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startbuddi vs Notion: an honest comparison

Notion is a flexible workspace of pages and databases that teams shape into wikis, docs and project trackers. startbuddi gives small teams ready-made projects, tasks, docs and chat in the same workspace as their customers and invoices, so it suits people who want that set up rather than built.

We make startbuddi, so we're biased. We've tried to be fair: we list where Notion is stronger, every fact about Notion links to its source, and anything we couldn't confirm on their own site is marked "not published". Checked in September 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
startbuddi

startbuddi is best for

Small teams that want projects, docs and chat next to their customers and invoices

Notion logoNotion

Notion is best for

Teams that want to build their own wikis, docs and project databases

At a glance

Best for
startbuddiSmall teams that want projects, docs and chat next to their customers and invoices
NotionTeams that want to build their own wikis, docs and project databases
Free plan
startbuddiYes, the Free plan
NotionYes, Free
First paid plan
startbuddiStarter, $29 a month
NotionPlus, $10 USD per member per month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)
Checked
startbuddiPrice book, October 2026
NotionSeptember 2026

Where each one is stronger

The short version. Notion first, because it does some things better than we do.

Notion logoNotion is stronger at

Desktop and mobile appsNotion has Mac and Windows desktop apps and a mobile app, with pages you can download for offline use; startbuddi is web only.
More export formatspages and databases export as PDF, HTML, Markdown or CSV, while startbuddi documents download as a Word-compatible file.
Build-your-own databasesNotion's databases carry custom properties, subtasks and dependencies you shape into any tracker, while startbuddi project custom fields are not available yet.
Developer tool connectionsthe Projects page lists connections with GitHub, Figma, Jira and Amplitude.
Unlimited free guests on paid plansguests are free on every plan, with 10 on Free and unlimited from Plus.

startbuddi is stronger at

Clients, projects and invoices togethera project can be linked to a customer record, and its Budget tab pulls project expenses from Money Manager.
Client portals without seatsclients sign in with an email link to follow projects, approve deliverables, message you and see invoices (paid plans; Free can build and preview).
Contracts and e-signatures in Documents15 contract templates, plus signers and signature fields you place on the document before sending.
Whiteboards that become tasksselect sticky notes and turn them into project tasks, with Chip able to brainstorm and group ideas (uses Chip credits).
Goals that fill themselves inkey numbers can update from Money, Contacts, Forms, Social and Email instead of being typed in by hand.

Feature by feature

Each Notion value links to where we found it. Anything their site doesn't state is marked "not published".

startbuddi and Notion, feature by feature
FeaturestartbuddiNotion
Board and calendar views Yes YesSource (opens in a new tab)
Timeline with task dependenciesGantt timeline inside each project Yes YesSource (opens in a new tab)
Sprints Yes YesSource (opens in a new tab)
Docs and wiki pages Yes YesSource (opens in a new tab)
Page version historyEvery save is kept as a version Yes 7 days on Free, 30 on PlusSource (opens in a new tab)
Forms Yes Basic on FreeSource (opens in a new tab)
Charts and dashboardsWork reports and dashboards are built by hand Yes 1 chart on FreeSource (opens in a new tab)
Workflow automationsAutomations are locked on the Free plan Paid plans Buttons only on FreeSource (opens in a new tab)
Full AI assistantFree and Plus get a trial of Notion AI Chip, uses credits Business plan and upSource (opens in a new tab)
Doc export formats Word-compatible file PDF, HTML, Markdown, CSVSource (opens in a new tab)
Desktop and mobile appsWeb app only; works in phone browsers No YesSource (opens in a new tab)
Contacts and invoices in the same workspaceCustomers and Money Manager sit beside Work Yes Not statedSource (opens in a new tab)

What each one looks like

Real screens, captured by us or taken from the official press kit, each dated.

startbuddi: Projects
startbuddi · Projects. Captured from our own account, personal details blurred.
startbuddi: My work as a board
startbuddi · My work as a board. Captured from our own account, personal details blurred.
startbuddi: Goals and OKRs
startbuddi · Goals and OKRs. Captured from our own account, personal details blurred.

Notion's own screens are on Notion's website. We don't show another company's product without a dated capture from a trial or its press kit.

Pricing side by side

List prices as each company publishes them. We never convert currencies.

See startbuddi pricing

startbuddi

  • FreeFree
  • Starter$29 a month
  • Growth$79 a month
  • Scale$199 a month

Prices in US dollars, billed monthly. From our pricing page, updated 3 Oct 2026.

Notion logoNotion

Checked in September 2026. Check Notion's site for current plans.

Switching from Notion

What moving across involves.

  1. Export what you want to keep from NotionNotion exports pages as PDF, HTML or Markdown and databases as CSV. Export the pages and trackers you still use.
  2. Recreate your projects in WorkThere is no Notion importer, so start each project from a template or blank, then add tasks, dates and people by hand. Paste the text of your key pages into new startbuddi Docs.
  3. Bring your client list into CustomersIf you tracked clients in a Notion database, export it as CSV and import it on the Contacts page, mapping each column.
  4. Invite your team and clientsInvite teammates to Work and Chat, and give each client a portal so they can follow progress without a seat.

Sources

Checked in September 2026. startbuddi prices come from our own price book. Notion's website.

Questions people ask

Can I move my Notion pages to startbuddi?

Notion exports pages as PDF, HTML or Markdown and databases as CSV. startbuddi has no Notion importer, so paste page text into new Docs and rebuild projects by hand or from a template. Client lists in CSV can be imported into Contacts.

Does startbuddi have a free plan?

Yes. The Free plan includes Work, Documents and Chat for one seat, with limits such as 3 documents and 1 whiteboard. Every paid plan comes with a 30-day trial.

Does startbuddi work offline or on a phone app?

No. startbuddi is a web app that works in desktop and phone browsers, with no native mobile or desktop app. Notion has desktop and mobile apps.

Can I use Notion and startbuddi together?

Yes. Some teams keep a Notion wiki and run client projects, invoices and portals in startbuddi. There is no direct sync between the two.

Other comparisons

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Try startbuddi alongside Notion.

Start on the free plan with a copy of your contacts and see how it fits before you decide.

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