficient tools to manage their knowledge, projects, and collaboration needs. In this comparison, we weigh the features of Notion against OneNote to help entrepreneurs and small business owners find the optimal tool for their operations.

OneNote: Microsoft's Digital Notebook

Key Features:

• Flexible digital notebook with freeform pages
• Integration with other Microsoft Office tools
• Handwriting and drawing support on touchscreen devices
• Audio and video recording capabilities
• Content clipping with OneNote Web Clipper
• Collaborative features for shared notebooks

Pricing:

OneNote is available for free as a part of the Microsoft Office suite or standalone application, with additional features accessible through a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Microsoft Office products
• Intuitive and familiar interface for Office users
• Excellent for note-taking with multimedia support

Cons:

• Limited project management features compared to dedicated platforms
• Can become disorganized with extensive use

Reasons to prefer OneNote:

OneNote is particularly suited for businesses fully committed to the Microsoft ecosystem, valuing deep integration with Office tools and looking mainly for a powerful note-taking application for knowledge capture.

Notion: A Unified Workspace for Notes and Projects

Key Features:

• Notes, docs, and knowledge base management
• Tasks and project management with versatile databases
• Customizable templates for various business processes
• API for third-party integrations
• Collaboration tools including comments and shared workspaces

Pricing:

Notion features a free Personal plan, while paid plans for teams begin at $8 per user per month. For optimized business systems templates, visit landmarklabs.co/notion-templates.

Pros:

• All-in-one platform for note-taking and project management
• Highly flexible and customizable to fit specific workflows
• User-friendly, making it a favorable choice for cross-functional teams

Cons:

• May require initial investment in time to set up and optimize
• Limited offline capabilities compared to desktop-based applications like OneNote

Reasons to prefer Notion:

Notion is best for small businesses that need a centralized hub for their documents, notes, and project tracking—a versatile tool that grows with the business and adapts to the ever-changing needs of a dynamic work environment.

Conclusion

While OneNote shines as a powerful note-taking app with robust Microsoft integration, Notion stands out as the more comprehensive tool for businesses seeking a platform that can handle both knowledge management and project tracking. The flexibility and collaboration features of Notion make it a compelling choice, especially for those looking to centralize their business systems. Utilize Landmark Labs' business systems templates to jumpstart your journey with Notion at landmarklabs.co/notion-templates.