RocketMVPRocketMVP
Inspired by Notion

Build a Notion Alternative MVP

Create a collaborative workspace for notes, docs, and project management.

5-7 months
Development Time
$35,000 - $70,000
Estimated Cost

Problem Solved

Flexible workspace that combines docs, databases, and project management for teams with specific needs.

Target Audience

Teams wanting simpler alternatives
Privacy-focused organizations
Specific workflow needs
Industries needing compliance

Core MVP Features

1
Rich text editor with blocks
2
Nested pages and folders
3
Database views (table, kanban, calendar)
4
Real-time collaboration
5
Page templates
6
Basic sharing and permissions
7
Search across workspace
8
Comments and mentions

How to Differentiate

  • Simpler, more focused experience
  • Better offline support
  • Industry-specific templates
  • Self-hosted option
  • Better API for developers

Revenue Models

Freemium with usage limitsPer-member monthly pricingEnterprise plansSelf-hosted licensesTemplate marketplace

Technical Requirements

Block-based rich text editor
Real-time collaboration (CRDT or OT)
Flexible database engine
File storage
Full-text search
Offline sync

Key Success Metrics

Workspaces createdPages created per userWeekly active usersCollaboration ratio (multi-user edits)Paid conversion rate

Success Stories

Coda

Doc-meets-spreadsheet alternative

$360M raised

Craft

Beautiful, Apple-focused Notion alternative

$10M raised

Slite

Simpler, async-first knowledge base

$16M raised

Frequently Asked Questions

Is building a block editor hard?

Use existing libraries like TipTap, ProseMirror, or Editor.js. Building from scratch takes months. Libraries get you 80% there quickly.

How do you handle real-time collaboration?

Use CRDTs (Yjs) or Operational Transform. Yjs is popular for modern editors. Its complex but libraries handle the hard parts.

Can I compete with Notion free tier?

Not on features. Compete on simplicity, performance, specific use cases, offline, or privacy. Find what Notion does poorly for your audience.

Ready to Build Your Notion Alternative?

We'll help you launch an MVP in 21 days for $3,999. Get a production-ready product, not just a prototype.

Start Building

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