Can you create charts in Notion?

Yes, you can create charts directly in Notion thanks to native charting capabilities introduced in August 2024. This feature allows you to generate four types of visual charts—vertical bar, horizontal bar, line, and donut charts—directly from your Notion databases without needing external tools. While this addition significantly enhances Notion's data visualization capabilities, it comes with specific limitations that are important to understand before diving in.

Creating charts in Notion follows a straightforward process that connects seamlessly with your existing databases. Simply type "/chart" on any page or add a new database view and select "Chart." You'll then choose your preferred chart type, connect it to a database as your data source, and customize the display by configuring axis properties, grouping options, and color schemes. The real advantage here is that your charts update automatically whenever you modify the underlying database—no manual refreshing required.

However, Notion's charting functionality operates within specific constraints designed to maintain performance. Each chart is limited to 200 bars or slices maximum, and when using grouping features, only the first 50 groups will display. Additionally, free plan users can create just one chart, while paid subscribers enjoy unlimited chart creation. These limitations mean that complex datasets or extensive analysis might require some strategic pre-filtering or database restructuring.

The strength of Notion's native charts lies in their integration with the platform's database model and their beginner-friendly approach. You can create multiple chart views per database, enabling dashboard-style displays that showcase different metrics side by side. The dynamic interactivity is particularly valuable—changes in your data reflect instantly in your visualizations, making it excellent for tracking project progress, analyzing team performance, or monitoring key metrics over time.

While Notion's native charting covers fundamental visualization needs effectively, power users requiring advanced chart types like scatter plots or radar charts will need to explore embedding external tools through Notion's embed blocks. For most users managing typical project data, team metrics, or personal tracking, the native functionality provides a solid foundation that eliminates the complexity of managing separate visualization tools while keeping your data and insights centralized within your Notion workspace.