How to Migrate from Trello or Asana to Notion: Step-by-Step Guide

Migrating from Trello or Asana to Notion is faster than you think, and you'll gain a unified workspace that combines project management, databases, and automation in one place. This guide walks you through the exact process, whether you're moving a few boards or your entire operation.

Why migrate to Notion from Trello or Asana?

Notion offers something neither Trello nor Asana provides out of the box: a flexible all-in-one workspace. You can link databases across projects, build custom dashboards that pull from multiple sources, and automate workflows without leaving the platform. Founders and small teams especially benefit because Notion costs significantly less than running multiple tools while handling CRM, project tracking, documentation, and reporting simultaneously.

Trello users often hit the wall when they need to track metrics across boards. Asana users struggle with the cost-per-seat model as teams grow. Notion scales with you and costs the same whether you have 5 people or 50.

What data can you actually export from Trello and Asana?

Both platforms let you export your data, but the format matters for a smooth transition.

Trello exports: You can export individual boards as JSON or CSV files through the board menu (Power-Ups section). JSON preserves more structure, including card details, attachments, and comments. CSV gives you a flatter view but is easier to parse if you're doing manual cleanup.

Asana exports: Asana doesn't have a native bulk export, but you can export individual projects as CSV or use their API for programmatic access. The CSV includes task names, descriptions, assignees, and dates, but loses some relational data like subtask hierarchies.

The key limitation: neither tool exports perfectly into Notion's database format. You'll need to do some mapping and cleanup, which is why many teams use migration tools or templates.

Should you use an automated migration tool or do it manually?

This depends on your data volume and complexity.

Use an automated tool if: You have hundreds of cards/tasks, complex custom fields, or need to preserve all historical data and comments. Tools like Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), or specialized Notion migration apps can automate the process. The trade-off is cost and setup time.

Do it manually if: You have fewer than 50 active items, simple structures, or want to use the migration as an opportunity to clean up and reorganize. Manual migration also lets you redesign your system from scratch rather than replicating old workflows that might not suit Notion's strengths.

Step-by-step manual migration process

Step 1: Export your data. Download your Trello board as JSON or your Asana project as CSV. Keep the file somewhere accessible.

Step 2: Plan your Notion structure. Before importing anything, sketch out how your data will live in Notion. Will you have one database per project type, or one master database with filters? How will you handle status, priority, assignees, and dates? This planning step prevents messy imports you'll have to redo.

Step 3: Create your Notion databases. Build your database schema first. Add properties for task name, description, status, assignee, due date, and any custom fields you used in Trello or Asana. Use consistent property types (select for status, person for assignees, date for deadlines).

Step 4: Import or manually add your data. For smaller migrations, copy-paste your exported data into Notion's table view. For larger ones, use Notion's CSV import feature (create a new database and select import). Map your CSV columns to Notion properties during import.

Step 5: Verify and clean up. Check that all data imported correctly. Fix any formatting issues, missing dates, or misaligned assignees. This is tedious but critical for data integrity.

Step 6: Build your views and dashboards. Once data is clean, create the views you need: kanban boards for workflow stages, calendars for timelines, tables for detailed lists. Link related databases so you can see dependencies and rollups across projects.

Common migration mistakes to avoid

Don't import everything at once. Start with one project or board to test your process and catch issues early. Don't skip the cleanup phase. Messy data in Notion stays messy and defeats the purpose of consolidating tools. Don't replicate your old workflow exactly. Notion works differently than Trello or Asana. Use the migration as a chance to optimize how you work.

Make migration easier with a Notion template

If you're building a complete Mission Control system in Notion, starting with a pre-built template saves weeks of setup. The Hustle Productions Notion HQ template ($20) includes database structures, views, and dashboards designed specifically for founders managing multiple projects. If you want a fully customized build that integrates your specific workflows, the done-for-you Mission Control build ($500) includes data migration, custom automations, and CRM integration.

Migration to Notion takes 2 to 4 hours for a typical small team operation. The payoff is a unified workspace where all your business data lives in one searchable, automatable system.