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Software · head to head

Baserow vs Notion

Baserow logo

Baserow

Software

Open-source no-code database platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Notion logo

Notion

Software

All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Baserow the free tier is capped at 3,000 rows and 2GB of storage per workspace; Notion free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage
  • They diverge on capability: Baserow covers Database tables, Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Baserow and Notion actually diverge.

Attributes where Baserow and Notion differ
AttributeBaserowNotion
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Api, Self-hostedWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20192016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Baserow

  • Database tables
  • Multiple views
  • Forms
  • Templates
  • Plugins
  • Self-hosting
  • n8n
  • Make

Only in Notion

  • Rich text editing with blocks
  • Customizable databases
  • Kanban boards and calendars
  • Template library
  • File attachments
  • Web clipper
  • Slack
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • API access
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Zapier
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Baserow

  • Self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet databasenot Notion
  • Structured team data with Kanban, calendar and grid viewsnot Notion
  • Building internal tools on top of a database with an APInot Notion
  • Sharing data with external app users without giving them full seatsnot Notion

Notion

  • Project managementnot Baserow
  • Knowledge base creationnot Baserow
  • Note-taking and documentationnot Baserow
  • Team collaborationnot Baserow
  • Content planningnot Baserow

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Baserow

  • The free tier is capped at 3,000 rows and 2GB of storage per workspace
  • Kanban, calendar and survey views need Premium at $10 per user per month billed yearly
  • Role-based permissions, audit logs and SSO require Premium or higher
  • Row limits are per workspace rather than per table, so splitting data across bases does not raise the ceiling
  • Automation runs are metered as credits, 2,000 a month on free

Notion

  • Free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage
  • Free tier only includes trial AI capabilities; full Notion AI requires paid plan
  • Page history limited to 7 days on free plan
  • Per-member pricing increases costs for teams compared to flat-rate competitors
  • Limited automation capabilities compared to dedicated workflow platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Baserow

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited rows
    • Core features
    • Community support
  • Premium$5/user/month
    • Row comments
    • Kanban view
    • Survey form

Notion

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1000 block limit (2+ members)
    • 7-day page history
    • 5MB file upload cap
  • Plus$10/month
    • Unlimited blocks
    • 30-day page history
    • Unlimited file uploads
  • Business$20/month
    • All Plus features
    • Notion Agent
    • AI Meeting Notes
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • All Business features
    • Advanced controls
    • Audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Baserow if

  • You need database tables.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Self-hosted.
  • You also want multiple views.
Baserow review

Choose Notion if

  • You need rich text editing with blocks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want customizable databases.
Notion review

Questions people ask

Is Baserow or Notion better?
Neither clearly leads. Baserow starts at Free and Notion at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Baserow or Notion?
Baserow starts at Free and Notion at Free.
Does Baserow or Notion run on more platforms?
Baserow runs on Web, Api, Self-hosted. Notion runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Baserow for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Baserow best used for?
Baserow is most often used for self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database, structured team data with kanban, calendar and grid views, building internal tools on top of a database with an api, sharing data with external app users without giving them full seats. Of those, self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database and structured team data with kanban, calendar and grid views are not what Notion is typically brought in for.
What can Baserow do that Notion cannot?
Baserow covers Database tables, Multiple views, Forms, Templates. Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks, Customizable databases, Kanban boards and calendars, Template library. Both handle API access, Real-time collaboration, Zapier, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Notion: What are Notion's pricing tiers?

Notion offers four plans: Free ($0/member/month), Plus ($10/member/month), Business ($20/member/month recommended), and Enterprise (custom pricing). All paid plans include Notion AI and identical features with no per-feature charges.

Source
Notion: What is included in Notion's free plan?

The free plan includes databases with limited collaborative blocks, trial AI capabilities, basic forms, basic sites, Notion Calendar, and file uploads. For workspaces with 2+ members, there is a 1,000-block limit.

Source
Notion: How much does Notion AI cost?

Notion AI is included with Plus ($10/mo), Business ($20/mo), and Enterprise plans. Free and Plus plans include limited AI trial capabilities. Custom Agents cost $10 per 1,000 monthly credits after free trial.

Source
Notion: Can guests access Notion workspaces without payment?

Yes. Guests are free of charge on all plans including the free tier. Free tier allows 10 guests; paid plans include unlimited guests. Guests can only access individual pages they are invited to.

Source
Notion: Does Notion integrate with other apps?

Yes. Notion integrates with 100+ third-party apps including Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Google Calendar, Trello, Jira, Zapier, and many others. Native integrations are available plus additional connections via Zapier.

Source
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