Conventional note-taking applications such as Evernote are currently experiencing a lack of progress or innovation. Meanwhile, the new services aim to revolutionize the industry entirely. The existing note-taking applications lack significant innovations, creating a favorable environment for developers of new apps to capitalize on this opportunity. By reinventing the functionality of conventional note-taking applications, it offers a distinct approach.
The Paper is created by Dropbox, one of the leading cloud storage companies. It draws influence from minimalism and provides a straightforward method for taking notes using a stripped-down approach.
The Notion is a note-taking application that is experiencing a steady increase in its user base. The Notion is influenced by Trello, Wikipedia, and CRM apps, providing a method for taking notes in a block structure. An elementary idea that enables the relocation of various forms of material within a singular note.
Let’s examine how these two innovative note-taking applications aim to revolutionize the world by enhancing productivity and reducing confusion for individuals and businesses.
1. MINIMALIST, FUNCTIONAL INTERFACE
Upon first introduction of Notion, users will be presented with the option to import data from several services including Trello, CSV, Word, Asana, Evernote, and Dropbox Paper. This provides insight into the versatility of Notion and the wide range of possibilities that can be accomplished using this application.
Notion operates on a system of blocks. Blocks can be created for various purposes, such as text, tasks, music, video, formulas, and other types of content. Notion allows you to input values according on your chosen option. It possesses versatility and has the capability to process many forms of data. There are instances of web users utilizing it for account management, generating sortable tables akin to Excel, and composing articles.
This Wiki-like interface provides you with a wide range of options to pick from, allowing you to construct your layout. Similar to a drag-and-drop website builder, but specifically designed for project management.
Similar to Notion, Paper likewise adopts a simple approach by providing a blank document where users may effortlessly and promptly write, incorporate media, generate lists, and manage tasks.
Certain options, like as formatting, are only shown when they become relevant, specifically when you highlight/select text. Additionally, you have the option to utilize keyboard shortcuts. Every individual note, referred to as papers by Paper, is stored into folders. Consider the folder structure of Windows or Google Drive.
Notion emulates Evernote by offering a sidebar with a silo-like structure that allows users to easily navigate between notes and projects. Additionally, it simplifies the process of tagging or linking other notes or blocks. Navigating through paper is far more challenging, and one is prone to getting lost easily. Notion allows you to generate parallel columns of notes in order to imitate the Kanban system made famous by Trello.
2. NOTING, SORTING, MANAGING
Individuals engage in working with a diverse range of files, including text, photos, videos, audios, tables, checklists, calendars, and dates, to fulfill various requirements. I am astounded by the ability of Notion to efficiently manage many data types inside a streamlined interface.
The provided screenshot displays a data table that offers the flexibility to arrange its contents according to your preference, similar to the sorting functionality available in Google Sheets. Additionally, you have the option to utilize formulas in order to execute basic computations.
You have the ability to append various types of content such as Google maps, audio, video, pictures, Google Docs and Sheets, and SoundCloud files. I am highly convinced that it will incorporate a substantial amount of additional content as well.
Paper has enhanced functionality for embedding links and supports integration with Spotify, Last.fm, Google Docs and Sheets, PDF files, YouTube videos, and more.
Due to the absence of blocks, it is not possible to generate sortable tables or recreate the Kanban style layout in Paper. This is a blank document that allows you to input data in a conventional top-to-bottom sequence. In contrast to Notion, where you can input information side-by-side, in this case, any additions are placed below the preceding entry.
3. SHARING AND COLLABORATING
Paper facilitates seamless document sharing with others by a simple click of a button. You have the ability to regulate the actions that your colleagues can perform after gaining authorization to the document or folder. To commence the procedure, simply click on the Invite button.
You have the option to selectively distribute the document solely to individuals who have been invited or to make it accessible to anyone who possesses the link. Subsequently, you have the option to determine whether those individuals are limited to merely observing and providing feedback on specific components, or if they are also granted the ability to modify the document. You have the option to subsequently withdraw this authorization. Paper caters mostly to professionals and corporate customers seeking a scalable, secure, and collaborative platform for problem-solving.
The Notion offers four different plans, including a free plan, as well as plans tailored for individuals, teams, and enterprise customers. Notion enables you to not only invite others to your team to read or view and edit notes, but also to have control over particular blocks. Additional permission settings include the ability to update without sharing with others, the ability to only read, and the ability to comment.
Both Notion and Paper offer the functionality to delegate certain tasks to fellow team members. Indeed, the comment function allows for the assignment of virtually any element of a note/document to any individual. Simply prefix names with the @ symbol.
Notion aims at personal and business purposes. There’s a group of students who are using Notion to manage their classroom projects.
4. PLATFORM AND PRICING
Paper is built to be a web-only tool with mobile apps for Android and iOS. It is entirely free with no restrictions whatsoever. Paper also supports version history which is cool.
Notion provides desktop apps for Windows and Mac apart from a web interface and mobile apps. It has a free plan that lets you create up to 1,000 blocks with no limit on members but a 5MB file size limit. The personal plan will cost you $4/month for one member and no limit on anything else. Team plan will cost $8 per member and comes with version history and priority support. Enterprise plan will cost $16 per member.
PAPER VS. NOTION
Paper is ideal for business users who seek a platform to share and collaborate. However, other users can also make the best of Paper to create rich media documents. The Notion is the more powerful sibling of Paper with a modular concept which allows you to build blocks one on top of another.
You can also create, sort, and manage entire databases with Notion, and the sidebar view is more useful than storing everything in folders. Notion is suitable for both personal and professionals with separate plans for all, and replace quite a few apps easily.