Notion AI is a Feature, Not a Product – And That's Its Fatal Flaw
A deep dive into Notion AI.
Let's cut the crap: Notion AI isn't an AI tool; it's a mediocre add-on bolted onto a note-taking app, and if you're paying $10/month for it, you're getting ripped off. I've tested every major player in this space, and while Notion's core app is solid, its AI feels like an afterthought designed to milk extra cash from loyal users. I almost lost a client proposal because Notion AI's "summarize" feature choked on a 5-page document and spat out gibberish, forcing me to scramble with a real AI tool at the last minute.
The Meat: Where Notion AI Gets Slaughtered
1. Performance & Context Limits: Notion AI runs on GPT-3.5/4, but it's hamstrung by Notion's architecture. Try asking it to analyze data across multiple linked databases—it'll either timeout or give you a vague, useless answer. The context window is tiny compared to dedicated tools, so forget about processing long research papers. One specific annoyance: the AI button in the editor has a 2-second lag when you click it. Every. Single. Time. It's like waiting for dial-up internet in 2024, and it kills any workflow momentum.
2. Pricing & Lock-in: At $10/month on top of a paid Notion plan, Notion AI is a blatant cash grab. Competitors like ChatGPT Plus offer far more for $20/month, including plugins, web browsing, and file uploads. Notion traps you: your data is siloed in their ecosystem, so you can't easily export AI-enhanced notes to other apps without losing formatting. It's vendor lock-in disguised as innovation.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't use Notion AI for heavy lifting. Instead, draft in a proper AI tool like Claude or ChatGPT, then paste the polished output into Notion. You'll save time and sanity.
3. Feature Set: Notion AI is basic: summarization, drafting, and light Q&A. It lacks advanced features like code generation, image analysis, or custom GPTs. Compared to beasts like Microsoft Copilot (integrated across Office) or Jasper (for marketing), it's a toy. I used it to brainstorm blog titles, and it suggested the same generic crap three times in a row—utter trash.
The Data: Cold, Hard Comparison
| Feature | Notion AI | ChatGPT Plus | Claude Pro | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | $10 (add-on) | $20 | $20 | Free / $20 (Copilot Pro) |
| Core Use Case | In-app note enhancement | General-purpose AI | Long-context writing | Office integration |
| Context Window | Limited (~4K tokens) | 128K tokens | 200K tokens | Varies (up to 128K) |
| Key Limitation | Locked in Notion, slow UI | No native data integration | Weaker coding support | Requires Microsoft ecosystem |
| ROI Verdict | Low – overpriced for features | High – versatile workhorse | High for writers/researchers | High if you live in Office |
The Verdict: What You Should Actually Do
Buy Notion AI only if you're a Notion addict who needs light, in-app tweaks and doesn't mind burning $10/month for convenience. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague. For everyone else: get ChatGPT Plus for general tasks, Claude Pro for long-form content, or Copilot if you're wedded to Microsoft. Notion AI is a feature masquerading as a product, and in 2024, that's not enough to compete.
