Notion vs Airtable vs Coda: Best for Job Search Dashboards (2025 Comparison)

Tracking job applications across multiple stages--applied, interviewing, offers--demands more than spreadsheets, especially for 10+ weekly submissions common among recent grads, career changers, or professionals managing side hustles (usesprout.com, 2025). Notion suits visual, simple setups with unlimited free pages; Airtable excels in database power for structured pipelines; Coda fits advanced formulas and automations. If you're drowning in unacknowledged apps (35% per usesprout.com, 2025), an organized dashboard keeps momentum alive. Recent grads or career switchers often apply to dozens weekly amid ghosting and scattered job boards. Skip this if you prefer dedicated Chrome extensions like Teal or Huntr for job board auto-capture.

Tool Picker: Which Job Search Dashboard Wins for You?

Notion for visual Kanban under 50 apps/month if you're low-tech comfort; Airtable for database-heavy tracking of 50+ apps with automations; Coda for formula-driven workflows if you handle complexity.

Airtable's views like Kanban and gallery support pipelines (whalesync.com), while Notion lacks true database depth (whalesync.com). Coda pulls dynamic info across docs (community.coda.io, 2023 -- historical data). Don't use these if you need job board extensions--Teal auto-captures details (usesprout.com, 2025). Notion fits beginners; scale to Airtable or Coda for heavier loads.

Core Features for Tracking Job Applications

Job search dashboards thrive on databases for fields like company, salary, status (applied/interview/offer), plus views like Kanban for stage progression and conditional flags for aging apps.

Notion's board view mimics Trello or Jira--drag apps through stages, add properties for tech stack and salary (blog.andri.co). Airtable offers configurable multiple views--grid, calendar, gallery--for project-like tracking (airtable.com). Coda uses dynamic tables to pull applicant info, Zoom links, or names automatically (community.coda.io, 2023 -- historical data).

These enable triggers like flagging stalled apps, similar to conditional formatting. Notion led one user to 4 offers through organized workflow (blog.andri.co); Coda's browser extension lags, capturing only URLs (community.coda.io, 2023 -- historical data). Notion fits beginners; scale to Airtable or Coda for advanced needs.

Free Templates and Starters Available

Start with free tiers: Notion's job tracker and portfolio templates (scale.jobs, 2025; notioneverything.com). Airtable's recruiting pipeline and project tracker (softr.io; airtable.com). Coda's applicant tracking and job board docs (community.coda.io, 2023 -- historical data; softr.io).

Airtable limits you to 1K records per base on free (airtable.com); Notion has no such caps. Templates speed setup across tools, matching your visual or data needs.

Pricing and Free Tiers Breakdown (2025)

Freemium models favor solo job hunters: Notion's free tier offers unlimited pages, blocks, and file uploads (www.notion.so/pricing). Airtable free includes unlimited bases but 1K records per base and 100 automation runs per month (airtable.com; airtable.com/pricing); Personal ~$4/mo annual (historical data, 2020 -- market conditions may have changed; builtonair.com). Coda free caps at 10MB files, 50 objects, 1K rows per doc (zapier.com).

Solo users stick free; teams need paid for advanced permissions. Sources vary on "unlimited"--Notion truly scales free, Airtable record-limits bind heavy use. Free tiers work for most hunters; upgrade only for teams.

Pros, Cons, and When to Choose Each for Job Hunting

Notion: Visual docs and community templates shine for personal CRM-like tracking, but weak on formulas (whalesync.com; appypieautomate.ai, 2025). Pick this for quick visual boards if you're managing under 20 apps; not for complex calculations.

Airtable: Top no-code database with automations and views, though rigid UI (efficient.app; whalesync.com). Ideal for pipeline pros tracking 50+; pair with Zapier for full power, skip if you need pure PM features.

Coda: Superior integrations (1,600+ apps), AI, formulas over Notion, but mobile lags (appypieautomate.ai, 2025; zapier.com). Choose this for dynamic hunts; avoid if you prioritize intuitive UI--Notion wins on ease (zapier.com).

Recent grad? Notion's simplicity works as a CRM (medium.com, 2019 -- historical data). Match the tool to your volume and skills for best fit.

Step-by-Step: Build Your Job Search Dashboard

Focus on Notion (adaptable to others) for 20-50 apps per month: visual, free, fast. Use this checklist with criteria:

1. Property: company (text) - source: blog.andri.co.
2. Property: salary (currency), status (select: applied/interview/offer/rejected), tech stack (multi-select), notes (page) - source: blog.andri.co.
3. Add Kanban view: Group by status, drag cards - source: blog.andri.co.
4. Template pages: Per-app linked notes for follow-ups and reminders (@reminders) - source: blog.andri.co.
5. Flag aging: Use formulas or manual sorts for stalled apps - source: cvanywhere.com, 2025.
6. Dashboard: Embed views, link portfolio (scale.jobs, 2025).

Airtable adds automations (getint.io); Coda adds buttons and formulas (community.coda.io, 2023 -- historical data). Builds take around 30 minutes.

Evidence Pack

Real-User Workflows and Limitations

One hunter tracked apps in Notion's board, landing 4 offers through stage management (blog.andri.co). Airtable pipelines mimic recruiting tools (airtable.com; softr.io). Coda docs dynamically pull interview links (historical data, 2023; community.coda.io).

Solo tech-savvy users thrive; beginners hit Notion's formula walls, Airtable needs Zapier for PM depth (efficient.app). With 35% of apps ghosted, flags matter, but for advanced PM? Use dedicated ATS (usesprout.com, 2025). Low-skill users lean Notion.

Apply This to Your Job Hunt

• Track under 20 apps per month? Pick free Notion.
• Need 50+ with automations? Airtable.
• Formulas and AI for networking CRM? Coda.
• Tech comfort low? Start with a Notion template.

FAQ

How do free Notion job tracker templates compare to Airtable's?
Notion's are visual and portfolio-focused, unlimited free (scale.jobs, 2025; notioneverything.com); Airtable's are pipeline-focused but hit a 1K record limit (softr.io; airtable.com).

What's the easiest Kanban setup for job applications in these tools?
Notion: New database > board view grouped by status (blog.andri.co). Airtable and Coda work similarly, but Airtable offers more configuration (airtable.com).

Does Coda beat Notion for job search automations?
Yes, with 1,600+ integrations and formulas versus Notion's basic options (appypieautomate.ai, 2025), though Notion has an easier UI (zapier.com).

Are there limits on free tiers for tracking 50+ applications?
Notion: None. Airtable: 1K records per base. Coda: 50 objects per doc (getint.io; zapier.com).

Can I use Airtable as a personal CRM for networking during job hunts?
Yes, like Notion but with a stronger database--track contacts and views with automations (efficient.app; medium.com, 2019 -- historical data).

Test Notion's free template (notioneverything.com) with your last 5 apps.