A visual comparison of two different workspace approaches
⚠️ This is an independent educational comparison — not affiliated with Microsoft or Notion!
The Communication Hub
The Connected Workspace
Teams is primarily a communication platform. It centers around real-time chat, video meetings, and calls. File sharing and collaboration happen in the context of conversations. It integrates deeply with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and SharePoint, making it natural for organizations already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Notion is a flexible workspace tool. It combines documents, databases, wikis, and project management into customizable pages. Communication happens through comments and mentions rather than real-time chat. It appeals to teams wanting to build their own workflows and knowledge bases from scratch.
Teams excels at real-time chat and video. Notion focuses on async documentation. Consider how your team prefers to communicate.
Heavy Microsoft 365 users may find Teams integration valuable. Notion works more independently from other ecosystems.
Teams provides structured channels and tabs. Notion offers blank-canvas flexibility. Different teams prefer different approaches.
Teams has built-in video conferencing. Notion doesn't—you'd pair it with Zoom, Meet, or another tool for meetings.
Notion's wiki and database features shine for documentation. Teams relies on SharePoint/OneDrive for document organization.
Teams feels familiar to Office users. Notion's flexibility requires learning its block-based approach. Both have curves.
| Feature | Teams | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Communication & meetings | Documentation & workspace |
| Video Calling | Built-in, full-featured | Not included (use other tools) |
| Real-time Chat | Core feature with channels | Comments & mentions only |
| Document Creation | Via Microsoft 365 apps | Native flexible docs |
| Database/Tables | Via Lists, Excel, SharePoint | Native powerful databases |
| Wiki/Knowledge Base | Via SharePoint sites | Native wiki features |
| Customization | Apps, tabs, connectors | Highly flexible page building |
| Best For | Communication-first teams | Documentation-first teams |
Many teams use BOTH—Teams for communication, Notion for documentation. They're not always either/or.
What's your team's biggest pain point? Chat overload? Documentation chaos? Let that guide your choice.
Both offer free tiers. Test with real workflows before committing to understand the fit.
Consider total cost including training, migration, and workflow changes—not just subscription price.
This comparison is for educational purposes only. It is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation or Notion Labs, Inc. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. Features, pricing, and capabilities change frequently—verify current information with official sources. This is NOT a recommendation to purchase either platform. Evaluate based on your specific organizational needs, conduct trials, and consult appropriate stakeholders before making decisions.