Is Notion free?

Yes, Notion is absolutely free to use, offering a robust tier that provides access to core features without any cost or time restrictions. The free plan allows up to 10 guest collaborators and includes essential note-taking, database creation, and basic collaboration tools that many individual users find sufficient for personal productivity needs. However, this free access comes with notable limitations that may push users toward paid plans depending on their specific requirements.

The free tier works well for individual users and small-scale collaboration, but several constraints become apparent with regular use. File uploads are capped at just 5 MB per file, which quickly becomes restrictive when working with images, videos, or larger documents. Page history is only retained for seven days, meaning you can't recover older versions of your work beyond that window. Additionally, the 10-guest limit can feel restrictive if you're sharing workspaces with multiple team members or clients.

One significant recent change affects AI functionality. As of May 2025, Notion discontinued AI as a separate add-on for new users, integrating it exclusively into Business and Enterprise plans. Free users now only receive a limited AI trial, while full AI access requires upgrading to the Business plan at $20-24 per user monthly. This shift reflects Notion's focus on serving business customers but may disappoint individual users who valued the AI capabilities.

For students and educators, Notion offers an excellent middle ground by providing the Plus plan (normally $10-12 monthly) completely free with verification. This unlocks unlimited file uploads, extends guest limits to 100 users, and provides 30-day page history, making it ideal for academic projects and classroom collaboration. The verification process typically requires a valid educational email address.

The free plan covers approximately 20-30% of Notion's full feature set, focusing on essential productivity tools rather than advanced collaboration or automation features. While this limitation exists, the core functionality remains powerful enough for personal note-taking, project planning, and basic team coordination. Whether the free tier meets your needs ultimately depends on your collaboration requirements, file storage needs, and interest in AI-powered features. For many individual users, the free plan provides excellent value, while teams and power users will likely find the paid tiers necessary for their workflows.