Top 10 Free Documentation Templates

Say goodbye to scattered, outdated documentation. It's easy to create seamless documentation processes with Notion's easy-to-use templates for policies, research findings, and creative briefs.

What Should Documentation Templates Include?

Choosing the right documentation template in Notion can streamline your project management and ensure all necessary information is easily accessible. Here are key components to look for:

Comprehensive Index: A good template should have a well-organized index that allows users to quickly navigate through different sections of the documentation.
Integration Capabilities: Ensure the template can seamlessly integrate with other tools and platforms you're using, enhancing its utility without complicating the workflow.
Customization Options: It should offer flexibility to modify layouts, add or remove sections, and adapt to the specific needs of your project or team.
Collaborative Features: Look for templates that support real-time collaboration, allowing team members to contribute simultaneously and track changes efficiently.

Selecting a documentation template with these features will help maintain clarity and consistency across your projects, making management tasks more straightforward and less time-consuming.

What Should Documentation Templates Avoid?

Choosing the right documentation template in Notion can streamline your workflow and ensure clarity. However, some features might complicate or clutter your process. Here are three key components to steer clear of:

Overly Complex Structures: Templates with too many nested pages or intricate linking can be confusing and hinder navigation. Opt for simplicity to enhance user experience.
Excessive Use of Widgets: While widgets can add functionality, too many can slow down your document's performance and distract from the main content. Prioritize essential widgets only.
Generic Content: Avoid templates filled with placeholder texts that don’t relate to your specific needs. Customizable fields are preferable, allowing for more tailored documentation.

Ultimately, the best Notion documentation template is one that balances functionality with ease of use, helping you to maintain focus and efficiency in your projects.

1Docs

Organize and keep track of documents shared across your team. You can define and apply tags to indicate who the stakeholders are, deadlines, document type, and more. Add additional database properties as you see fit, find everything easily, and filter to focus only on specific doc types or authors.

This is especially helpful for recording company processes and publishing product or design specs in a way where many people can comment, contribute, and reference them going forward.

2Game Design Document

A ready to use template for your next game design document. Containing high level details and detailed document templates such as story, gameplay, technical requirements, and asset.

A template preview for Game Design Document

3Standard operating procedure

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a detailed document that delineates the step-by-step processes and operational guidelines crucial to your company’s tasks and activities. SOPs, serving as comprehensive procedure templates and process manuals, are invaluable for bolstering consistency and operational efficiency across various functions—from management SOPs to financial SOPs. These documentation standards provide clear, actionable instructions ensuring that all departments uphold quality and compliance in their performance.

A template preview for Standard operating procedure

4Technical Documentation

This Notion template is a robust guide designed for both new users looking to get started and experienced administrators seeking advanced configuration options for your application. With a user-friendly table of contents, this template provides a detailed walkthrough of key aspects, ensuring users can make the most of your application.

A template preview for Technical Documentation

5Standard operating procedure (SOP)

Developing standard operating procedures allows you and your team to carry out business processes faster and more accurately. Use this template to make working asynchronously easier and have a searchable record of procedures ready for your next new-hire.

A template preview for Standard operating procedure (SOP)

6Project proposal

Create a professional proposal when starting a new project, ready to share with your team and client. It helps you gather all the relevant content and can be easily sent to agencies, freelancers, and clients.

7API Docs

API documentation templates make it easier for individuals, teams, and companies to share and understand how APIs work. This helps people work together, speeds up development, and reduces problem-solving time. Clear documentation boosts productivity and makes applications using the APIs better.

8Simple Standard Operating Procedure

Streamline your team's efficiency with Notion's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) template. Perfect for creating comprehensive procedure templates, operational guidelines, and process manuals, this tool sets the bar for documentation standards. Whether for performance SOPs, management SOPs, security SOPs, or financial SOPs, it ensures best practices are clearly defined and accessible.

A template preview for Simple Standard Operating Procedure

9Development project report

This template allows all stakeholders in a development project to track the design, development, current status, and delivery of a software project. It can easily be connected to databases for development tickets, meeting notes, and other items related to the project.

A template preview for Development project report

10UX Project Structure

This template provides the perfect starting point for a New UX Project. Use the structure proposed in it to start documenting your project and slowly unpack the design problem space you're solving for.

A template preview for UX Project Structure

Closing Thoughts

Utilizing these templates streamlines your documentation process, saving you time and effort. They are designed to be intuitive, ensuring you maintain consistency and clarity in your records.

Start implementing these tools today to enhance your project management and team collaboration. Their adaptability allows you to customize each template to fit your specific needs, making your workflow more efficient.

What is a Docstring?

A docstring is a string literal specified in source code that is used to document a specific segment of code. Unlike regular comments, docstrings are retained throughout the runtime of the program.

What is an API Documentation?

API documentation is a deliverable that provides comprehensive information about how effectively to utilize and integrate with an API. It's a concise reference manual containing all the information required to work with the API.

What is a Knowledge Base?

A knowledge base is a centralized repository for information: a public library, a database of related information about a particular subject intended to provide self-service support for end-users.