You’ve probably seen it all over social media: perfectly organized Notion dashboards with color-coded calendars, fancy widgets, and study trackers that look almost too good to be true. But here’s the real question: Does Notion actually help you study better, or is it just another way to waste time making things look pretty?
Let’s break down the truth about using Notion for studying, including what works, what doesn’t, and the stuff nobody talks about.
Unlike regular note-taking apps, Notion lets you combine different tools in one place. You can write notes, create to-do lists, build databases, and link everything together. Think of it like having a notebook, planner, and filing cabinet all rolled into one digital space.
But the big question is: does all this fancy organization actually help you learn?
Most students just type notes and forget about them. But here’s where Notion gets interesting: you can turn those notes into practice quizzes.
After each class, take your important points and create question-and-answer cards. Then use Notion’s database features to mix them up and quiz yourself later. This isn’t just about storing information anymore it’s about training your brain to remember it.
This method uses something called “active recall,” which scientists have proven helps you remember things way better than just reading notes over and over.
Instead of having notebooks scattered everywhere and losing track of papers, Notion lets you connect everything. Each subject gets its own section, and you can link related topics together.
For example:
By the end of the school year, you don’t just have random notes you have a complete map of everything you learned that shows how ideas connect to each other.
Here’s something most study apps don’t help with: understanding when you study best.
You can use Notion to keep a simple daily log tracking things like:
After a few weeks, you might notice patterns. Maybe you remember more when you study in the morning, or perhaps you focus better after exercising. Once you know this, you can schedule your hardest studying during your best hours.
No more switching between five different apps. Your calendar, notes, assignments, study goals, and resources can all live in Notion. This means less time hunting for things and more time actually learning.
Notion gives you tons of freedom, but that can feel overwhelming at first. You might spend hours watching YouTube tutorials and setting up the “perfect” system instead of actually studying. Some students end up spending more time organizing their notes than learning from them.
Because you can make Notion look exactly how you want, it’s super easy to fall into the trap of endlessly tweaking colors, adding widgets, and redesigning pages. Before you know it, you’ve wasted two hours making your dashboard pretty when you should’ve been studying for tomorrow’s test.
Notion does have an offline mode, but it’s not perfect. If your Wi-Fi cuts out or you’re somewhere with bad internet, you might not be able to access all your notes. This can be really frustrating during study sessions or if you’re trying to review notes before class.
If you add hundreds of pages, lots of images, and big databases, Notion can start lagging, especially on phones. Waiting for pages to load when you’re trying to quickly check something gets annoying fast.
Paper planners and simple apps kind of force you to stay organized because they’re basic. Notion doesn’t do that. If you’re messy with it, it becomes a confusing disaster. You have to be responsible for keeping things organized, or it’ll make studying harder, not easier.
If you love using flashcard apps like Quizlet or Anki that use spaced repetition (showing you cards right when you’re about to forget them), Notion doesn’t have that built in. You can create quizzes manually, but it takes more work and isn’t as smart about timing.
All your Notion notes are stored online on their company’s computers, not just on your device. While it’s generally safe, this might matter if you’re worried about privacy or if you’re working on really important research.
It depends. If you keep your Notion setup simple and focus on using it for actual studying, yes. But if you spend hours perfecting templates and trying every feature, you’re wasting time that could’ve been spent learning.
Not always. Notion is great for subjects with lots of notes and connections (like history, English, or biology). But for math-heavy classes where you need to write equations and draw diagrams, a notebook and pencil might be faster and easier.
Different, not necessarily better. Some research shows that writing by hand helps you remember better than typing. But Notion’s search function and ability to link ideas can help in ways paper never could. The best choice depends on how you learn.
Notion isn’t magic, and it’s definitely not for everyone.
It won’t automatically make you a better student. If you’re disorganized in general, Notion will just become a digital version of your messy backpack. And if you spend more time decorating your Notion pages than actually studying, you’re completely missing the point.
But here’s when Notion actually works:
When you use it as a learning tool, not just a pretty notebook. When you:
Notion can genuinely improve your studying, but only if you use it wisely. It’s not hype it’s leverage. The question isn’t whether Notion works, but whether you’ll work with it the right way.
Think of it like a gym membership. Having one doesn’t make you fit. But if you actually show up and use it properly, it can help you reach your goals. Notion is the same way it’s a powerful tool, but you’re the one who has to do the actual work.
Yes! Notion offers a free plan for students with extra features. You just need to sign up with your school email address.
Yes, there’s an app for both iPhone and Android. However, it works better on computers and tablets because there’s more screen space.
If you keep it simple, maybe 30 minutes to an hour. But some students spend days or weeks perfecting their setup (which might be too much time).
Maybe, but probably not completely. You might still want specialized apps for things like flashcards (Quizlet) or complex math problems (calculator apps).
You can export all your notes as files, but you’d lose the fancy organization and connections. It’s smart to back up important stuff.
It depends on what you need. Google Docs is simpler and better for writing papers. OneNote is better for handwritten notes and drawing. Notion is better for organizing and connecting lots of information.
Not really, but it helps. If you can use social media apps and Google Docs, you can learn Notion. It just might take a little practice.
College Info Geek, 2023. How to use Notion for students. [online] Available at: https://collegeinfogeek.com/notion-for-students [Accessed 1 October 2025].
Super, 2023. How to use Notion as a student effectively: The complete guide. [online] Available at: https://super.so/blog/how-to-use-notion-as-a-student-effectively-the-complete-guide?[Accessed 1 October 2025].
Notion Avenue, 2023. Is Notion good for students? [online] Available at: https://www.notionavenue.co/post/notion-good-for-students? [Accessed 1 October 2025].
Medium, 2023. Is Notion overhyped? A balanced look at its pros & cons. [online] Available at: https://medium.com/@xpl0itu/is-notion-overhyped-a-balanced-look-at-its-pros-cons-8d355bc4a9cc? [Accessed 1 October 2025].
Ace Project, 2023. Top 10 cons/disadvantages of using Notion software. [online] Available at: https://www.aceproject.com/blog/top-10-cons-disadvantages-of-using-notion-software-9387815/ [Accessed 1 October 2025].
The Business Dive, 2023. Notion review. [online] Available at: https://thebusinessdive.com/notion-review [Accessed 1 October 2025].
UX Planet, 2023. Why I stopped using Notion: An honest UX review. [online] Available at: https://uxplanet.org/why-i-stopped-using-notion-an-honest-ux-review-ebf03e268a01 [Accessed 1 October 2025].
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