Show Sourcing vs Notion for trade show notes
Notion is a popular workspace for notes, documents and simple databases. Some buyers keep show notes in it. Show Sourcing is built for one job: recording products, vendors and prices at trade shows, and comparing them afterwards.
Facts about Notion come from its pricing page, checked on October 20, 2026. See notion.com/pricing for current prices.
The short answer
- Choose Notion for team documents, meeting notes and planning, and for light product lists.
- Choose Show Sourcing when you need to capture a product at a booth in under a minute and later compare hundreds of quotes by price, MOQ and landed cost.
Side by side
| Show Sourcing | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A sourcing app for trade shows | A general workspace for notes, docs and databases |
| Price | $60 per seat for 6 months, or $102 per seat per year | Free; Plus $10 and Business $20 per member per month |
| Business card scan | Yes | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Price breaks, MOQ, price terms | Built in | Your own database properties |
| Landed cost with US tariffs | Built in | Not listed |
| Works offline on the show floor | Yes | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Search words printed in photos | Yes | Not listed |
| Documents and wikis | No | Yes, a core strength |
Where Notion is stronger
- Documents, wikis and planning. Use it for your show plan and your team's sourcing guidelines.
- Free plan for individuals.
- One place for many kinds of work.
Where Show Sourcing is stronger
- Speed at the booth. Photo, card scan and price in one step.
- Real numbers. Sort and filter by FOB, landed cost, MOQ and status.
- Landed cost with US tariffs and freight per unit.
- Vendors from cards, with every product they quoted on one page.
Use both
Plan the trip in Notion. Record the booths in Show Sourcing. Share a Show Sourcing Excel export in your Notion page after the show.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Notion for trade show sourcing?
Yes, for notes and simple product lists. It does not scan business cards or calculate landed cost, and you build the price fields yourself.
How much does Notion cost compared with Show Sourcing?
On October 20, 2026, Notion listed Free, Plus at $10 and Business at $20 per member per month. Show Sourcing costs $102 per seat per year or $60 per seat for 6 months.