Notion vs Wrike
This comparison pits ultimate flexibility against structural project management power. Notion excels as a customizable workspace and centralized documentation hub. Wrike is engineered for enterprise project control, resource allocation, and advanced governance.
Powerful software, risky provider.
We found Notion is an exceptionally flexible and powerful productivity tool, praised globally for its block-based editor and ability to consolidate diverse workflows. However, external evidence highlights significant failures in subscription management and support responsiveness. Overall, we advise extreme caution regarding billing procedures due to recurring reports of unauthorized charges and cancellation difficulties.
Pros
- Exceptionally powerful and versatile block-based editor.
- Effective for personal knowledge management and team use.
- Consolidates multiple specialized tools (wikis, CRMs, project management).
- Strong native AI assistance integrated throughout the workspace.
Cons
- Widespread reports of deceptive or confusing billing practices.
- Extremely poor and unresponsive customer support experiences.
- Users report app is often slow and unreliable.
- Difficulty canceling subscriptions and obtaining timely refunds.
Enterprise Power Meets Complex Commitment.
We find Wrike is an exceptionally versatile project solution, noted for scaling efficiently across corporate environments up to 3000 users and unifying communication across highly complex workflows. Overall, the software offers a powerful feature set for advanced visibility and customization, but we caution users regarding the rigid annual subscriptions and documented difficulties with managing auto-renewal and pricing increases.
Pros
- Transforms and streamlines complex corporate workflows efficiently.
- Highly customizable for various methodologies (e.g., Holacracy, OKR).
- Excellent collaborative transparency and 360° project visibility.
- Provides fast and helpful customer support regarding implementation and bugs.
Cons
- Pricing practices are reported as aggressive, often resulting in significant renewal increases.
- Subscriptions are difficult to cancel, and users report trouble stopping automatic renewal.
- Some teams report challenging adoption and setup processes.
- Users report instances of being oversold on features bundles they did not need.
AboutNotion
Notion is your dedicated AI workspace and everything app. It is built to replace multiple specialized tools with one powerful platform. This centralized space lets teams consolidate project management, internal wikis, and basic CRM functions. Notion is trusted broadly; over 100 million users worldwide use it, and 62% of the Fortune 100 are customers. You can use it right in your browser or download specialized tools like Notion Mail and Notion Calendar to keep time and work together. ✅
AboutWrike
Wrike is a trusted end-to-end enterprise work management solution. It's designed for organizations ready to transform manual processes into interconnected, automated workflows. Teams from 20 to 20,000 thrive here because Wrike is highly adaptable to any industry or size. It brings multiple teams into the same place for game-changing visual collaboration. Wrike is where you can easily align strategy and effectively execute your projects and programs. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Resource Planning
Wrike provides dedicated capacity planning tools; Notion requires manual database configuration.
Notion offers incredible flexibility for tracking tasks and status updates. However, managing team capacity requires custom setups and manual calculations. You won't find dedicated resource allocation tools within Notion's core framework. In contrast, Wrike offers robust resource and capacity planning features built-in. Managers get 360° visibility to see exact workloads across cross-functional teams instantly. Wrike ensures you can accurately allocate resources and prevent expensive over-allocation proactively. If complex scheduling and optimal utilization matter, Wrike is the clear champion here. Notion is not designed for detailed workforce management needs at scale.
Approvals & Proofing
Wrike includes advanced approval cycles; Notion handles feedback via basic comments.
Notion users manage feedback primarily through standard comments and page mentions. Setting up formal, multi-stage approval requires complex manual workflow configurations. This works fine for simple document reviews but struggles with large assets. Wrike excels with its built-in proofing and approvals system for specialized teams. Wrike supports file and video proofing for over 30 different file formats efficiently. You can even utilize guest approvals for external stakeholders and clients easily. For marketing teams or creative agencies, Wrike's dedicated proofing saves hours of pain. Notion lacks the necessary internal tools for high-volume asset review and standardization.
Core Flexibility
Notion is a supremely adaptable workspace; Wrike is rigid but performance-focused.
Notion starts as a blank canvas allowing users to customize almost everything they touch. You can structure Notion pages as a wiki, a database, or a simple meeting note instantly. This extreme flexibility is Notion's greatest strength for smaller teams. Wrike enforces a structured folder, project, and task hierarchy across the platform. While highly customizable within its framework, Wrike prioritizes reliable alignment over free-form creation. Teams adopt Wrike's defined system immediately. If you want complete control over your interface and data structure, choose Notion today. If your existing team requires a strict project management methodology, Wrike will fit better.
Pricing Structure
Notion offers monthly billing and flexibility; Wrike mandates rigid annual prepaid subscriptions.
Notion provides several paid tiers, and users can generally choose monthly over annual billing options. This provides budget flexibility and lowers the financial risk for smaller, growing organizations. The entry point is quite accessible. Wrike’s paid subscriptions (Team, Business+) require a mandatory annual commitment, billed yearly. Users cannot choose a more flexible month-to-month option at these tiers. This commitment creates high friction. Be careful when choosing Wrike due to its reported aggressive pricing practices upon renewal. Notion allows for incremental growth and easier cancellation/downgrade processes.
Enterprise Security
Wrike guarantees advanced security compliance; Notion handles security well but less rigidly.
Notion handles core security needs well, but its primary focus is on accessibility and ease of sharing. Users often manage security through workspace permissions, which can become complex at scaling. Full SAML SSO is often locked behind top-tier Enterprise plans. Wrike maintains rigorous security standards like SOC2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications. Wrike offers robust features like SAML-based SSO and User Audit Reports on Enterprise plans. Wrike also guarantees stable 99.9% platform uptime for all users. Wrike is better equipped to handle the strict security and compliance requirements of large corporations. Mission-critical data governance favors Wrike’s structured approach.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Wrike and Notion boils down to your organization's required structure versus flexibility. They serve entirely different needs, so there's a clear winner for your specific scenario. Don't choose Notion if you need rigid project management tools. Notion is the ultimate flexible workspace, documentation hub, and low-friction project tracker. It performs best for small to mid-sized teams (under 50) seeking affordability and customization. Notion allows you to build virtually any workflow you can imagine using its database system and powerful linking. In contrast, Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management machine built for high stakes. Wrike’s superpower lies in its dedicated tools, including resource allocation and full 30+ file format proofing. Wrike helps large, cross-functional teams guarantee specific project outcomes and align strategy. The deciding factor is complexity: do you manage complexity (Wrike) or manage information (Notion)? If you need advanced resource utilization and enterprise security, choose Wrike immediately. If you need a customizable, budget-friendly wiki and task list, Notion is your perfect fit. Pick Notion for simplicity and freedom; pick Wrike for rigor, compliance, and guaranteed project control when managing thousands of resources. Be wary of Wrike’s strict annual subscription requirement and renewal practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: Notion or Wrike?
Notion is generally better for small teams and startups due to its lower cost and higher flexibility. Notion allows rapid setup without complex enterprise features. Wrike focuses on structural solutions optimized for 20+ users.
Does Notion have Resource Planning features like Wrike?
No, Notion does not have built-in resource planning or capacity tools. You must build manual calculation templates in Notion yourself. Wrike includes dedicated, advanced resource management designed for complex allocations.
Why is Wrike's pricing model considered aggressive by users?
Wrike requires mandatory annual subscriptions for all paid plans, limiting your financial flexibility. Users report great difficulty canceling or stopping automatic renewals. Price hikes at renewal are also a common complaint against Wrike.
Which tool provides superior enterprise security features?
Wrike offers demonstrably superior enterprise security, certified under SOC2 and ISO 27001 standards. Wrike includes features like SAML SSO, user audit logs, and customizable access roles. Notion’s security is reliable but less rigid.
Is Notion better for centralized documentation than Wrike?
Yes, Notion is widely considered the superior tool for wikis and documentation management. Notion’s structure is built around creating deeply linked informational pages. Wrike prioritizes project task execution over long-form documentation.
Can I use Wrike or Notion to track billable hours?
Wrike’s higher tiers (Pinnacle) include built-in budgeting and billable hours tracking features. Notion typically requires integration with an external time-tracking app for this functionality. Wrike simplifies client service reporting internally.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.