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NocoBase adds an AI knowledge base retrieval API, connecting no-code workflows to external knowledge sources.
Alternatives · project management tools
NotePlan alternatives
The best NotePlan alternatives in project management tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Sep 16, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to NotePlan? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in project management tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, NotePlan shipped 0 meaningful updates in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 5.0 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About NotePlan
NotePlan keeps opening its notebook to outside writers: plugins, MCP agents, now Apple Reminders.
Two product lines ship in parallel. Memo AI reaches 1.3 with redesigned summaries carrying richer formatting, speaker labels for conversations, iCloud sync across devices and font themes — the first release to make a recording's transcript legible as a conversation rather than a block of text. On the main app, 3.21.2 remains the most recent, adding a two-way Apple Reminders integration via @remind, Space backups with restore, and calendar boards grouped by time frame.
Velocity 5.0 · Last update 21d ago
Top 12 alternatives to NotePlan
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
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Rize pivots from solo time tracker to agency operations platform with invoicing, profitability reporting, and a ChatGPT integration.
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Aha! ships MCP connectors for Elle and opens Builder to 3,000+ integrations, deepening AI product workflows
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Tracecat hits 1.0 RC with open-source agent presets, agent-case @mentions, and 20+ new security integrations.
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SmartSuite ships viewer-interactive linked record filters and conditional automation branching in rapid succession.
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Asana embeds AI into Slack threads and closes the rich-text gap with Notion
COLLAB
Hive is building shared AI automation infrastructure into the core of its PM platform.
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Atarim cuts AI action costs 40% and plugs in live SEO search data, tightening the value case for its agency AI.
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My Hours launches a Claude MCP connector, making AI-driven time logging a first-class workflow
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Fibery's Custom Apps go GA, completing its turn from work tracker to embedded app platform
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Papertrail's most significant product change in years: a rebuilt checklist engine with conditional logic and structured sections, launched September 2026.
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OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.
NotePlan vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NotePlan (baseline) | 5.0 | 0 | plugin-platformmcpapple-ecosystem | — |
| NocoBase | 8.8 | 2 | no-codeai-workflowsknowledge-base | v2.3.0-beta.8 |
| Rize | 8.8 | 2 | time-trackingagenciesinvoicing | Rize Is Now an Official ChatGPT Partner |
| Aha! | 8.8 | 2 | product-managementai-assistantmcp | Connect AI applications created with Aha! Builder to 3,000+ tools |
| Tracecat | 7.5 | 2 | security-automationsoarmcp | Tracecat 1.0.0-rc.1 |
| SmartSuite | 7.5 | 1 | project-managementautomationsno-code | Linked Records: Dynamic Filters |
| Asana | 6.3 | 0 | project-managementai-integrationenterprise-compliance | 🎉 @mention Asana in Slack to create tasks and get answers |
| Hive | 6.3 | 0 | project-managementai-automationworkflow | — |
| Atarim | 6.3 | 1 | web-agencyai-automationseo | AI actions 40% cheaper, SEO gets live search data |
| My Hours | 6.3 | 1 | time-trackingmcpai-native | My Hours MCP for Claude |
| Fibery | 6.3 | 0 | work-managementcustom-appsmcp | August 13, 2026 / Custom Apps, See how each change was made (UI, API, automation, AI) |
| Papertrail | 6.3 | 1 | asset-managementinspectioncompliance | Papertrail launches conditional checklist logic — rebuilt from scratch |
| OpenProject | 6.3 | 1 | project-managementmcpai-integration | OpenProject 17.8.0 |
The 12 best NotePlan alternatives, in depth
1. NocoBase · velocity 8.8
NocoBase adds an AI knowledge base retrieval API, connecting no-code workflows to external knowledge sources.
Over the last 30 days NocoBase shipped 2 meaningful updates vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “v2.3.0-beta.8”. Its velocity score of 8.8/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, NocoBase focuses on no code, ai workflows and knowledge base.
Over the last 30 days NocoBase has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
2. Rize · velocity 8.8
Rize pivots from solo time tracker to agency operations platform with invoicing, profitability reporting, and a ChatGPT integration.
Over the last 30 days Rize shipped 2 meaningful updates vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “Rize Is Now an Official ChatGPT Partner”. Its velocity score of 8.8/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Rize focuses on time tracking, agencies and invoicing.
Over the last 30 days Rize has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
3. Aha! · velocity 8.8
Aha! ships MCP connectors for Elle and opens Builder to 3,000+ integrations, deepening AI product workflows.
Over the last 30 days Aha! shipped 2 meaningful updates vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “Connect AI applications created with Aha! Builder to 3,000+ tools”. Its velocity score of 8.8/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Aha! focuses on product management, ai assistant and mcp.
Over the last 30 days Aha! has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
4. Tracecat · velocity 7.5
Tracecat hits 1.0 RC with open-source agent presets, agent-case @mentions, and 20+ new security integrations.
Over the last 30 days Tracecat shipped 2 meaningful updates vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “Tracecat 1.0.0-rc.1”. Its velocity score of 7.5/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Tracecat focuses on security automation, soar and mcp.
Over the last 30 days Tracecat has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
5. SmartSuite · velocity 7.5
SmartSuite ships viewer-interactive linked record filters and conditional automation branching in rapid succession.
Over the last 30 days SmartSuite shipped 1 meaningful update vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “Linked Records: Dynamic Filters”. Its velocity score of 7.5/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, SmartSuite focuses on project management, automations and no code.
Over the last 30 days SmartSuite has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
Full SmartSuite trajectory → · Compare NotePlan vs SmartSuite →
6. Asana · velocity 6.3
Asana embeds AI into Slack threads and closes the rich-text gap with Notion.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “🎉 @mention Asana in Slack to create tasks and get answers”.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Asana focuses on project management, ai integration and enterprise compliance.
Asana and NotePlan have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
7. Hive · velocity 6.3
Hive is building shared AI automation infrastructure into the core of its PM platform.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Hive focuses on project management, ai automation and workflow.
Hive and NotePlan have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
8. Atarim · velocity 6.3
Atarim cuts AI action costs 40% and plugs in live SEO search data, tightening the value case for its agency AI.
Over the last 30 days Atarim shipped 1 meaningful update vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “AI actions 40% cheaper, SEO gets live search data”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Atarim focuses on web agency, ai automation and seo.
Over the last 30 days Atarim has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
9. My Hours · velocity 6.3
My Hours launches a Claude MCP connector, making AI-driven time logging a first-class workflow.
Over the last 30 days My Hours shipped 1 meaningful update vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “My Hours MCP for Claude”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, My Hours focuses on time tracking, mcp and ai native.
Over the last 30 days My Hours has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
10. Fibery · velocity 6.3
Fibery's Custom Apps go GA, completing its turn from work tracker to embedded app platform.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “August 13, 2026 / Custom Apps, See how each change was made (UI, API, automation, AI)”.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Fibery focuses on work management, custom apps and mcp.
Fibery and NotePlan have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
11. Papertrail · velocity 6.3
Papertrail's most significant product change in years: a rebuilt checklist engine with conditional logic and structured sections, launched September 2026.
Over the last 30 days Papertrail shipped 1 meaningful update vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “Papertrail launches conditional checklist logic — rebuilt from scratch”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, Papertrail focuses on asset management, inspection and compliance.
Over the last 30 days Papertrail has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
Full Papertrail trajectory → · Compare NotePlan vs Papertrail →
12. OpenProject · velocity 6.3
OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.
Over the last 30 days OpenProject shipped 1 meaningful update vs NotePlan's 0, most recently “OpenProject 17.8.0”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where NotePlan leans on plugin platform, mcp and apple ecosystem, OpenProject focuses on project management, mcp and ai integration.
Over the last 30 days OpenProject has been shipping faster than NotePlan — a point in its favour if release momentum matters to you.
Full OpenProject trajectory → · Compare NotePlan vs OpenProject →
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to NotePlan?
The top NotePlan alternatives we currently track in project management tools are NocoBase, Rize, Aha!, Tracecat, SmartSuite, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of NotePlan alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare NotePlan directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with NotePlan" link to a side-by-side /compare page.