eM Client
Notion Databases
| Feature | eM Client | Notion Databases |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $49.95/mo | Free / from $10/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses | startups, small-teams, project-managers, content-teams |
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| ✓ | ✗ | |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contacts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tables | ✗ | ✓ |
| Boards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Timelines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Galleries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Filters | ✗ | ✓ |
| Relations | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
✓ Notion Databases Pros
- Flexible views
- Relations
- Formulas
- Templates
✗ Notion Databases Cons
- Not a real database
- Slow at scale
- Limited querying
The Verdict
eM Client is built for professionals and windows users, with a focus on email and calendar. Notion Databases targets startups and small teams and leads with tables and boards.
On pricing, Notion Databases is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $10/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $39.95/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.