Notion Calendar vs Trello: Which Tool Is Better?

What is Notion Calendar

The Notion Calendar, previously known as Cron Calendar, is a calendar application designed for managing meetings and events. It integrates closely with Notion documents, allowing users to connect their Google calendars, schedule meetings, manage events, and collaborate on upcoming events. It supports video conferencing links for platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, offers color coding for time blocking, and has deep integrations with Notion databases.

Key Features of Notion Calendar

• Google Calendar Integration: This feature allows users to seamlessly connect their Google Calendar with Notion, enabling efficient management of events and meetings within a unified interface. It simplifies scheduling and updating events across platforms.
• Meeting Booking Functionality: Notion Calendar offers a user-friendly interface for scheduling meetings. This includes options for setting up recurring meetings, sending invitations, and managing RSVPs, streamlining the meeting planning process.
• Notion Page Connectivity: Users can link calendar events to specific Notion pages, facilitating better organization and access to related notes, tasks, or documents associated with an event. This integration enhances productivity and project management.
• Video Conferencing Integration: The calendar supports adding video conferencing links from popular platforms like Zoom and Google Meet directly into event details. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams and virtual meetings, offering convenience and efficiency.
• Color Coding and Time Blocking: Notion Calendar allows users to color code their events for better visual organization. The time blocking feature helps in allocating specific time slots for tasks, aiding in time management and daily planning.
• Cross-Platform Availability: It is accessible on various platforms including iOS, Windows, Mac, and the web. This cross-platform availability ensures users can manage their calendars and stay organized regardless of the device they are using.

What is Trello

It’s known for its easy-to-use Kanban board approach but also offers other views like timelines and calendars. Trello is great for visual organization and team collaboration, with features like customizable cards, labels, and notifications. However, it may be less feature-rich compared to some alternatives like ClickUp or Monday.com, particularly in areas like advanced reporting or analytics. Trello’s simplicity makes it accessible but might not suffice for complex project management needs.

Key Features of Trello

• Board Organization: Trello’s boards enable visual management of projects using lists and cards, enhancing visibility and tracking.
• Customizable Cards: Cards can be enhanced with descriptions, checklists, labels, and attachments, providing essential task details in one place.
• Team Collaboration: The platform supports real-time team collaboration, ensuring everyone is updated and in sync.
• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Its intuitive interface allows easy movement of cards between lists for updating priorities and workflow.
• Labels and Filters: These help in categorizing and organizing tasks, with customizable label colors and names.
• Notifications and Reminders: They keep users informed about due dates and important updates, ensuring task deadlines are met.

Notion Calendar vs Trello: Features

Features	Notion Calendar	Trello
Integrations	Notion, Zoom, Google Calendar	Trello integrates with several apps including Google Drive, Google Chat, Google Hangouts, Google Slides, Jira, Slack, GitHub, Dropbox, and Zendesk
Calendar	Yes	Yes. Trello offers a Calendar view which is available for Premium and Enterprise plans.
Platforms	macOS, iOS, Android, Web, Windows	macOS, iOS, Android, Web, and Windows
Task Management	No	Trello provides features like advanced checklists, labels for prioritization, and the ability to manage recurring tasks
Natural Language Processing	No	No
Time Blocking	Yes	While Trello itself does not have a native time blocking feature, it can be used in conjunction with time blocking techniques
Analytics	No	Trello offers basic task analytics, particularly when integrated with tools like Zapier and Google Sheets for data analysis.
Meeting Scheduler	Yes	No
Time Zones	Yes	Yes
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Customer Support	Average	Good
1:1 User Onboarding	Yes	Not mentioned on their website
Pricing	Free	Free Plan for individuals and small teams, Standard Plan at $5 per user/month (billed annually), Premium Plan at $10 per user/month (billed annually), and an Enterprise Plan for larger organizations at $17.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Notion Calendar vs Trello: Pricing

Notion Calendar Pricing

Notion Calendar is free to use for Notion users

Trello Pricing

Trello offers several pricing plans:

(i) Free Plan: $0, suitable for individuals or small teams to organize projects.

(ii) Standard Plan: $5 per user/month (billed annually) or $6 monthly, for small teams needing work management and collaboration scaling.

(iii) Premium Plan: $10 per user/month (billed annually) or $12.50 monthly, for teams tracking multiple projects with various visualization tools.

(iv) Enterprise Plan: $17.50 per user/month (billed annually), providing connectivity, security, and controls for organizations.

Notion Calendar vs Trello: Reviews

Notion Calendar Review

The Notion Calendar, previously known as Cron Calendar, is appreciated for its seamless integration with Google Calendar and its ability to manage events alongside Notion project timelines. It’s praised for its intuitive scheduling features, support for different time zones, and a modern, clean design. However, some users might find limitations in advanced features like detailed task analytics or the lack of more diverse integrations beyond Google services. It’s suitable for both personal and professional use but might require additional tools for more complex task management needs.

Trello Review

Trello is highly regarded for its visual project management capabilities, particularly its use of the Kanban system. It’s appreciated for its ease of setup and the variety of views it offers, making it a favorite among both specialist and generalist users. Trello’s array of features, including multiple views, detailed card information, and numerous integrations, contribute to its effectiveness.

However, it’s noted that Trello has been slow in developing certain features. This aspect might affect users looking for a more feature-rich experience. Trello is considered suitable for small to medium-sized teams, as well as large teams, and it provides a great individual user experience too. Its simplicity and lower learning curve compared to tools like Notion make it easy to learn and implement.

Which One Should You Pick

Consider Notion Calendar if

1. You Value Google Calendar Integration: If syncing with Google Calendar is central to your workflow, Notion Calendar’s integration can streamline your scheduling process, although it may lack variety in other third-party integrations.
2. You Utilize Notion for Project Management: The calendar is beneficial for those already using Notion for project management, but it might not offer the depth required for more complex task management outside the Notion ecosystem.
3. You Prefer a Clean, Minimalist Design: Its straightforward and clean design is ideal for users seeking simplicity, but it may not satisfy those needing more intricate or customizable scheduling features.

Consider Trello if

1. You need a user-friendly project management tool: Trello is great for those who prefer a simple, visual approach to task and project management with its easy-to-use Kanban boards.
2. Your team requires basic project management features: Trello is suitable for teams that need straightforward project management capabilities without the complexity of more advanced tools.
3. You rely on integrations but don’t need extensive features: Trello offers a range of integrations through its Power-Ups, but it may not be as comprehensive as some other tools for users requiring advanced features.

Best Notion Calendar and Trello Alternatives

• Akiflow: Akiflow is a time management app offering time blocking, task scheduling, and integrations with various tools. It focuses on productivity and organization through a unified task and appointment interface.
  Akiflow Price: $19 per month, paid annually
• Motion: Motion uses AI to automatically plan your day, considering tasks, meetings, and personal time. Motion offers features like smart rescheduling and priority-based task management, aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing stress.
  Motion Price: $19 per month, annually
• Sunsama: Sunsama is a daily planner that helps professionals stay focused & productive by combining tasks, calendars, & emails. It offers features like guided planning, timeboxing, & automatic syncing.
  Sunsama Price: $16 per month, annually.