The tools you use can make or break your team's success, especially when juggling the demands of growing startups or small to medium enterprises (SMEs). In 2026, two names that have emerged as top contenders for project management and collaboration are Notion and Height. But when it comes to ensuring smooth workflows, aligning team efforts, and navigating modern challenges, which tool reigns supreme for startups and SMEs? Let’s dive into a detailed comparison to help you choose the best project management tool tailored to your needs.
Why Project Management Tools Are Essential for Startups and SMEs
Startups often fail not because of bad ideas but due to disorganized execution and poorly managed workflows. In fact, over 60% of startups cite poor team coordination as a critical growth barrier. The right tools can tackle these challenges head-on by offering:
- Streamlined collaboration for dispersed teams.
- Flexible task organization to manage chaotic workloads.
- Integrations with other tech tools critical for business growth.
Both Notion and Height claim to address these pain points. But which one actually delivers?
Notion: Flexibility Meets Customization
Notion is often referred to as the Swiss Army knife of productivity tools, and quite rightly so. Its unique blend of note-taking, databases, and customization appeals to startups and creative teams looking for a single source of truth.
Key Features of Notion
- Customizable Workspaces: Build everything from Kanban boards to wikis to dashboards.
- All-in-one Solution: Integrate project management, content creation, and databases into one platform.
- Collaboration Tools: Shared task lists, mentions, and real-time updates ensure team alignment.
- Integration-Friendly: Connects with tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Trello.
Pros for Startups and SMEs
- Highly versatile, letting founders design systems tailored to unique workflows.
- Ideal for content-heavy teams or those managing knowledge bases (“second brain” for your startup).
- A scalable solution that grows as your team grows.
Potential Drawbacks
- The learning curve for new users can be steep.
- Heavy customization can sometimes lead to “too many options,” leaving teams overwhelmed.
- Built-in automations are limited, compared to other tools like Monday.com or ClickUp.
Want to explore how to integrate Notion seamlessly into your workflow? Learn more about Notion's benefits for startups and SMEs on Hello Ivy.
Height: Simplified Yet Effective for Team Collaboration
Where Notion leans on flexibility, Height stands out for its simplicity. Height focuses primarily on task management and collaboration, catering to teams that prefer straightforward workflows without the bells and whistles.
Key Features of Height
- Real-time Collaboration: With Kanban boards and chat functionality integrated into tasks, Height simplifies teamwork.
- Unlimited Free Plan: Perfect for startups with limited budgets, allowing unlimited users, guests, and tasks.
- Easy Onboarding: No steep learning curve, making it accessible to teams of all sizes.
- Excellent Task Visibility: Offers multiple views (lists, calendars, and Kanban) to stay on top of priorities.
Pros for Startups and SMEs
- The free plan ensures startups can experiment with the tool without upfront costs.
- Fewer distractions due to its focus on task management, making it great for execution-focused teams.
- Simplified UI encourages faster user adoption.
Potential Limitations
- Lack of advanced features for complex workflows or data-heavy projects.
- Fewer integrations compared to Notion, making it less suitable for startups reliant on multiple apps.
Looking to gauge whether Height can add focus to your startup’s projects? Check out this comprehensive review on Teamplate.
How to Choose: Know Your Startup or SME
The best project management tool depends on your team’s specific needs. Here’s a quick guide:
- For Creativity & Customization: If your team needs to manage creative, content-heavy, or knowledge-focused workflows, Notion is a perfect fit.
- For Simplicity & Execution: If you’re a lean team focused on execution and need budget-friendly task management, Height is your go-to.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Picking a Tool
- Skipping Validation: Don’t choose a tool just because it’s popular. Test it with small teams first.
- Overcomplicating Workflows: Tools like Notion can lure you into creating overly complex setups. Simplicity drives execution.
- Ignoring Scalability: Always consider whether your chosen tool can handle the demands of scale-up phases.
Leverage Marketing Early to Validate Your Idea
Regardless of which tool you choose, marketing is what validates your startup idea. It’s often a fatal mistake for founders to focus on building the product before testing whether there’s a market demand. Start experimenting with strategies like AI-driven SEO to bring visibility to your startup.
Pro Tip: Struggling to create SEO-perfect content built to rank in top AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity?
Use the AI SEO Writer Tool. With human oversight, it ensures high-quality content optimized not only for Google but also AI-driven platforms, perfect for startups aiming for scalable inbound marketing.
Conclusion: The Final Verdict
For startups and SMEs in 2026, Notion and Height both shine but cater to different kinds of users:
- Choose Notion if you need flexible, customizable setups that serve as a “second brain” for your team.
- Opt for Height if you value simplicity, focus, and cost-effectiveness for task prioritization and team collaboration.
Ultimately, the best project management tool is the one that aligns with your startup’s unique workflow, culture, and long-term vision. And remember: The tools don’t just manage tasks, they amplify your business journey.
Want more startup tips and tools? Explore Top Project Management Tools for Startups in 2026 on The Digital Project Manager.
Why wait? Equip your team with the right tools, and start tackling those growth milestones one sprint at a time!
FAQ on Notion vs. Height for Project Management in 2026
1. Which is better for startups: Notion or Height?
Notion is a versatile tool, ideal for creativity-heavy teams needing a customizable all-in-one workspace. On the other hand, Height offers simplicity with its straightforward task management and real-time collaboration. Learn more about Notion and Height.
2. Where can I submit a guest post about my startup?
If your startups needs to drive targeted traffic and build authority with high-volume, niche-relevant content placements in articles that rank well not only in Google, but also in Perplexity and ChatGPT, then you might want to publish your guest post in one of the F/MS Startup Game's blogs. Get a quality backlink
3. What makes Notion a good fit for creative workflows?
Notion's customizable workspaces, which include Kanban boards, wikis, and dashboards, make it an excellent choice for teams managing content-heavy projects or knowledge-based initiatives. Learn more about it on Hello Ivy's list of the 12 Best Task Management Tools.
4. Why is Height appealing for startups on a budget?
Height offers an unlimited free plan that includes users, guests, and tasks, making it a cost-effective choice for startups with tight budgets. For more insights, check Height's review on Teamplate.
5. What are the key drawbacks of using Notion?
Notion, while flexible, has a steep learning curve and may overwhelm users because of its numerous customization options. For details, explore points on Notion vs. Height.
6. Is Height better for execution-focused teams?
Yes, Height’s simple and distraction-free task management design aligns well with teams dedicated to execution and meeting milestones efficiently. Interested? Learn more at The Digital Project Manager.
7. Can I use AI to write SEO-optimized articles that help my brand grow?
Most business owners don't understand how SEO works, let alone how to use AI for writing blog articles. That's why for busy business owners there's a great free tool that doesn't require much knowledge. Write articles for free
8. Which tool scales better as teams grow: Notion or Height?
Notion’s extensive capabilities and integrations make it a better choice for scaling teams that need a wide range of features. Check it out on ClickUp Blog covering tool comparisons.
9. Are there any free alternatives to Notion and Height for startups?
Yes, tools like Asana and Basecamp offer free or affordable plans, but they don't provide the same level of flexibility as Notion or task focus as Height. Dive into a comparative analysis on Startups Savant.
10. Which platform is considered more user-friendly: Notion or Height?
Height’s simplified UI and easy onboarding process make it the more user-friendly option compared to Notion, which has a steeper learning curve. Explore its pros and cons on Buildin.AI.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
