How to Unify Tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in One List Without Migrating Data

Juggling multiple projects —whether as a freelancer, solopreneur, or small team— means constantly switching between tools like Notion, Linear, and Asana to check what’s been assigned to you. The problem isn’t just the time wasted jumping between tabs: it’s the risk of missing a critical task buried in one app while you’re focused on another. If you’re looking to unify tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in one list, without migrating data or abandoning the tools you already use, this guide explains how to do it step by step with Foco and its Plus Connections.

Why Centralize Tasks from Multiple Apps in One Place

The typical alternative is keeping each tool separate: you check Notion for one client, Linear for another, and Asana for a third. The issue arises when a Linear task is due today, but you’re deep into an Asana project. Or when a client mentions you in Notion, and you don’t see it until days later. Unifying tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in one list doesn’t mean abandoning these apps; it means having a single dashboard where you see everything that’s waiting for you, regardless of where it came from.

Foco doesn’t compete with these tools: it complements them. While Notion, Linear, or Asana are great for managing complex projects with teams, Foco is designed for people who handle multiple jobs at once and need a clear view of their personal tasks. For example, if you use Asana to collaborate with a client but also have personal tasks in Linear, Foco lets you see both in the same calendar or list, each with its own color and context.

What You Gain by Unifying Tasks in Foco

• See everything assigned to you in Notion, Linear, and Asana in one place, without opening each app.
• Each task retains its origin (you know if it’s from Notion, Linear, or Asana) and its context (deadline, priority, notes).
• Filter by due date, start date, or priority — something impossible if you check each tool separately.
• When you mark a task as done in Foco, it updates automatically in the original app (if you enable the option).
• Avoid the cost of migrating data or paying to duplicate information across platforms.

Centralizing isn’t about migrating: it’s about having a single control point without losing what already works in each tool.

Requirements to Unify Tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in Foco

Before you start, you’ll need:

• A Foco account with the Plus plan (20 EUR/month). Plus Connections are exclusive to this plan.
• Access to the Notion, Linear, and Asana accounts you want to connect (you must be the owner or have edit permissions).
• A few minutes to set up each connection (no technical skills required).

If you don’t have Foco yet, you can try the Free plan to get familiar with the interface before upgrading to Plus. The Free plan includes unlimited workspaces and tasks, but not Connections or email capture.

Step-by-Step: How to Connect Notion, Linear, and Asana to Foco

1. Access Plus Connections in Foco

Open Foco on desktop or mobile and go to Settings > Connections. Here, you’ll see the list of available tools: Notion, Linear, GitHub, Jira, Asana, and MCP servers. Each connection is set up separately, but the process is similar.

2. Connect Notion to Foco

Click on Notion and follow these steps:

• Log in to your Notion account when Foco prompts you (using OAuth, so you don’t enter passwords in Foco).
• Select which pages or databases you want to connect. Foco will pull in tasks where you’re mentioned or assigned.
• Choose a destination workspace in Foco: you can assign all Notion tasks to the same workspace (e.g., "Client X - Notion") or let the AI decide automatically based on the task content.
• Enable the "Complete also in the source" option if you want tasks marked as done in Foco to close or comment in Notion.

Example: If you’re assigned a task in Notion called "Review proposal," Foco will create it in the workspace you chose, with the original title, deadline, and notes. If you enabled two-way sync, completing it in Foco will mark it as done in Notion.

3. Connect Linear to Foco

Repeat the process with Linear:

• Authorize access to your Linear account (OAuth).
• Foco will pull in issues assigned to you in Linear.
• Choose a destination workspace (e.g., "Project Y - Linear") or let the AI decide.
• Enable two-way sync if you want tasks completed in Foco to close the issue in Linear.

Linear is great for software development, but if you work with multiple clients, it’s easy to lose track of which issues are urgent. In Foco, you can filter by priority or due date, something that requires navigating between projects in Linear.

4. Connect Asana to Foco

For Asana, the process is similar:

• Authorize access to your Asana account.
• Foco will pull in tasks assigned to you in Asana.
• Choose a destination workspace (e.g., "Client Z - Asana") or let the AI assign it.
• Enable two-way sync if you want tasks completed in Foco to mark as done in Asana.

Here’s a key difference with Asana: if you use Asana’s Free plan, you can only collaborate with up to 2 users. If you work with multiple clients, this can be a problem, as each client counts as an additional user. In Foco, collaboration is unlimited starting from the 4 EUR/month plan, with no seat minimums. Also, in Asana, you can’t see tasks from multiple projects in a single calendar without paying for the Starter plan (10.99 USD/user/month, with a minimum of 2 seats), whereas in Foco, the calendar is included from the 4 EUR/month plan.

How to Organize Unified Tasks in Foco

Once the apps are connected, Foco will automatically pull in tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana. But for this unification to be useful, you need to organize them. Here’s how:

1. Use Colors to Differentiate the Source

Each workspace in Foco has a color. Assign a different color to each connection (e.g., blue for Notion, green for Linear, red for Asana). This way, when you view the Overview (the view that shows all tasks), you’ll instantly know where each one came from.

2. Filter by Date or Priority

In the List view, you can group tasks by start date (when you’ll work on them) or due date (the deadline). This is useful if you have Linear tasks with tight deadlines and more flexible Asana tasks. You can also filter by priority (urgent, important, or normal) to focus on what’s critical.

3. Use Focus Mode to Concentrate

If you need to work only on tasks for one client or project, enter Focus mode: click on the corresponding workspace, and Foco will filter the board to show only its tasks. This avoids distractions and helps you apply techniques like [time blocking for multiple clients]( /p/time-blocking-for-freelancers-with-multiple-clients-how-to-avoid-overlaps-and-boost-productivity).

4. Complete Tasks and Sync with the Source

When you mark a task as done in Foco, if you enabled the "Complete also in the source" option, it will update in Notion, Linear, or Asana. This saves you from having to open each app to close tasks manually. For example, if you complete a Linear issue in Foco, it will close automatically in Linear.

What to Do If a Task Doesn’t Sync

Plus Connections in Foco update tasks every few minutes, but there may be delays or errors. If a task doesn’t appear in Foco:

• Verify that the task is assigned to you in Notion, Linear, or Asana (Foco only pulls in what’s assigned to you).
• Check that the connection is active in Settings > Connections.
• Try refreshing manually by clicking the refresh button.
• If the issue persists, disconnect and reconnect the app.

If a task disappears from Foco but remains in the original app, it may be because someone reassigned or deleted it. Foco doesn’t delete tasks on its own: it always reflects the current state of the connected tool.

Alternatives to Plus Connections: When They’re Not the Best Option

Plus Connections are ideal if:

• You use Notion, Linear, or Asana to collaborate with clients or teams but need a personal dashboard to manage your tasks.
• You don’t want to migrate data or pay to duplicate information across platforms.
• You need to see everything assigned to you in different apps in a single calendar or list.

However, there are cases where Plus Connections aren’t the best solution:

• If you only use one tool (e.g., only Asana) and don’t need to unify anything, Foco may be redundant.
• If you work in a large team where everyone uses the same app (e.g., everyone in Linear), Connections don’t add value, as the team already has a single source of truth.

In these cases, tools like Asana are more suitable for team project management. But if you handle multiple jobs at once —for example, one client in Notion, another in Linear, and personal tasks in Asana— Foco gives you the flexibility these apps don’t offer.

Conclusion: Unify Without Migrating, Work Without Distractions

Unifying tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in one list doesn’t require migrating data or abandoning the tools that already work for you. With Foco’s Plus Connections, you can centralize what’s assigned to you in each app, see it in one place, and update it without opening multiple tabs. This is especially useful if you work with multiple clients or projects, where context switching is the biggest enemy of productivity.

If you try this method, you’ll see it’s not about replacing Notion, Linear, or Asana, but complementing them with a personal dashboard where you decide what deserves your attention today. And the best part: if you switch tools in the future, Foco adapts without requiring you to migrate anything.

FAQ

Can I unify tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in Foco without paying for the Plus plan?

No. Plus Connections, which allow you to connect these apps, are exclusive to the Plus plan (20 EUR/month). Foco’s Free plan doesn’t include this feature, though it does allow you to create tasks manually and use list and kanban views.

What happens if I delete a task in Foco? Does it delete in Notion, Linear, or Asana too?

No. Foco doesn’t delete tasks in connected apps. If you delete a task in Foco, it will still exist in Notion, Linear, or Asana. Only the status updates (e.g., from "To Do" to "Done") if you enabled the "Complete also in the source" option.

Can I connect other apps besides Notion, Linear, and Asana?

Yes. Foco also allows you to connect GitHub, Jira, and MCP servers (like private GitLab instances). The process is similar to what’s described in this guide.

Do Plus Connections work on mobile?

Yes. Plus Connections are available on both the desktop and mobile versions of Foco. You can set them up and manage them from any device.

How do I prevent Foco from pulling in old tasks from Notion, Linear, or Asana?

Foco only pulls in tasks that are assigned to you and active at the time of the connection. If a task was already completed or archived in the original app, it won’t appear in Foco. If you want to exclude certain tasks, you can filter them in the connection settings.