Notion vs Trello: 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 Notion vs Trello.
⚡ 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 | Notion | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $50/mo | $30/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $100/mo | $60/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Unlimited pages for 1 user. 5MB file upload limit. 7-day page history. 10 guest collaborators. | ✅ Unlimited cards. Up to 10 boards. 1 Power-Up per board. 10MB file attachment limit. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Notion | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Plus | $10/mo | $6/mo |
| Business | $18/mo | $12.5/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | $17.5/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Notion | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Collaboration | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mobile App | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Pros & Cons
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
Trello
✅ Pros
- Simplest PM tool — drag-and-drop cards, zero learning curve
- Free tier includes unlimited cards and members
- Butler automation is surprisingly powerful
- Great for personal task management and simple projects
- Polished mobile app
❌ Cons
- Not built for complex projects (no Gantt, no sprints)
- Free tier limited to 10 boards and 1 Power-Up per board
- Gets messy with more than ~50 cards per board
- No built-in reporting or time tracking
- Power behind competitors like ClickUp for the same price
Who Should Use What?
✅ 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)
✅ Choose Trello if...
- You are a personal task management (gtd, todo lists)
- You are a small teams with simple workflows
- You are a non-technical users who want visual task boards
🚫 Skip if...
- Software development teams (use Linear or Jira)
- Complex project management with dependencies
- Teams needing reporting and portfolio views
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Notion (4.7/5) and Trello (4.4/5) 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 Notion better than Trello?
It depends on your needs. Notion excels in some areas while Trello has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Notion pricing compare to Trello?
Notion starts at Free / $10/mo, while Trello starts at Free / $6/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Notion to Trello?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Trello typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Notion.
Which is easier to use, Notion or Trello?
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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