Chanty

Slack vs Notion: Collaboration or Organization?

Notion vs Slack

Finding the perfect tool for your team isn’t just about ticking off features – it’s about aligning with how you actually work. Some teams thrive on real-time conversations and quick decisions, while others need space to organize ideas, track projects, and manage tasks. That’s where Slack and Notion come in, each shining in their respective ways.

Slack is designed to keep conversations flowing and moving quickly, so projects stay afloat. It’s all in real time, from messaging to video calls, and extending integrations with other apps to keep everything in sync.

On the other hand, Notion is a flexible workspace where ideas, documents, and workflows come together in a structured way. Instead of focusing on communication, Notion helps teams visualize tasks, share knowledge, and stay organized with customized workflows and powerful documentation tools.

The real question isn’t just which tool is better overall – it’s which one is better for your team. To help you decide, we’ll break down the features, usability, and pricing of each tool so you can see which fits best into your workflow.

What is Slack?

Slack is the go-to real-time collaboration tool for teams. It centers around messaging, video calls, and file sharing. Users are able to create channels based on topics, projects, or departments. Slack keeps all conversations organized and accessible from one place. This tool is ideal for teams who rely on constant communication and want to have everything in one place. Slack offers integrations with more than 2,400 apps and hence is ideal for teams using a lot of external tools, needing a platform that will tie everything together.

Strengths:

  • Best-in-class messaging.
  • Extensive third-party app integrations.
  • User-friendly interface.

Weaknesses:

  • Overwhelming notifications if not managed.
  • Costs can escalate for large teams.

What is  Notion?

By contrast, Notion is a general workspace that seamlessly merges note-taking, project management, and knowledge sharing. In it, everything involves information organization, task tracking, and collaboration of documents. Boasting flexibility in setting up various workflows on one or another course due to its highly flexible structure, Notion is best for teams seeking to provide and visualize structured information with their audiences, rather than conversing live. From project tracking and content calendar building to keeping highly detailed documentation, Notion does it all for a team looking to organize itself and work together.

Strengths:

  • Highly customizable.
  • Great for documenting processes and workflows.
  • Affordable for small teams.

Weaknesses:

  • Limited real-time communication.
  • Can have a learning curve.

Slack vs Notion: Quick comparison table

FeatureSlackNotion
Primary UseTeam CommunicationProject Management
InterfaceIntuitive, chat-focusedModular, highly customizable
CommunicationReal-time messagingComments and task updates
NotificationsCustomizable, instantGranular but limited
SearchRobust, real-time searchAdvanced filtering
File SharingStreamlined, integratedSupports large file uploads
Integrations2,400+ appsLimited but growing
SupportExtensive help resourcesDecent documentation
SecurityEnterprise-grade encryptionCompliant with industry standards

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Slack vs Notion:  User Interface 

Slack’s interface is all about accessibility. Right from the moment of signing in, everything goes to intuitiveness. From the left sidebar, Channels and Direct Messages, the main window has your conversations set up; it does go in for a pretty simple, no-nonsense setup to help you get right to work. The beauty of its strength here, however, rests on its being uncomplicated; but it falls by the wayside by its very lack of more powerful personalization. You can toggle between light and dark modes or notification settings, but Slack’s visual design feels largely the same from team to team. For many users, that’s a big plus: It keeps things feeling consistent and easy to navigate.

Notion, on the other hand, is a playground for customization. Starting from a blank slate, its interface allows you to create and craft a workspace that shows precisely how your team works and thinks. You set up pages, databases, task boards, and even calendars in any configuration possible. Dragging and dropping elements is effortless, the clear, modern design is aesthetically pleasing. Along with much-needed flexibility comes a learning curve. For new users just starting to use this application, the plethora of options may be something to get used to. Once mastered, however, the interface of Notion unleashes a powerhouse of tailored workflows to suit needs best.

Where Slack would be better for teams seeking ease of use and rapid implementation, Notion’s strong points rest with those teams that believe in customization and are willing to invest some time in setting it up.

Slack vs Notion: Communication

Slack was designed to keep the conversation flowing. It does a really excellent job with real-time communication through channels, direct messages, and threads that keep discussions organized. With voice and video calls native to the platform, quick huddles or one-on-one chats are painless. The casual tone of Slack – complete with emojis, GIFs, and custom reactions – makes it a dead-simple for teams to keep in touch and keep spirits high. But this lively communication style sometimes feels like information overload, especially on larger teams where messages come in nonstop.

Notion is different because it’s not built for live chat; it’s meant for asynchronous updates. Comments on tasks, pages, or projects let team members collaborate at their own pace. It works great for teams who like to make thoughtful, deliberate contributions rather than rapid-fire discussions. However, the communication in Notion lacks the immediacy required for time-bound exchanges. That is why most teams combine Notion with a tool like Slack for a more comprehensive solution.

If instant, dynamic conversations are your game, Slack is the winner. For teams that are more focused on detailed, thoughtful collaboration, Notion offers a quieter alternative.

Slack vs Notion: Notifications

Slack’s notification system is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, very customizable; users can customize notifications at the channel level, set keywords that create alerts, or use “Do Not Disturb” to focus without interruption. On the other hand, this level of connectivity also has the potential to become its downfall. If not managed in a disciplined manner, Slack could turn into a relentless stream of pings and buzzers, making it easy to lose track of what’s important.

Notifications are much calmer, even minimalist, in Notion. You’ll get notified of comments, mentions, or updates on shared pages, but it is never intrusive and/or too frequent, as it happens in Slack. Notifications can be received via email, desktop, or mobile, but they are about keeping you informed, not really demanding your immediate attention. This is good for keeping distractions low but can perhaps be insufficient for teams needing real-time updates.

Slack is ideally meant for a high-speed environment where one needs to stay in the loop. Notion works much better when doing focused work without constant interruptions.

Slack vs Notion: Search

Slack’s search is fast, reliable, and built for the bedlam of real-time communication. You can search channels, direct messages, and files; you can filter results by date, sender, or keyword. That makes it really fast and easy to find a specific conversation or attachment in seconds, even in active workspaces. As chat history grows, though, Slack’s search can feel less precise, and users are forced to sift through a lot of results.

In contrast, the search in Notion is more intentional; it was just built to work with pre-structured data instead of ad hoc chat. Now filtering by page type, tag, or database field, it’s ideal for teams handling detailed projects full of cross-referencing information, though not quite as extremely speedy as Slack’s. Weighing both, a little slower at times while dealing with larger workspaces, Notion compensates with precision.

Slack wins for speed and handling day-to-day messaging needs. Notion is the better choice for finding well-organized, structured information within complex projects.

Slack vs Notion: File sharing and storage

File sharing with Slack is so natural, intuitive, and smooth: you can either drag and drop files directly in the chat or integrate some cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. The files shared are searchable and well-commentable for easy collaboration. However, Slack is restrictive in the storage of free plans, and a lot of frequent file-sharing may require periodic cleanups to prevent hitting quotas.

Notion is a bit more holistic in its approach to file management: files are uploaded to pages or databases, where they sit with related content. This setup is really nice for long-term storage; files are neatly tied to projects or documentation. While Slack is all about having access to files fast within your chats, Notion puts the organization first, making it great for storing and referring to project assets.

Slack really shines for fast, casual file-sharing, while Notion’s is better for organized, long-term file management.

Slack vs Notion: Integrations 

Slack is the undisputed king when it comes to integrations, supporting more than 2,400 apps. From project management tools like Trello and Asana to video conferencing solutions such as Zoom, it can be connected seamlessly into Slack – your tool. The fact that it’s capable of pulling in data from other apps and putting functions right within conversations themselves is what makes Slack a very important productivity hub.

Notion offers fewer integrations, focusing on depth rather than breadth. Integrations for the popular Slack, Google Calendar, and Zapier are supported, among others, and its API allows custom-built solutions. While it doesn’t compete with Slack in sheer number, Notion’s versatility often reduces the need for additional apps, as much of what you need can be built directly within the platform.

Slack wins for pure breadth and flexibility, but Notion’s workflow consolidation capabilities keep it in the running.

Slack vs Notion: Support

With its extensive help center, very active community forums, and live chat for paid users, Slack is by no means starved of support. Enterprise plans boast 24/7 support, so teams can be guaranteed support at any time. Regular updates and user-focused improvements further enhance the platform’s reliability.

Notion offers solid documentation, tutorials, and pre-built templates to help users get started. While it doesn’t provide live chat, its community is incredibly active, often sharing creative solutions and advanced tips. For teams willing to dig into the user community or self-serve documentation, Notion’s support is sufficient, though not as immediate as Slack’s.

Slack wins for direct, responsive support. Notion’s approach is more self-guided but bolstered by an engaged community.

Slack vs Notion: Security

Slack leads in enterprise-grade security, offering end-to-end encryption and compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Admin controls on paid plans allow for detailed user management, ensuring sensitive data stays protected. With features such as single sign-on and audit logs, Slack is a strong choice for organizations with high-security needs.

Security is also taken seriously by Notion, from encryption of data at rest and in transit to GDPR compliance. While not as extensive as some of Slack’s enterprise-level features and security, Notion is more than enough for small to mid-sized teams that don’t have particularly advanced controls.

Slack, therefore, wins outright as regards security for large-scale corporations, while in terms of smaller teams, Notion’s measures are far and beyond what would satisfy those needs.

Slack vs Notion: Pricing

Slack and Notion follow different pricing approaches, each aimed at their primary functions. Slack focuses on real-time communication, are charging per user, while Notion has feature-rich plans that scale with your team needing more organization and storage. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing plans, their capabilities, and some comments on the value proposition of each.

Slack pricing plans

Slack’s pricing is based on a per-user-per-month model, which allows it to be very flexible for teams of any size. However, this can get out of hand pretty fast for larger teams, especially when Notion’s more budget-friendly structure is factored into the equation.

PlanCostFeatures
Free$0– Access to the last 90 days of message history- 10 app integrations- 1:1 voice and video calls
Pro$7.25/user/month (billed annually)$8.75 (monthly)– Full message history- Unlimited integrations- Group voice/video calls (up to 15 participants)- Priority support
Business+$12.50/user/month (billed annually)$15 (monthly)– 99.99% uptime SLA- Advanced security features (SSO, compliance exports)- 24/7 customer support
Enterprise GridCustom pricing– Tailored for large organizations- Enterprise-level security and admin tools- Dedicated account support
  • Strengths: Slack’s free plan is great for small teams testing the waters. Paid plans are highly scalable and full of features for teams that rely heavily on instant communication and integrations.
  • Drawbacks: When on a large team, this can get out of control cost-wise, especially as most other tools, such as Notion, charge by headcount regardless of your specific team size.

Notion pricing plans

Notion has a more straightforward pricing policy, with all plans including unlimited blocks – the basic building blocks for pages, tasks, and content. Unlike Slack, it focuses on providing a collaborative workspace at an affordable price for small and midsize teams.

PlanPriceKey Features
Free$0– Personal use only- Collaborative workspace- Slack & GitHub integrations- 7-day page history
Plus$10/seat/month– Unlimited blocks & file uploads- 30-day page history- Invite up to 100 guests- Custom websites & automation
Business$15/seat/month–  SAML SSO- Private teamspaces- 90-day page history- Invite up to 250 guests
EnterpriseContact Sales– Advanced security- SCIM provisioning- Unlimited page history- Security & compliance integrations
  • Strengths: Notion is incredibly valuable, especially for small teams and startups. The free plan is very generous, and the flat pricing for paid plans ensures that costs don’t spiral out of control as your team grows.
  • Weaknesses: For larger companies, some feel that Notion lacks the deeper enterprise-level security and integrations that Slack is capable of.

Making the most of Slack and Notion integration

Slack and Notion go together like peanut butter and jelly, bringing together Slack’s speed of communication with Notion’s granularity of organization. The integration makes sure your team is on the same page, with seamless updates of projects flowing into your conversations. Here’s how it works and why it might be worth setting up.

This integration lets you:

  • Receive updates from Notion-like page edits or comments – directly in Slack channels.
  • Share pages in Slack to make them accessible during discussions; 
  • Turn Slack messages into Notion tasks with automation through Zapier.

 Setting this up is easy:

  • Install the Notion app from Slack’s App Directory and connect your accounts.
  • Choose the Slack channels where you want to receive Notion notifications.
  • Customize the types of updates you want to see, like task assignments or mentions.

So, is it worth it? Absolutely, if your team uses both tools. It saves time by keeping everyone informed without switching apps, and it ensures discussions in Slack lead to action in Notion. Just be mindful of configuring notifications to avoid clutter, and you’re good to go!

Slack vs Notion: The final verdict

Slack and Notion are both winners in their respective fields; the “winner” totally depends on the needs of your team. 

Slack is the best tool for real-time communication: fast, intuitive, full of integrations to keep your team connected. It’s a bit pricey for larger teams, though, and the stream of notifications may be too much for more reserved workers.

Where Notion really shines, though, is in organization and project management. Highly customizable and very affordable, it’s a perfect fit for teams that put structure over speed. Without the immediacy of Slack, the features are ideal for asynchronous collaboration and centralized workflows.

Who Should Choose Slack?

  • Teams reliant on instant messaging and real-time updates.
  • Large organizations with lots of integrations.
  • Fast-paced environments where decisions need to be made quickly.

Who Should Choose Notion?

  • Small to mid-sized teams seeking a documentation and task-tracking hub.
  • Creative or project-based teams wanting tailored workflows.
  • Those who prefer fewer notifications and asynchronous collaboration.

It’s a tie. Slack and Notion aren’t direct competitors – they’re complementary tools. Many teams find that it pays to use both, with Slack handling the comms and Notion organizing the big picture.

If you’re still undecided or want an all-in-one alternative, consider Chanty. It combines Slack’s communication features with task management tools inspired by Notion, offering a cost-effective solution to streamline your team’s workflow.

mm

Yelyzaveta Hodun

Yelyzaveta Hodun is a Content Writer at Chanty, a tool that makes team collaboration easier. With a love for writing and a background in Cultural Studies, she enjoys creating content that helps teams connect and communicate better. Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn

Start using
Chanty today

Get Started Get free eBook! based on 1000+ reviews

Get more work done, together

Join Chanty – all-in-one collaboration tool
to make your team super productive.
Unlimited message history. Free…Forever.

Improve your team communication with Chanty

Improve your team communication with Chanty

Get in touch!

Your feedback matters. Please, share your thoughts and ideas, describe a problem or give us information on how we can help.

Hi there! 👋 A quick question:
Do you have a team at work?

Yes
No

Times change...
When you do have a team, come back and give Chanty a try!

Let me try now

Sounds great!
Do you think your team can be more productive?

Yes
No

Teams using Chanty save up to 3 hours daily.
Would you like to give Chanty team chat a try?

Yes
No

Small businesses love Chanty.
If you change your mind, feel free to come back!

Join Chanty

We'd love to tell you more!

Learn how your business can benefit from Chanty on a demo call with our team. Bring your colleagues. Zero technical experience required.

Choose wisely! Thank you, I'll schedule my demo call next time.