Notion vs Asana: Which is the Best Project Management Tool?

Working remotely can be a double-edged sword - while the flexibility and freedom are unbeatable, it can be challenging to stay on top of your tasks and collaborate with your team. 

Since the pandemic, many of us have experienced remote work in one way or another and we can all understand the importance of having the right project management tools to keep things running smoothly. 

In this article, we'll compare Asana and Notion, two of the top project management tools on the market. Get ready for your remote team to stay organised, focused, and on top of their game!

Why do you need a project management tool?

Does anyone else like to write down their tasks for the day on a piece of paper that ends up getting mixed in with the shopping list and the bills to pay? If you’re guilty of this then a project management tool could be just what you or your team needs.

Although written to-do lists can be helpful, it is now essential to use an online platform to manage your tasks and projects.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should use a project management tool…

1. Collaboration

When working remotely, it can be challenging to stay on the same page as your team members, particularly if you are working across different timezones. A project management tool helps by providing a centralised platform for teams to communicate, share files, and collaborate on tasks.

2. Task Management

The main attraction of a project management tool is its ability to manage tasks, deadlines, and progress in real-time. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and that tasks are completed on time.

3. Priorities

Another thing that people find helpful about project management tools is their ability to prioritise tasks. 

Tasks need to be assigned deadlines and team members will receive notifications when something is overdue or when it is due that day. This helps people focus on the most critical work and ensures that the team is working efficiently, even when you’re not working in the same place.

With these 3 aspects in mind, let’s dig into Notion and Asana…

Notion: The All-in-One Workspace

Notion is a cloud based project management workspace that allows users to create, organise, and collaborate on various types of content, such as notes, tasks, databases, wikis, and more. 

It was released in 2018 by Notion Labs Inc and has become increasingly popular among individuals, teams, and companies for its versatility and flexibility.

Asana: The Task Management Powerhouse

Asana is a web and mobile-based project management and team collaboration tool that allows users to organise and manage tasks and projects. 

It was founded in 2008 by Dustin Moskovitz and Justin Rosenstein, both former Facebook employees, and has since grown in popularity. Asana is used by teams and organisations of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, to manage their projects and increase their productivity.

So, which tool to use?

When you’re presented with both of these tools that are brilliant for project management, it can be hard to choose which one works best for your team. 

We’re going to look at their user-friendliness, pricing, top features, customer reviews and integrations so that you can choose the bes tool for your business.

1. Usability

Of course, it goes without saying that no tool would be popular if it wasn’t user-friendly. Let’s take a look at Notion and Asana and their user-friendly rating.

How user-friendly is Notion?

Notion is widely considered to be a highly usable and user-friendly productivity and organisation tool. Its interface is designed to be intuitive and flexible, allowing users to easily create, organise, and collaborate on various types of content, such as notes, tasks, databases, wikis, and more. Its drag-and-drop interface, customisable templates, and powerful search function are just some of the features that make it easy to use and navigate.

There is a steeper learning curve with Notion so it will take time to get used to the interface.

How user-friendly is Asana?

Asana is generally considered to be a user-friendly tool, with many saying that it is easier to navigate than Notion. Its interface is designed to be simple and visually appealing, with easy-to-use features that help users stay organised and on top of their tasks and projects. 

Asana's drag-and-drop functionality, customisable dashboards, and collaborative tools make it easy for teams to collaborate and stay informed about project progress. Additionally, Asana offers a variety of integrations with other popular tools which further enhances its usability and flexibility. 

Many users report that they like the simplicity of Asana. It offers a more straightforward approach to task management so many beginners to the project management world adopt this tool.

When it comes to usability, Asana takes the edge here, mainly because it is beginner-friendly. 0-1.

2. Pricing

Price is often a deciding factor for many businesses, big or small.

How much does Notion cost?

Notion offers a range of pricing options for its users, depending on their needs and budget: 

• The free version is suitable for individuals or small teams who are looking for a simple productivity and organisation tool. Get a FREE trial here.
• The Plus plan is good for small teams as it provides access to more features and more storage space than the free plan. 
• The Business plan allows teams to collaborate and manage their projects, with features such as unlimited members, team permission settings, and advanced administrative controls. 
• The Enterprise plan offers even more advanced security and administrative controls, as well as customised onboarding and dedicated support. 

Notion's pricing is flexible and scalable, with the option to add or remove members as needed, ideal for agile teams. The only con with their pricing is that on the free and Plus plan you can’t have team members, only guests. This can limit some of the functionalities.

How much does Asana cost?

Like Notion, Asana offers a tiered pricing system.

• The free version has unlimited tasks, projects, messages and collaboration with up to 15 teammates. It’s suitable for individuals or small teams who are looking for a simple and straightforward project management tool. 
• The premium plan for teams provides additional features such as advanced search and reporting, custom fields, and timeline views. 
• The business plan is designed for larger organisations and offers even more advanced features such as custom rules and automation, portfolios, and proofing.

Asana's pricing is flexible, allowing users to upgrade or downgrade their plans at any time, and with no long-term commitment. This is ideal for users to choose the plan that best fits their needs and budget.

For value for money, Notion wins here. 1-1. 

Top Features

So we’ve established that these tools are good for project management in general, but what about their features? Let’s see…

What can you do in Notion?

Notion offers a wide range of features that make it one of the most versatile and customisable project management tools. Here are some of the top features in Notion and how they can be beneficial:

• Templates: Notion provides a range of customisable templates, which can be used to create notes, tasks, wikis, and more. This feature can help users save time by quickly setting up common layouts for different types of content.
• Database functionality: Notion allows users to create databases with custom fields, which can be used to organise and manage various types of information. This feature is particularly useful for tracking projects, tasks, contacts, and other types of data.
• Collaboration tools: Notion's collaboration tools allow teams to work together on projects, share notes and ideas, and track progress. These features include real-time editing, commenting, and task assignment, something that works great for remote teams when they need to look at a task together.
• Kanban boards: Notion's Kanban boards provide a visual representation of tasks and projects, making it easy to track progress and prioritise work.
• Powerful search function: Notion's search function allows users to quickly find notes, tasks, and other content, even across multiple pages and databases.
• Write content using AI: this is a new feature which you have to get onto a waitlist for but it’s worth the wait. This AI-powered feature helps with content generation and it is really impressive!

Take a look at this handy tutorial that shows you the level of customisation that is possible with Notion, and many different shortcuts to achieve what you need to achieve.

These features all contribute to making Notion a powerful tool for productivity and organisation, and can help individuals and teams work more efficiently and effectively.

What can you do with Asana?

Asana is a robust project management tool that offers a variety of features to help individuals and teams stay organised and on track. Here are some of the top features:

• Task management: Asana's task management features allow users to create and assign tasks, set due dates, and track progress. This feature is particularly useful for individuals and teams who need to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Collaboration tools: Asana provides a range of collaboration tools, including team conversations, real-time task comments, and @mentions, which allow team members to communicate and share information in one central location.
• Customisable project views: Asana offers different project views, including list, board, and timeline views, which allow users to view their projects in a way that works best for them. This works well in a team because every person has a different way of looking at tasks and prioritising them in their mind. 
• Automation: Asana's automation features allow users to automate repetitive tasks and workflows, saving time and increasing efficiency.
• Integration with other tools: Asana integrates with a variety of other popular tools, such as Google Drive, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, making it easy to use alongside other tools and platforms.

For more detail on some specific features on Asana, check out this video.

 Overall, these features make Asana a powerful and flexible project management tool that can benefit individuals and teams of all sizes. 

The task management, collaboration, and customisation features help teams stay organized and productive, while the automation and integration features help streamline workflows and increase efficiency.

When it comes to features, Notion definitely has the edge due to the ability to change the interface to suit your needs and your business. 2-1.

Customer Reviews & Feedback 

What do people think about Notion?

Notion has some strong 4.1 star reviews on Trustpilot. Many people say that they have become more productive, that the tool has become a staple in their work and personal life and lots mentioning that they love the customisation aspect.  

What do people think about Asana?

Asana has significantly lower reviews on Trustpilot. However, many of these reviews are not focused on the functionality of the tool but rather on their customer service. Some reported experiencing difficulties reaching their team and problems receiving refunds.  

For customer reviews and experience, Notion takes the top spot. 3-1.

Integrations

The more you can connect the tools you work on each day, the better. This makes for a faster workflow and a wider comprehension of what is going on in your team.

Notion integrations

Notion provides integrations with a wide range of popular tools and platforms, allowing users to seamlessly connect their workflows and enhance their productivity. 

Here are some of the most popular integrations available in Notion:

• Google Drive: Notion integrates with Google Drive, allowing users to easily embed Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides within their Notion pages.

• Slack: Notion's integration with Slack allows users to receive notifications and updates on their Notion pages within their Slack channels.

• Trello: Notion can be integrated with Trello, allowing users to import their Trello boards and cards into Notion and vice versa.

• Zapier: Notion's integration with Zapier allows users to automate tasks between Notion and other apps, such as Gmail, Salesforce, and more.

• GitHub: Notion can be integrated with GitHub, allowing users to embed GitHub issues and pull requests within their Notion pages.

• Figma: Notion's integration with Figma allows users to embed Figma designs within their Notion pages.

These integrations are brilliant for remote teams due to the visibility that it provides for the whole team. Each user can access tasks from one place and then be directed to the relevant channel to continue communication where necessary.

Asana’s integrations

Asana provides integrations a lot of different platforms, in fact there are so many that they have a filter on the left hand side where you can choose your category! Here are just some of the most popular integrations available in Asana:

• Google Drive: Asana integrates with Google Drive, allowing users to easily attach files and link to documents stored in Google Drive from within Asana.

• Slack: Asana's integration with Slack allows users to receive notifications and updates on their Asana tasks within their Slack channels.
• Zapier: Asana's integration with Zapier allows users to automate tasks between Asana and other apps, such as Gmail, Trello, and more.
• Microsoft Teams: Asana can be integrated with Microsoft Teams, allowing users to receive notifications and updates on their Asana tasks within their Microsoft Teams channels.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Asana integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing users to attach and manage Adobe files directly within Asana.
• Harvest: Asana's integration with Harvest allows users to track time spent on Asana tasks and projects.

Check out their website for the full guide to Asana’s integrations and how it can help you and your team improve your workflow. 

If we’re looking at the amount of integrations available, then Asana is the clear winner here. 3-2. 

So, Notion or Asana, which is best for your business?

When to use Notion

Choosing between Notion and Asana can be a difficult decision, but it ultimately comes down to your needs. If you are looking for a customisable all-in-one workspace that can adapt to your needs, Notion is the way to go. 

Migrating your existing processes over into Notion can be a daunting task but the effort is worth it in the long run. The high level of customisation, collaboration and overall management available in this tool is next level.

When to use Asana

On the other hand, if you need a powerful task management tool that is easy to use and helps you stay on top of your tasks, Asana is the clear winner. Asana is cheaper for smaller teams, in fact it is free for 15 members or less so this makes it a more attractive option for small teams with a lower budget. 

The bottom line

Ultimately, deciding which tool is best for you depends entirely on your situation. Both of these project management tools are beneficial for remote teams and they provide a means of centralising all processes and collaborating within one space.

If you’re a fan of design and customisation then Notion might be the way to go with it’s possibilities for changing the interface and adapting it to your own needs. Whereas, if you are new to the project management world, Asana could be worthwhile due to it’s simple interface and user-friendliness.  

Considering the key features of these tools and choosing where they best fit in with your team will help you make an informed decision.

Happy project managing!

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