A simple Notion alternative: an honest look

A simple Notion alternative makes sense if you work alone, want fewer features and are happy to pay for a plain tool. Asendify Notes is one option: pages inside pages, a block editor and simple databases, with one paid plan and no free tier. You give up Notion's free plan, real-time collaboration, AI, templates, integrations and apps. If you rely on any of those, stay on Notion.

Why people look for a simpler Notion alternative

Notion is a large, capable product. It has a free plan, real-time collaboration, a big template gallery, integrations, an API, AI features and apps for desktop and mobile. For many people that is exactly right.

Others find it is more than they need. Common reasons people look elsewhere:

• They use a small part of it and the rest gets in the way.
• They want a tool with one plan and nothing to upgrade to.
• They want to own a full export of their data in a plain format.

None of these mean Notion is bad. They mean the person wants something narrower.

What Asendify Notes does

Asendify Notes is a small, independent workspace. Its features are:

• Pages inside pages, so you can nest notes under each other.
• A block editor with headings, lists, to-dos, quotes, code, tables and images.
• Simple databases with table and board (kanban) views.
• Properties for text, number, select, checkbox, date and url.
• Search across everything.
• Trash with restore for 30 days.
• Read-only share links for a page and its sub-pages.
• Export of all your data as JSON.
• Browser access on desktop and phone, with sign-in by email link and no passwords.
• 2 GB of image storage.

That is the whole list. It is deliberately short.

What you give up compared with Notion

This is the honest part. If you move from Notion to Asendify Notes, you lose:

• A free plan. Notion has one. Asendify Notes has no free plan and no free trial.
• Real-time collaboration and teams. Asendify Notes is for one person. You can share a read-only link, but others cannot edit with you.
• AI features. There are none.
• Templates. You start from a blank page.
• Integrations and an API. Asendify Notes does not connect to other apps.
• Native apps and offline mode. It runs in the browser and needs a connection.
• Advanced databases. Notion has relations, rollups and formulas. Asendify Notes has simple databases with six property types.

Price is also a real difference. Asendify Notes costs £1,450 a year, which is £1,000 plus a 45% service fee, shown openly. Notion's free plan costs nothing, and its paid plans for individuals cost far less per year.

What you get

• Fewer features to learn. The tool fits on one short list.
• One plan. There are no tiers, no upgrade prompts and no freemium upsells.
• No ads.
• A full export. All your data comes out as JSON whenever you want it.
• Simple sign-in. An email link, with no password to forget.
• Clear billing. You pay by card or PayPal. Yearly auto-renew on the card is optional and can be turned off any time in Settings.

Who should stay on Notion

Stay on Notion if any of these apply:

• You work with a team, or edit pages together with others.
• You want a free tool, or a low monthly price.
• You use templates, AI, integrations or the API.
• You need native apps or offline access.
• Your databases rely on relations, rollups or formulas.

That covers a lot of people. For them, switching would be a step backwards.

Who Asendify Notes suits

Asendify Notes suits a narrower group:

• People who work alone and want a private workspace for notes, plans and projects.
• People who find large tools distracting and want only the basics.
• People who prefer to pay once a year for a plain tool, rather than use a free plan with upgrades.
• People who want their data in one JSON export they control.

A worked example: making the call

Two people are deciding.

Tom runs a five-person marketing team. They share a content calendar, comment on drafts and connect Notion to Slack. He also uses the AI to summarise meeting notes. Tom should stay on Notion. He would lose collaboration, integrations and AI, and pay more.

Hannah is a writer who works alone. She uses Notion for drafts, a reading list and a simple project board. She has never used a template, an integration or the AI. She is happy to pay for a plain tool with no upgrade prompts and wants a JSON export of everything. A simpler paid workspace may suit her, as long as she is comfortable with the price and the lack of a trial.

Common mistakes when switching

• Switching for one missing feature. Check the full list of what you would lose first.
• Forgetting about collaborators. If anyone edits your pages with you, a single-user tool will not work.
• Assuming you can try first. There is no free trial, so read the feature list carefully before paying.
• Moving everything at once. Start with one area of your notes and move the rest when you are sure.

If the lists above point to a simpler tool, you can read more about Asendify Notes, a plain paid workspace on its site.

Key takeaways

• Notion has a free plan and many more features. Asendify Notes is simpler, paid and has one plan.
• You give up collaboration, AI, templates, integrations, apps, offline mode and advanced databases.
• You get a short feature list, no upsells, no ads and a full JSON export.
• Teams and budget-conscious users should stay on Notion.
• Asendify Notes suits individuals who want only the basics and are happy to pay.

FAQ

Is there a free version of Asendify Notes?

No. There is no free plan and no free trial. There is one yearly plan, paid by card or PayPal.

Can I share pages with other people?

Yes, but only to read. You can create a read-only share link for a page and its sub-pages. Others cannot edit with you, because there is no real-time collaboration.

Can I get my data out if I leave?

Yes. You can export all your data as JSON at any time.

More playbooks on other topics: https://www.asendify.co/books/

More Asendify Notes articles