ClickUp vs Notion: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for ClickUp vs Notion.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Notion edges ahead with a 4.7/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | ClickUp | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $35/mo | $50/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $70/mo | $100/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ 100MB storage. Unlimited tasks. Unlimited members. Limited integrations. No Gantt charts. | ✅ Unlimited pages for 1 user. 5MB file upload limit. 7-day page history. 10 guest collaborators. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | ClickUp | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Unlimited | $7/mo | $10/mo |
| Business | $12/mo | $18/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClickUp | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Task Management | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Documentation | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Integrations | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Customization | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Pros & Cons
ClickUp
✅ Pros
- Most feature-rich PM tool — tasks, docs, whiteboards, goals in one app
- Free tier includes unlimited tasks AND unlimited members
- Built-in time tracking (no add-ons needed)
- ClickUp Brain AI for task summaries and writing
- Highly customizable views (List, Board, Gantt, Calendar)
❌ Cons
- Can feel overwhelming — too many features for simple needs
- Performance can be sluggish with large workspaces
- Steep learning curve to configure properly
- Mobile app is less polished than desktop
- Free tier has only 100MB storage
Notion
✅ Pros
- Extremely flexible all-in-one workspace
- Powerful database and template system
- Generous free tier for solo users (unlimited pages)
- Strong API for automations and integrations
- Active community with thousands of templates
❌ Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Limited offline access — requires internet for most tasks
- Can feel slow with very large databases (1000+ rows)
- No native time tracking — need third-party integration
- AI features cost $10/mo extra per member
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose ClickUp if...
- You are a teams wanting one tool to replace notion + jira + trello
- You are a project managers who need gantt charts and time tracking
- You are a budget-conscious teams (free tier is generous)
🚫 Skip if...
- Solo devs who want simplicity (Linear is better)
- Teams that value speed over features
- Minimalists who find feature bloat distracting
✅ Choose Notion if...
- You are a solo creators and note-takers
- You are a documentation-heavy teams
- You are a startups needing a flexible workspace
- You are a knowledge base and wiki management
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing real-time task tracking (Gantt, Sprints)
- Users who need robust offline support
- Large-scale project management (100+ members)
🏆 Our Verdict
Both ClickUp (4.6/5) and Notion (4.7/5) are excellent tools in their category. Notion takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickUp better than Notion?
It depends on your needs. ClickUp excels in some areas while Notion has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does ClickUp pricing compare to Notion?
ClickUp starts at Free / $7/mo, while Notion starts at Free / $10/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from ClickUp to Notion?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Notion typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from ClickUp.
Which is easier to use, ClickUp or Notion?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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