How to Make a Flowchart in Notion: Step-by-Step Guide (+ Faster Alternative)

Notion has become the go-to workspace for teams that want to centralize their docs, wikis, and project management. But when you need a flowchart inside a Notion page, you'll quickly discover that Notion wasn't built as a diagramming tool. There are several ways to get flowcharts into Notion, each with different trade-offs. This guide covers all the practical approaches and helps you decide when to reach for a dedicated flowchart tool instead.

Why Use Notion for Flowcharts?

The main appeal is keeping everything in one place. If your team already uses Notion for documentation, project planning, and knowledge management, having flowcharts live alongside related content makes them easier to find and maintain. A process document with an embedded flowchart stays in context - there's no jumping between tools or hunting for the right file.

Notion's page structure also makes it natural to build living documents. You can put a flowchart above a detailed written description, link to related databases, and tag pages for easy search. When someone updates the process, they update both the text and the diagram in the same page.

Collaboration is built in. Team members can comment on the page, suggest changes, and view version history. For teams deeply invested in the Notion ecosystem, adding flowcharts to existing pages feels more natural than introducing a separate tool.

How to Create a Flowchart in Notion (Step-by-Step)

Method 1: Mermaid Code Blocks (Built-in)

Notion natively supports Mermaid, a text-based diagramming syntax that renders flowcharts from code. This is the most "Notion-native" approach.

Step 1: Create a Code Block

Type /code in your Notion page and select Code from the dropdown. A code block appears. Click the language selector in the top-right corner of the block and choose Mermaid.

Step 2: Write Your Flowchart Code

Type your flowchart using Mermaid syntax. Here's a practical example:

graph TD
    A[Start: Customer Request] --> B{Request Type?}
    B -->|Bug Report| C[Create Bug Ticket]
    B -->|Feature Request| D[Add to Backlog]
    B -->|Question| E[Check Knowledge Base]
    C --> F[Assign to Developer]
    D --> G[Product Review]
    E --> H{Answer Found?}
    H -->|Yes| I[Send Response]
    H -->|No| J[Escalate to Support]
    F --> K[Resolution]
    I --> K
    J --> K
    K[End: Request Resolved]

Notion renders this code as a visual flowchart directly in the page. You can use graph TD for top-down flow or graph LR for left-to-right.

Step 3: Customize the Diagram

Mermaid supports styling through inline syntax:

• [Text] for rectangular boxes
• {Text} for diamond decision nodes
• (Text) for rounded rectangles
• -->|Label| for labeled arrows
• --> for plain arrows

You can add style commands at the end of your Mermaid code to change colors, though the syntax can be tricky. For most use cases, the default styling is clean enough.

Step 4: Preview and Adjust

Notion renders Mermaid diagrams in real time as you type. If there's a syntax error, you'll see an error message instead of the diagram. Check for common issues: missing arrows, unclosed brackets, or duplicate node IDs.

Method 2: Embed an External Diagram

If Mermaid's text-based approach feels limiting, you can embed a flowchart from an external tool.

Step 1: Create Your Flowchart Externally

Build your flowchart in a dedicated tool like Flowova, Miro, or draw.io. Design and layout are handled by the external tool, giving you full visual control.

Step 2: Embed in Notion

Type /embed in your Notion page. Paste the share link from your external tool. Notion will render the embedded diagram inline. Some tools also support copy-pasting the image directly.

Alternatively, export your flowchart as a PNG or SVG and drag it into your Notion page. This creates a static image that won't update if the source changes, but it's the most reliable display method.

Method 3: Simple Diagram Block (Basic)

Notion offers a Simple Diagram block for basic visual layouts. Type /diagram or /simple diagram to insert one. This provides a minimal canvas where you can add shapes and connect them. It's suitable for very basic diagrams (3-5 elements) but quickly becomes limiting for real flowcharts.

Limitations of Notion for Flowcharts

• Mermaid is code, not visual editing: You define the flowchart in text syntax, not by dragging shapes. This is powerful for developers but unintuitive for most team members. Syntax errors are common and debugging Mermaid code is frustrating.
• No visual flowchart editor: Notion has no built-in drag-and-drop flowchart builder. You're limited to code-based diagrams or embedded external content.
• Limited styling control: Mermaid diagrams have basic styling. You can't freely choose colors, fonts, or spacing for individual elements without writing complex style definitions.
• No auto-layout intelligence: Mermaid generates layouts automatically, but you can't fine-tune positioning. Complex diagrams with many branches can produce messy, overlapping layouts.
• Static embeds require switching tools: When you embed external flowcharts, any edits require leaving Notion, opening the external tool, making changes, and re-embedding. This breaks the "everything in one place" benefit.
• No export: You can't export a Mermaid diagram from Notion as an image or PDF directly. You'd need to screenshot it or recreate it elsewhere.

A Faster Way: AI-Powered Flowcharts with Flowova

For teams that want visual flowcharts without writing code or leaving their workflow, Flowova offers a different paradigm. Instead of writing Mermaid syntax, you describe your process in plain English using the text-to-flowchart tool. Type "customer support escalation process" and get a complete, editable flowchart with proper shapes, decision branches, and professional layout.

The key difference is iteration speed. In Notion's Mermaid approach, adding a step means editing code and hoping the auto-layout still looks good. In Flowova, you click a node and add a step visually, and the layout adjusts automatically. When the flowchart is ready, export it as an image and embed it in your Notion page - you get the best of both worlds: a professional diagram living in your Notion workspace.

Notion vs Flowova: Quick Comparison

Feature	Notion	Flowova
Price	Free plan available	Free tier available
Flowchart method	Mermaid code / embed	Visual editor + AI
Visual editing	No (code-only)	Yes - drag and drop
AI generation	No	Yes - text to flowchart
Auto-layout	Mermaid auto (limited)	Smart auto-layout
Templates	None for flowcharts	Template library
Export formats	Screenshot only	PNG, SVG, JSON
Learning curve	Mermaid syntax required	Minimal
Collaboration	Comments on page	Real-time editor
Best for	Docs with inline diagrams	Dedicated flowcharts

When to Use Each Tool

Use Notion when your flowchart is a small part of a larger Notion page, your team is comfortable with Mermaid syntax, and the diagram is relatively simple (under 10 nodes with minimal branching). The Mermaid approach is also great for developers who prefer text-based workflows and want their diagrams version-controlled as code.

Use Flowova when you need a visual editor, when the flowchart has complex branching or many nodes, or when non-technical team members need to create and edit diagrams. Generate the flowchart with AI, refine it visually, export as PNG, and embed it in Notion. This gives you professional-quality flowcharts inside your Notion workspace without the Mermaid learning curve.

Related Resources

• How to Make a Flowchart - complete beginner guide
• Best AI Flowchart Generator 2026 - top tools compared
• Flowova vs Notion - detailed comparison
• Flowchart Symbols and Their Meanings - standard shape reference
• Try AI Text-to-Flowchart - create a flowchart in seconds