First look at Microsoft Loop

While everyone is busy catching up with all the new releases in AI and deep learning domains, Microsoft launched a productivity tool in the market. After almost a year of beta testing, the company has made "Microsoft Loop" publically available. In this blog, let's take a first look at Microsoft Loop. 

Introducing: Microsoft Loop

Microsoft Loop is a new product from Microsoft that offers a more collaborative approach to note-taking and knowledge management than traditional note-taking software. It lets you think, plan, and create with your team to work efficiently.

Individuals can utilize Loop too. In a single workspace, you can organize everything you need for a project, such as files, links, data, notes, tasks, and more. You can also work in chat, meetings, or documents using Loop components, portable pieces of content that sync across apps in real time. For example, you can create a Loop table to track progress, a Loop note to brainstorm ideas, or a Loop list to assign tasks. You can edit these components inline from any app where they are shared, such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word for the web, Whiteboard, or the Loop app itself.

How does Loop differ from Notion?

Notion is another popular app that lets you create and flexibly organize your work. Loop is called a direct Notion competitor. However, there are some key differences between Microsoft Loop and Notion that you should know. Let's discuss some differences in this section.

The most critical factor that differentiates Loop from Notion is that Loop is designed specifically for collaboration and knowledge sharing. It is intended for businesses and features enterprise-grade security and compliance options. Whereas Notion's primary focus has an all-in-one workplace tool. This makes Loop an ideal choice for teams or individuals seeking a more streamlined knowledge-sharing and management approach.

Here are three more subtle differences between the two competitors:

1. Microsoft Loop components are portable and sync across apps in real-time. In contrast, Notion blocks are mostly confined to the app and require manual updates or exports to share with others.
2. Notion doesn't limit you to what you can embed on a page. At the same time, Microsoft only allows embedding content from other Microsoft products.
3. Notion offers built-in Kanban boards and databases; in Loop, you can only embed them from other products.
4. Notion is more flexible and customizable than Microsoft Loop.

Who should consider switching to Loop?

The users who would benefit most from using Microsoft Loop are those familiar with and using Microsoft Office products frequently. Microsoft Loop integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, making it easy for users to create and share content across these applications. Users who work collaboratively on projects will also benefit from using Microsoft Loop as it provides a centralized space for teams to share and co-author content.

Furthermore, users who prioritize organization and productivity will find value in Microsoft Loop's ability to create custom templates and track tasks within the platform. The ability to categorize content using tags and boards also aids in organization and ease of access.

Finally, users who appreciate a simplified and intuitive interface will enjoy Microsoft Loop's user-friendly design, which allows for a seamless onboarding experience and quick adoption of the platform compared to Notion's complex user interface.

Availability

Microsoft Loop is currently in Public Preview. You can try it today on their website. 

There are certain limitations that you must be aware of. The public preview has restricted the storage limit for work and school accounts to 5GB. Also, individuals can join only up to 5 workspaces. Additionally, only 50 members can join a workspace as of now.

Wrapping Up!

Microsoft Loop is a new app that aims to transform how teams collaborate and create. It combines a powerful and flexible canvas with portable components that stay in sync and move freely across Microsoft 365 apps.

It would be interesting to see how people react to this, whether they switch to Loop from Notion. The productivity-tool community will have eyes on Notion for the next few weeks. Notion could reply back with a new announcement soon.