Let's cut through the hype: Notion AI is the most frustratingly useful tool I've used this year. It's not the smartest AI, it's not the fastest, and at $10/month on top of your existing Notion plan, it feels like a rip-off. But here's the hard truth—if you're already living in Notion, paying that tax might be the most efficient decision you make.
The Meat: Where Notion AI Wins and Fails Spectacularly
First, the integration is its killer feature. I was drafting a client proposal last month, and instead of copying text to ChatGPT and back, I just highlighted a paragraph and hit 'Improve writing.' It saved me 15 minutes of context switching. But then I tried to use it for research on a complex technical topic, and it gave me surface-level garbage that I had to fact-check for another 20 minutes. That's the Notion AI experience—brilliant for workflow, trash for actual intelligence.
The biggest annoyance? The damn 'AI' button that appears when you highlight text. It's laggy as hell on large documents. I've clicked it, waited 3 seconds, clicked again thinking it didn't register, and then suddenly have two AI prompts running. It feels like using a 2010 smartphone with a touchscreen that hasn't been calibrated. For a tool that costs $120/year extra, this is unacceptable.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't use Notion AI for research or fact-heavy tasks. Use it exclusively for workflow automation within Notion—summarizing meeting notes, fixing grammar in your docs, or generating basic templates. For everything else, keep a ChatGPT tab open.
The Data: How It Stacks Up Against Real Competition
| Feature | Notion AI | ChatGPT Plus | Craft Docs AI | Mem.ai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $10/month (add-on) | $20/month | $8/month (with Pro) | $15/month |
| Core Strength | Seamless Notion integration | Raw intelligence & versatility | Document-focused AI | Personal knowledge management |
| Biggest Weakness | Limited AI capabilities | No native doc integration | Smaller ecosystem | Steep learning curve |
| Best For | Existing Notion power users | General AI tasks & research | Individual document creation | Connecting personal insights |
| ROI Verdict | Worth it if you live in Notion | Worth it for most people | Good alternative to Notion | Niche but powerful |
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This?
Buy Notion AI ONLY if you're already a paid Notion user who spends 3+ hours daily in the platform. The $10/month is essentially a productivity tax that eliminates context switching. For everyone else—students, casual users, or people who just need occasional AI help—this is an overpriced add-on. Get ChatGPT Plus instead, or try Craft Docs if you want similar document AI at a lower price.
I almost lost a client because I relied on Notion AI to summarize a technical document—it missed critical details that I only caught during a last-minute review. Never again for important work. But for daily grind stuff? It's become indispensable.
Originally published at Nexus AI
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