Coda.io Review 2023 - Is it Really Better Than Notion?

Introduction

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Coda.io is the hot new thing in online productivity tools. It's been called "the Notion on Steroids" by some, and for a good reason - it offers many features that make productivity a breeze. But is it really as good as everyone says? In this post, we'll look at Coda.io and see how it stacks up against Notion. Stay tuned!

What is Coda?

Coda is a project management tool that combines spreadsheets and documents into one cohesive unit. Coda's main feature is the ease it can integrate with other apps and the ability to develop your integrations, called Packs. It's like Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, and Zapier all in one.

It helps you build a perfect project management environment for yourself or your team.

One of the most attractive features of Coda you can create docs that can be fully interactive through its building blocks and use of buttons.

Their document editor allows you to create digital documentation, pull data from other sources, or organize information with extreme flexibility.

What is Notion?

Notion is a productivity app that helps you organize and stay on top of your work. Like Coda, it's like Google Docs, but with Spreadsheet functionality.

Notion is one of the best tools, if not the best, for personal use since it has a free version that covers most of the things one user would need. One of the main Notion pros is you can create documents, spreadsheets, to-do lists, and more - all in one place.

It is mainly used as a knowledge management hub, note-taking tool, or a project management tool since it offers a variety of table views, including Kanban boards.

Coda vs Notion Features

It isn't easy to make an objective comparison that will be relatable to every user because there are many use cases for both tools.

Some people want to create documents and tables in one location, while others want to design appealing dashboards or automate processes by integrating other regularly-used tools.

That's why there is no perfect app. Everyone has different wants and needs for an app, so you have to decide what resonates with you and which tool helps you solve your problems.

Here are the main points to help you decide which way to go.

Formulas

Notion's formulas are only good because we are used to them.

They give us exactly what we expect from formulas. However, if you nest formulas, they can quickly become ugly, confusing, and messy. It can turn into a total disaster - especially if you need to change something later down the road.

We also got used to the fact that we can use formulas just in tables.

Well, for a start, in Coda, you can use formulas anywhere on the page. Let's say that Coda's approach to formulas is very intuitive.

For example, you can show dynamic messages to your user showing their name on the doc.

Or list items from a table if you want.

Coda's Formulas are both eye-catching and well organized. You can enter full-screen formula mode for an even better experience. And if your code gets messy, don't worry - you can always tidy it up again with Coda.

It also displays different referencing tables in various colors to make it easier for you to understand what you're doing. Also, every item in the formula you refer to has an icon indicating if you're getting one row or many rows. There's a lot of attention to detail here.

Writing formulas in Notion or Google Sheets can be messy because you have to wrap a formula in a formula, and that leaves you with a lot of )))'s.