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Notion vs. Coda

The definitive comparison of the top all-in-one apps.

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Productivity Nexus is the intersection of systemization, automation and AI. Subscribe for empowering insights from celebrated technologist William Nutt.

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The All-in-One Revolution

A new kind of app is quietly revolutionizing productivity and collaboration. Deemed “all-in-one” apps, they empower anyone to build their own app for managing and sharing any type of information. With dynamic building blocks, users mix and match features from other apps—like word processors, spreadsheets, CRMs and project managers—often forming cohesive, interconnected systems for managing all of their information in one place, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The OGs—Notion and Coda

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Notion⁠

and

Coda⁠

spawned the all-in-one revolution. As competition surges, they continue leading the space.

On the surface, Notion and Coda more like each other than any other app. In each, you populate pages with those rich content blocks. They both offer robust publishing and collaboration features, along with dynamic databases for structuring information and displaying it in intuitive interfaces.

But when you dive a little deeper, Notion and Coda have distinctive strengths that make them suitable for particular types of users.

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Notion is like a simple, elegant Nespresso machine, while Coda resembles the Breville Barista: slightly less refined but packing many more features, particularly around automation, integrations and publishing.

For some users, the choice is obvious, but many aren’t quite sure where they lie on the spectrum of simplicity to capability. So I took a methodical approach to identifying the key differences between Notion and Coda, then presenting them in a way that reveals the best option for your priorities.

Two Apps, One Framework

For a direct comparison, I implemented the

Bulletproof framework⁠

in both apps. It’s the most effective approach to all-in-one apps like Notion and Coda. At its core is the same principle behind every app on your phone and website you visit:

Structure all information in related master databases. Access it through contextual views.

Developing Bulletproof in both apps revealed their key differences and distinctive strengths, which you’ll find listed below by category. In the video above, I showcase the most notable differences to make your choice between Notion and Coda a no-brainer.

And here’s each implementation of Bulletproof as a template:

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Bulletproof for Notion

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Bulletproof for Coda

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Notion vs. Coda

Orange indicates Coda’s advantage; blue, Notion’s.

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01 — Formulas

Formula Locations

Notion

In Notion, you use formulas only within Formula properties of databases.

Coda

In Coda, you can use formulas virtually anywhere. They can generate the value for any property, of any type. That includes the primary “display” or “title” property, which should always be unique. I often use a formula to create a unique combination of other properties. Notion requires me to do that manually or use an external automation tool, like Zapier. Beyond database items, you can use formulas for filters, buttons, automations, and right in-line with text.

Formula Reach

Notion

For its inputs, a Notion formula can reference other properties of the same database item or related items.

Coda

Coda formulas can reference almost any item throughout the doc.

Formula Capabilities

Notion

Notion formulas simply return a value.

Coda

In addition to returning a value, Coda’s formulas can modify the objects they reference or trigger automations.

Functions for Integrations

Notion

Notion formulas cannot access integrated apps in any capacity.

Coda

Coda’s formulas can engage with external apps. When you add an integration, it often comes with new functions for exchanging information or triggering actions.

Live now() Refresh

Notion

A Notion page must be reloaded to refresh the value of now().

Coda

In Coda, now() refreshes in real-time.

02 — Automations

Automation Triggers

Notion

Notion’s automations can be triggered only by adding or editing database item.

Coda

Coda offers the same triggers, along with scheduling, form submissions, and webhooks sent by external apps.

Formulas in Automations

Notion

For actions after the trigger, Notion is limited to adding or updating database items, or sending notifications in Notion or Slack.

Coda

In Coda, actions can use those versatile formulas, with the ability to reference and modify virtually any element in the doc.

Conditions in Automations

Notion

Conditions are unavailable in Notion’s automations.

Coda

In Coda’s automations, you can use conditions to create filters or multiple routes.

03 — Integrations

Integrations in Automations

Notion

Aside from Slack messages, Notion automations have no access to integrated apps.

Coda

Many of Coda’s integrations (”Packs”) add automation actions for the external app.

“Connections” vs. “Packs”

Notion

Notion calls integrations “connections,” which is an umbrella term for programs connecting Notion with an external app. That includes many types of connections, including those managed from external apps, like when you connect a Tally form to Notion.

Coda

Coda tightly packages its integrations as “Packs.” Installing a Pack for an external app, like Gmail, integrates the app throughout the Coda doc.

Integration Syncing

Notion

A few Notion integrations sync databases with external apps. They’re mostly geared toward developers, like GitHub, GitLab and Jira.

Coda

In Coda, database syncing is a core feature of Packs.

Integrations in Formulas

Notion

Integrations cannot add functions in Notion.

Coda

Many Packs add formulas that engage with the external app.

Integrations via Buttons

Notion

Notion buttons can perform actions within Notion only.

Coda

Most Coda Packs come with preconfigured buttons that trigger actions in the external app.

04 — Collaboration & Publishing

Custom Domains

Notion

Notion pages must be published to the domain notion.site.

Coda

You can publish a Coda doc to a custom domain, with no Coda branding. The page you’re reading is a Coda doc. 🙃

Sharing Granularity

Notion

In Notion, pages are managed in workspaces, within which you can organize them in teamspaces. You can manage sharing by workspace, teamspace, or individual pages.

Coda

Within Coda workspaces, pages live in “docs.” You can sync pages between docs, but they’re otherwise isolated. Sharing is controlled only at the doc level. That means pages with different sharing configurations must exist in separate docs.

Controlled “Person” Notifications

Notion

When you add someone to a Person property in Notion, they’ll be notified.

Coda

In Coda, you can choose whether or not to notify the user when adding them to a Person property.

05 — Database Views

Views within Databases

Notion

In Notion, each instance of a database can have multiple views. They display as tabs or a dropdown menu, depending on the available space. In linked databases, each tab can use a different source database.

Coda

In Coda, each view of a database requires an independent instance of that database.

Sub-Items

Notion

Notion natively supports sub-items within databases. The “parent” item can become a toggle with its sub-items tucked inside.

Coda

Coda doesn’t have a feature dedicated to sub-items. You can establish a relationship manually or simply create a checklist within a Canvas property.

Forms

Notion

Notion does not natively include forms.

Coda

You can display Coda databases as forms for a simple way for people to submit items.

Collapse Groups by Default

Notion

In Notion, all groups are expanded by default.

Coda

In Coda, you can customize the default state of each group.

Charts

Notion

Notion does not offer charts.

Coda

For any database view in Coda, you can select the chart layout, then choose among many chart types and other configuration options.

Conditional Formatting

Notion

Notion doesn’t offer conditional formatting, nor can you manually color full cells or rows.

Coda

Coda offers conditional formatting, like you’d find in a spreadsheet.

Grouping Orientation

Notion

When you group items in a Notion table, the group label is given the full width of the database. When expanded, its items display beneath it.

Coda

In Coda, groups are aligned to the left, with their items displayed to their right. That often creates excessive line-wrapping.

Hide the “Title” Property

Notion

In Notion, a database’s Title property must be visible.

Coda

Coda calls it Display and allows you to hide it.

Nested Groups

Notion

Notion offers sub-groups within board layouts only.

Coda

Coda supports nested groups, or groups within groups, across layouts.

Property Names in Cards

Notion

When databases display items as cards, Notion can’t show property names, like “Age,” which often leaves values without needed context.

Coda

In Coda, you have the option to display property names in cards.

Dynamic Date Groups

Notion

When you group by a Date property, Notion can dynamically group by day, month, year, etc.

Coda

Coda only groups by the value of the property.

Manually Order Select Options

Notion

When you sort by a Select property, Notion allows you to order the options manually.

Coda

Coda only sorts by Select options alphabetically.

"Filter Bar"

Notion

Filtering a Notion database feels administrative: You must click the filter icon, then configure rules.

Coda

In Coda, an optional “filter bar” adds a dropdown property for filterable properties, which is more intuitive and contributes to its app-like experience.

06 — Database Properties

Change Type of "Title" Property

Notion

The Title property must be a text property in Notion.

Coda

In Coda, it can be any type of property and, most notably, auto-populated by a formula.

Filtered Relation Options

Notion

A Relation property in Notion must display all items in the related database.

Coda

In Coda, you can filter the items available for selection.

Image Property Type

Notion

In Notion, images are added to File properties and display as tiny thumbnails.

Coda

Coda has a dedicated Image property, where you can choose the size of the image.

Number Property Layouts

Notion

Notion can visualize Number properties as a bar or donut with one color.

Coda

Coda offers an assortment of visualizations for numbers, many of which offer multi-color options that correspond with progress.

Date Property Layouts

Notion

Notion’s Date property offers few formatting options. Formulas provide more control, but the requires a duplicate property.

Coda

Coda’s Date property offers more control over formatting. That includes the ability to display dates without a year, which is much better for birthdays.

URL Property Layouts

Notion

In Notion, URL properties can show the full URL or abbreviate it.

Coda

Coda allows you to display URLs as icons or bookmarks, with the site’s preview image and title.

Person Property Layouts

Notion

Notion’s Person properties display the users’ avatars and name.

Coda

Coda offers the option to display only user avatars.

Rating Property Type

Notion

Notion offers no property for indicating a rating.

Coda

Coda includes a Rating property with many icon options.

Reaction Property Type

Notion

Notion offers no Reaction property or equivalent.

Coda

Coda includes a Reaction property that tallies clicks from users.

Dependencies

Notion

Notion natively supports dependencies, which create visible links in timelines. When you shift an item in the timeline, you can optionally update the full dependency sequence.

Coda

Dependencies are not a dedicated feature of Coda. They can be manually configured using relations and formulas.

Sort Select Options

Notion

Where you manage options for Select properties, Notion can sort them automatically.

Coda

Coda requires you to sort Select options manually.

07 — Expanded Database Items

Composition of Expanded Database Items

Notion

When you expand a database item in Notion, you see its title, its properties in a single column, then a freeform page body. Customization is limited: You can selectively display or hide properties, and relations can appear as their own section.

Coda

In Coda, an expanded database item includes only its properties. It has no page body, but the Canvas property type functions as one.

Coda gives you much more control over layout and formatting. You can arrange them in columns, adjust font sizing, and display relations in any database layout (table, cards, etc.).

Coda’s approach preserves structure while offering more customization.

Hide Empty Properties

Notion

In Notion, you can choose to hide a property if it’s blank.

Coda

In Coda, each property must be visible or hidden, regardless of its contents.

Sub-Pages within Database Items

Notion

In Notion, you can create sub-pages within expanded database items.

Coda

Coda does not support sub-pages within expanded database items.

08 — Cross-Device UX

Mobile-Friendliness

Notion

Relative to other apps, Notion’s databases are particularly mobile-friendly.

Coda

Coda’s are mobile-unfriendly.

Top Nav

Notion

Notion offers not alternative to its sidebar.

Coda

In lieu of the sidebar, Coda offers the option to display the navigation menu to the top of published docs, which fosters its true website experience.

Mobile Nav

Notion

On mobile devices, Notion displays the sidebar within a traditional mobile menu.

Coda

Coda adds mobile navigation to the bottom of the screen. It displays the first three display with their titles below their icons, which furthers its app-like experience. The remaining pages are accessible within a traditional mobile menu.

Hide Pages from Menu

Notion

If a user has access to a page in Notion, it can’t be hidden from the menu structure.

Coda

In Coda, you can hide pages from the sidebar. I often hide administrative pages containing source database or administrative views.

One-Click Cell Edit

Notion

With a cell highlighted in Notion, you can simply hit return to edit.

Coda

Coda requires opt + return, which amounts to meaningful friction in aggregate.

Unwrap All Properties

Notion

In Notion, you can unwrap all cells with one toggle.

Coda

Coda requires unwrapping column-by-column, which is a frequent need and amounts to meaningful friction over time.

Convert Select Options to Database

Notion

Notion offers no quick way to convert Select options to a related database.

Coda

Coda offers the option convert Select options to a related database.

Block Modularity

Notion

Notion’s blocks are more like units that fit nicely into their designated spots. They’re easy to select, move and edit.

Coda

Coda’s blocks are more in-line with text. I often find myself with a blinking cursor next to them when attempting to select and work with them.

09 — Blocks

Button Capabilities

Notion

Notion’s buttons can insert preconfigured blocks or add or update database item. They can’t use formulas or integrations.

Coda

In Coda, buttons can access virtually any element of the doc to perform any action. They support formulas, and most Packs come with buttons that engage with the external app.

“Control” Blocks

Notion

Notion does not offer an equivalent of Coda’s “control” blocks.

Coda

In Coda, “control” blocks make the doc interactive, much like a traditional app. They closely align with traditional form fields, allowing users to select or input values. Filters, formulas and other elements of the doc can reference those inputs to display information dynamically.

Link Color

Notion

In Notion, you can choose a color for links like any other text.

Coda

In Coda, text links must be blue.

Divider Styles

Notion

Notion offers one style of divider.

Coda

In Coda, you can choose among multiple divider thicknesses and shapes.

10 — Pages

Synced Pages

Notion

Notion does not support syncing pages across workspaces.

Coda

In Coda, you can sync pages across docs. That comes with an enormous benefit: You can share a filtered view of a database without sharing the full database.

That’s my #1 request of Notion: view-specific database sharing.

Databases vs. Pages

Notion

In Notion, databases are pages. They can live directly within the sidebar or as sub-pages.

Database items are also pages. You can drag a standalone page into a database to make it an item. Conversely, you can drag an item out of a database to make it a standalone page.

Notion’s “everything’s a page” system is widely beneficial.

Coda

In Coda, databases existing only within pages. Every database needs a “container” page, which adds complexity and extra work.

Sub-Page Placement

Notion

In Notion, subpages can be placed anywhere within their parent page.

Coda

In Coda, subpages must be placed between the parent page’s title and body.

Page Subtitles

Notion

In Notion, you can place a Heading or Quote below the page title, but it’s not as visually effective as Coda’s native subtitles, nor does it appear in link previews.

Coda

In any Coda page, you can enable a subtitle, which offers a nice aesthetic and a description in link previews on social media, text messages, etc.

Save Custom Icons

Notion

When reusing icons in Notion, you must re-upload or re-link.

Coda

Coda allows you to save custom icons for reuse.

Icon URLs

Notion

For page icons in Notion, you can link to an image file hosted elsewhere, which is extraordinarily helpful for managing icons at scale.

Coda

Coda’s page icons must be uploaded.

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