When Microsoft Loop first launched, I was one of the people who didn’t really take it seriously. It wasn’t until I started giving Notion alternatives a real shot this year that I realized Loop is a serious contender. I often hear it referred to as “another failed Microsoft experiment”, and I can see why some would think so. But the way I see it is that it’s supposed to be a little minimal and stripped-down; that’s exactly why I’ve been reaching for it more and more, until it eventually replaced Notion for me.

The case against Notion

It’s not the be-all and end-all of productivity tools

I don’t think Notion is a bad tool overall; there are just better options out there that fill in the gaps of Notion’s shortcomings. Its flexibility and capability are also its downsides, in my opinion, because it can easily become too cluttered to navigate. Another issue I have is that my pages slow down with large amounts of data, or the entire thing snaps out of place when I add just one line or divider.

Databases are another double-edged sword. They’re powerful, but they also introduce a lot of overhead for simple information. Even basic tables bring properties and views that need to be constantly managed. So for quick notes or distraction-free work, this can feel overwhelming and over-structured after a certain point.

What is Microsoft Loop?

An underrated note-taking and project management tool

Before diving into the ways Microsoft Loop replaced Notion for me, let me give the rundown of what it actually is. Loop is a browser-based workspace that’s built around structured pages and reusable components. You can use it for quick notes, long-form drafts, tasks and to-do lists, project management, progress tracking, and much more.

Loop’s interface is a big part of what makes it so appealing to me. The app isn’t cluttered with a bunch of features I’ll never use, and the folder and page layout is very easy on the eyes. It’s built for anyone who needs a space to write or take notes, and needs a way to organize them quickly. It’s also especially comfortable if you live in your browser like I do, since the web app is fully-featured yet very lightweight.

Components replace databases

There’s no need to wrangle heavy structures

Notion is often associated with databases because it popularized the unique approach of combining note-taking with project management. But it’s also what gives the app overhead. Over time, simple lists can turn into complex systems you have to regularly maintain.

Microsoft Loop solves this with its Components. Instead of central databases, it lets you turn any piece of content on any page into a component. This can be a text block, table, image, checklist, or anything else. And by turning it into a component, you can drop it not only wherever you want in Loop, but also share it across the Microsoft 365 suite.

Components are live and updated in real-time across every page they’re on, so you only need to make the change once to have it reflect in the rest of the workspace. And whatever content you turned into a component remains exactly as it is; tables, lists, and text blocks don’t turn into database entries.

Yes, I don’t get as much advanced control as I did with Notion’s databases. But components are much faster and lighter to work with. I actually have a couple of pages in Loop that solely serve as my “component hubs” - they keep track of all my project changes with an immediate visual overview.

Loop handles images better

It’s better for work with visual assets

One of my favorite things about Loop is that I can literally just drag images from my browser into a page. Given that I primarily use Loop in my browser alongside my design studies, this eliminates all the friction points of exporting and embedding, and it only takes two seconds.

Whenever I come across assets like gradients, icons, logos, and any other illustrations that I either want to use in my projects or just keep for inspiration, I drag them into Loop. They don’t break my page setups and are a great addition to my design notes.

Loop has easier organization features

It’s more organized than Notion

Notion doesn’t implement a mandatory folder hierarchy, so much of your file and folder organization falls on you. I can appreciate the flexibility this gives users, but it’s one more thing to manage. Microsoft Loop gives you a pre-organized folder structure to work with.

You’ve got your workspace (and you can create as many of them as you want), with notes in the left panel, and each note can be split into subnotes. It’s similar to how I organize my documents on my PC, which keeps things familiar and dependable.

Loop wins because it’s simpler

Notion is by no means lackluster, but that’s also the exact reason it started to lose me. At the end of the day, I don’t need to spend more time managing my work than actually doing the work, which is why I’m always going to opt for the simpler choice. Loop hits the perfect middle ground of minimal yet feature-rich.