3 Reasons I Switched from Notion to Milanote
Milanote runs my life.
Now, before the Notion die-hards come for me, let me clarify:
I've used Notion, I like Notion, I think Notion has a lot of functionality that Milanote does not. But here’s the thing:
I’ve realized I don’t need that functionality.
I need something pretty, flexible, and that’s a joy to use. I made the complete cutover from Notion to Milanote a year ago, and I haven't looked back once.
Here are 3 reasons why Milanote is a better fit for me.
It's Simpler
Simplicity has been a big theme for me the past couple years; I've simplified everything from my wardrobe, my home, my routine, my diet, my processes, and I've become happier, more productive, and more creative as a result. My digital life also got the "simple" makeover, and Notion was the first thing to go.
I used to think Notion's elaborate database functionality was so cool, until I realized: I spent more time setting up my Notion system than actually using it.
My favorite part about Milanote is that in order to get started on a new project or new idea, all you have to do is double click anywhere on the screen and start typing.
It's Less Structured
Milanote is essentially a digital bulletin board. You can put anything anywhere on your screen. In contrast, Notion lets you drag and drop elements as well, but only into columns/rows.
Think of Notion as a collection of pages that lets you drag things into columns, and then forces you to scroll down on the screen. Milanote is an infinite canvas that lets you put elements wherever you want, and expand and scroll in any direction. For creative thinkers, this freeform format is ideal for developing ideas.
It's More Customizable
I used to think Notion's customization capabilities were amazing until I started using Milanote more. In Notion, you can build your own dashboard, but it's always within the confines of the Notion page; the icon always goes in the same spot, the cover image always goes in the same spot, the background is always white (light mode) or dark (dark mode), and as mentioned above, you're limited in how and where you can drag and drop things.
Milanote lets you change the background color of any board to any color you want. You can images wherever you want, change the color of cards or columns to whatever you want, and so on. Some of my boards are a tidy set of columns not unlike Notion; others are a jumble of cards that I drag around to different places depending on what I'm focusing on currently. Milanote lets my brain do things my way, Notion makes my brain do things Notion’s way.
If you're into making your workspace look "aesthetic" like me, this sort of customization is an absolute dream:
↑ My main dashboard
↑ My December 2024 Dashboard
