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Experiment OS vs Notion
Notion is excellent for docs, wikis, and flexible bases. Experiment tracking needs a lifecycle, statistical rigour, and iteration. Things Notion doesn’t enforce. Here’s when Notion is enough and when you need purpose-built.
When Notion works
For a light experiment log, a simple backlog in a database, or a team that runs a handful of tests a year, Notion can work. You get flexibility, nice UI, and integrations you may already use. If you don’t need Bayesian analysis, iteration chains, or structured decision documentation, a well-designed Notion setup can get you by. The limit shows when the programme grows and you need rigour.
Where Notion falls short for CRO programmes
- Lifecycle: Research to hypothesis to experiment to result to decision. Notion can represent it, but you build and maintain the structure. It doesn’t enforce or guide the workflow.
- Statistical analysis: No Bayesian analysis, stopping rules, or uncertainty. You’d need another tool or to build it. Experiment OS bakes it in so you can’t p-hack or declare winners too early.
- Iteration chains: “What we tried, what we learned, and what we did next” is first-class in Experiment OS. In Notion it’s relations and templates you design, and they break when people skip steps.
- Revenue and ROI: Finance-ready revenue modelling with conservative adjustments isn’t something you want to build in Notion. We built it for decision-time impact and programme-level reporting.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Notion | Experiment OS |
|---|---|---|
| Experiment lifecycle (research to hypothesis to test to decision) | ||
| Bayesian statistical analysis | ||
| Iteration chains (what you tried, what you learned, what you did next) | ||
| Revenue modelling at decision time | ||
| Flexible docs, wikis, project boards | ||
| Templates, databases, no-code | ||
| Setup time | Weeks to design and maintain | Minutes |
When you need purpose-built
If you’re running a proper CRO programme (multiple tests, research feeding hypotheses, decisions that need to be documented, and leadership asking for ROI), a purpose-built tool saves time and reduces errors. Experiment OS understands the workflow, enforces the structure, and gives you Bayesian analysis and revenue modelling without building them in Notion. Notion is great for many things. It just wasn’t built for this.