Note-taking apps are all the rage these days. While you may think of Evernote or Google Keep, there is Notion hogging all the limelight with its unmatched feature sets.
This did not get unnoticed at the Microsoft HQ. As a result, on May 23, 2023, they announced a collaborative app called Loop.
So, how does it hold up to Notion when it comes to the things you can do? Read on to find that in this article.
What is Microsoft Loop?
Microsoft Loop is an app designed to make collaborating with your co-workers easier. Well, Teams do serve the same purpose, right?
Actually, Teams is more focused on the communication between your colleagues. You can share files and create a dedicated workspace on a similar topic
Loop, on the other hand, makes it easier to share documents, tables, make plans, and so much more. Think of a single app that can handle all your management work in your organization. That’s what it is for.
Microsoft Loop was in private beta for a year before releasing to public beta. That means many features will be added as the developers test out the software even more.
Is Microsoft Loop Similar to Note-Taking Apps?
In some ways, yes. Let’s shed some light on that first.
Evernote or Google Keep focuses primarily on how you take notes. These are super useful when in a meeting or during a product launch. You can write quick notes using your keyboard or touchscreen. Jotting down your thoughts is what these apps excel at.
On the other hand, Notion takes these a step further. You can create tasks, manage projects, add lists, or edit documents of your colleagues at the same time. You can take notes, surely, but that is just one of its many other useful features.
Loop follows the same step as Notion. And its UI, too, looks very similar. I think the fonts are very close to what Notion uses. If you have used that before, you will feel right at home.
Features of Microsoft Loop
You can create and edit documents on Microsoft Loop. Word, Excel, and Powerpoint are some of the apps included with Office 365 that you can integrate with it. Once you create a document, your other co-workers can collaborate on the same document, just as you would do with Google Sheets. And you can see the action live from your loop homepage.
Apart from that, you can pin sections of a document or page from your workspace into any Microsft 365 app. Microsoft calls it Components, and it is super useful. And its contents will change as you add new items to it. Let’s say you made a list of movies to watch. As your colleagues add their favorite ones here, it will show up that way if you send it on a Teams chat thread.
There is also the option of creating tasks and to-do lists similar to Task and Planner on Microsft Teams. Once assigned to your group members, you can track the progress from Loop.
You also get separate workspaces to group your documents and tasks. This makes them easier to find and removes clutter when you work with a lot of pages.
Then you also have Copilot built in. That means you get the A.I benefit that Microsoft provides with its suite of Office 365 apps. It can be useful when looking for ideas or quickly generating some text.
How Does Microsoft Loop Compare to Notion?
When it comes to differences, one of the many advantages of Notion is integration with other applications. You can embed sections of these apps within your pages in notion by using third-party extensions. Since Notion has been around for a while, it can connect effortlessly with most apps.
Currently, Loop can only integrate with Office 365 apps. That is bound to change as Microsoft will implement future integrations with other apps as it did with MS Teams. To test this, I sent a loop component to a Teams chat. And it works flawlessly. Kudos to Microsoft for that.
Notion has a cool way to add components using the / command key. Once you get used to it, you can save quite a bit of time creating almost everything using it.
Loop approaches this similarly. But the options to add different types of items are not as comprehensive as Notion. I have used this, and this is how both applications look like.
Also, you cannot drag a page or database (as Notion calls them) from the sidebar to integrate them into a page. You need to copy the link into the page first, then select to turn it into a loop component.
Another weird thing I encountered is that if you copy the same loop twice (one should not do that though), it asks you to log in to view it. If you click it, it opens up on another tab on your browser. I don’t know if that is a feature or a bug right now.
Also, there are no dedicated items similar to databases in Loop. Yes, you do have tables, and you can create a to-do list or manage progress. But it is saved as a page that can be added as a loop component within a page. Notion’s databases, with its advanced calculation tools, are simply way ahead as of now.
Loop does not have a trash can where you can send discarded items. Instead, all deleted files are removed permanently. Once you delete something mistakenly, you cannot get it back easily.
As for security, MS Loop users are managed by an Office 365 Admin account. That means authentication is pretty secure, as you need the authenticator app to log in. Notion has beefy security measures, including Single Sign On (SSO), but to avail that, you need to look into its paid version.
If we take a look at pricing, Loop is bundled with an Office 365 account. That means you do not need to pay any extra till now. You can also access it using a free Microsoft account. Notion is free for personal use, which is great. For small groups, it is $8 per month, while business user needs to shell out 15 dollars per month to avail it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Loop similar to Notion?
Microsoft Loop is a collaborative tool that you can use to manage your individual or group projects. It contains all the apps you need to share and work on documents together. It even has an UI, that resembles Notion.
How much will Microsft Loop cost?
As of April 2023, Microsft Loop is in public beta phase. So, it is free to use right now with a Microsoft account or Office 365 subscription.
Conclusion
Long-time users of Notion may not be impressed with what Microsoft Loop has to offer. It has many features missing. Though, its biggest strength seems to be integration with Office 365.
So, would you give Loop a try? Do let us know what features you missed the most.
Until then, it is time to say goodbye.
