Top 10 Free Alternatives for Notion

Feeling limited by Notion’s pricing, complexity, or privacy concerns? You’re not alone. In 2025, there are more free and affordable Notion alternatives than ever, each with unique features for students, freelancers, teams, and businesses. Whether you want simple note-taking, advanced project management, or a customizable, privacy-focused workspace, these tools can help you organize your ideas and boost productivity without breaking the bank.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler, a platform that helps freelancers and professionals get hired through their work samples. In this article, I’ll show you the top 10 free alternatives for Notion in 2025, including their latest pricing and features. Your productivity tools aren’t just about staying organized, they’re about helping you deliver results, work smarter, and manage your workflow with confidence.

1. ClickUp

ClickUp has quickly become one of the most popular all-in-one productivity platforms, offering a powerful set of tools for task management, document creation, goals, time tracking, and collaboration. Its interface is highly customizable, allowing you to set up boards, lists, calendars, and even mind maps to suit your workflow. ClickUp’s free plan is one of the most generous, with unlimited users and tasks, making it perfect for individuals and growing teams. The platform also integrates with hundreds of other tools and offers automation, dashboards, and reporting even on lower-tier plans.

Pricing (2025):

• Free Forever plan: Unlimited tasks, unlimited users, 100MB storage
• Unlimited plan: $7/user/month (unlimited storage, integrations, advanced reporting, and more)
• Business plan: $12/user/month (adds advanced automation, custom exporting, and enhanced security)
• Unlimited users and tasks on the free plan, ideal for startups and freelancers
• Docs, reminders, time tracking, and goal-setting included
• Customizable dashboards and workflows for every need
• Integrates with Slack, Google Drive, and more

2. Trello

Trello is a visual project management tool built around boards, lists, and cards. Its simple drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to organize tasks, track progress, and collaborate with others. Trello’s free plan is perfect for individuals and small teams, while paid plans unlock advanced features like automation, calendar views, and custom fields. Trello is especially popular for Kanban workflows, editorial calendars, and agile project management.

Pricing (2025):

• Free plan: Unlimited cards, up to 10 boards per workspace
• Standard: $5/user/month (unlimited boards, advanced checklists, custom fields)
• Premium: $10/user/month (calendar, timeline, dashboard views, and more)
• Visual boards for organizing tasks and projects
• Easy collaboration and real-time updates
• Free plan is generous for most users and teams
• Integrates with Google Workspace, Slack, and more

3. Coda

Coda is a flexible all-in-one doc platform that combines documents, spreadsheets, and apps. It’s especially powerful for building custom workflows, managing databases, and automating repetitive tasks. Coda’s free plan allows unlimited docs with some limitations on automation and storage, while paid plans unlock more advanced features. Coda is ideal for teams that want to build their own tools without coding.

Pricing (2025):

• Free plan: Unlimited docs, up to 50 objects per doc
• Pro: $10/user/month (unlimited objects, more automations, integrations)
• Team: $30/user/month (advanced collaboration, admin controls)
• Combines docs, tables, and automation in one platform
• Free plan is robust for individuals and small teams
• Templates for project management, CRM, and more
• Build custom solutions without writing code

4. Evernote

Evernote remains a classic for note-taking, research, and organization. Its free plan lets you create notes, to-do lists, and web clippings, all organized in notebooks. Evernote syncs across devices and is perfect for writers, students, and anyone who needs to capture ideas on the go. Paid plans add more devices, larger uploads, and advanced search.

Pricing (2025):

• Free plan: Sync up to 2 devices, 60MB uploads/month
• Personal: $7.99/month (unlimited devices, 10GB uploads/month, offline access)
• Professional: $9.99/month (20GB uploads/month, advanced search, integrations)
• Reliable note-taking and organization for all users
• Syncs across devices and platforms
• Web clipper for saving articles and resources
• Free plan is enough for basic needs

5. Slite

Slite is a collaborative documentation tool designed for teams to share notes, meeting minutes, and knowledge bases. Its clean, distraction-free interface makes it easy to focus on writing and collaboration. Slite’s free plan supports unlimited members and up to 50 docs per month, making it a solid choice for startups and small businesses. Paid plans add more storage, analytics, and advanced permissions.

Pricing (2025):

• Free plan: Unlimited members, 50 docs/month
• Standard: $8/user/month (unlimited docs, advanced permissions, analytics)
• Clean interface for focused writing and collaboration
• Designed for team wikis, meeting notes, and internal documentation
• Free plan works well for small teams and early-stage startups
• Integrates with Slack, Google Drive, and more

6. Nuclino

Nuclino is a lightweight, collaborative workspace for teams to organize knowledge, manage projects, and share docs. Its real-time collaborative editing and simple interface make it a favorite for fast-moving teams and startups. The free plan covers up to 50 items and 2GB of storage, while the Standard plan unlocks unlimited items and advanced features.

Pricing (2025):

• Free plan: Up to 50 items, 2GB storage
• Standard: $5/user/month (unlimited items, advanced permissions, integrations)
• Real-time collaborative editing for teams
• Simple, intuitive interface for quick onboarding
• Free plan is great for small teams and startups
• Fast and easy to use for documentation and project management

7. Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is a visually appealing, free note-taking app that syncs across devices. It supports text, images, audio, checklists, and even sketch notes. Zoho Notebook is completely free for all users, with no paid plans as of 2025, making it ideal for students, creatives, and anyone who wants a beautiful, flexible note-taking tool.

Pricing (2025):

• 100% Free, unlimited notes, sync across devices
• Easy to use and visually attractive
• Supports multiple note types, including audio and sketches
• Free forever, no hidden costs or upgrade prompts
• Great for students and creative professionals

8. Google Keep

Google Keep is a simple, free note-taking app from Google that syncs with your Google account. It’s perfect for quick notes, checklists, and reminders, and integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace. While it lacks advanced project management features, its simplicity and speed make it a favorite for personal productivity.

Pricing (2025):

• Free for all users with a Google account
• Fast, lightweight, and easy to use for quick notes
• Syncs across all devices instantly
• Integrates with Google Drive and other Google apps
• Ideal for reminders, lists, and capturing ideas on the go

9. AppFlowy

AppFlowy is an open source Notion alternative that puts privacy and customization first. It supports rich text, databases, and task management, and its modular design lets you build the workflow you want. AppFlowy is free to use, with an active community and ongoing development. You can self-host it for full data control or use the cloud version.

Pricing (2025):

• Free and open source (self-hosted or community cloud)
• Paid cloud plans may be introduced as the platform grows
• Full control over your data and privacy
• Modular, customizable workspace for notes and tasks
• Active open source community and frequent updates
• Great for tech-savvy users and privacy advocates

10. Joplin

Joplin is a secure, open source note-taking and to-do app that supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and synchronization via Dropbox, OneDrive, or other services. Joplin is perfect for users who want privacy, offline access, and a flexible, open source solution. The core app is free, with optional paid add-ons for cloud sync and collaboration.

Pricing (2025):

• Free core app (open source, offline use)
• Joplin Cloud: €2/month for basic sync, €5/month for advanced collaboration
• End-to-end encryption for privacy and security
• Works offline and syncs with your preferred cloud service
• Supports Markdown, attachments, and web clipping
• Ideal for privacy-focused users and developers

Bonus: nTask and Zoho Projects

nTask is a robust project and task management tool similar to Notion, offering Kanban boards, Gantt charts, document management, and risk tracking. Its free plan is generous, and paid options are affordable at $3/user/month7.

Zoho Projects is another affordable Notion alternative, with a free plan for up to two projects and a premium plan at just $4/user/month. It’s ideal for small teams or individuals who want project management with document creation and customizable templates6.

Why Explore Notion Alternatives in 2025?

The productivity landscape is changing fast. Notion is powerful, but it’s not perfect for everyone. Some users find it too complex, slow, or expensive for their needs. Others worry about privacy, data ownership, or want more offline access and customization. Free, open source, and self-hosted alternatives give you more control, flexibility, and often a better fit for your workflow. With so many choices in 2025, you can find a tool that matches your exact needs, whether you’re a solo freelancer, startup founder, or part of a large team15.

Final Thought

With so many free and affordable Notion alternatives in 2025, you don’t have to compromise on features, privacy, or price. Try a few of these tools, explore their unique strengths, and choose the one that helps you stay productive, organized, and in control of your work. Use these platforms to build a workflow that fits your style and supports your goals.

FAQs: Free Notion Alternatives with Pricing

1. What is the best free Notion alternative for project management?

ClickUp and Trello both offer robust free plans for project management and team collaboration, with affordable upgrades for advanced features.

2. Are there truly free Notion alternatives for personal use?

Yes, Google Keep, Zoho Notebook, Joplin, and AppFlowy are all free for personal use, with no required upgrades.

3. Which Notion alternative is best for privacy and data control?

AppFlowy, Joplin, and Logseq are open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data.

4. Can I use these tools with my team for free?

ClickUp, Nuclino, Slite, and Trello all offer free collaboration features for small teams, with paid plans for larger organizations.

5. How do I decide which Notion alternative is right for me?

Consider your workflow, privacy needs, required features, and budget. Test free plans before committing, and choose the platform that feels intuitive and supports your productivity style

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