Notion works well. But it’s closed source, cloud-dependent, and your data lives on their servers. For privacy-conscious users, that’s a problem.

Two open source alternatives solve this: Anytype and AppFlowy. Both store data locally. Both let you own your information. But they approach the problem differently.

I’ve used both for real projects. Here’s what actually matters.

The Core Philosophy Divide

Anytype positions itself as a “personal knowledge base” with peer-to-peer sync. It’s built for individuals who want complete control over their data without sacrificing collaboration entirely.

AppFlowy aims closer to Notion’s all-in-one workspace vision. It targets teams and power users who need databases, kanban boards, and structured project management—with the freedom to self-host.

That difference shapes everything.

Data Ownership & Privacy

Both deliver. Differently.

Anytype stores everything locally. Your data sits on your device, encrypted. Sync happens peer-to-peer or through Anytype’s cloud—your choice. Their cloud uses end-to-end encryption they can’t read.

AppFlowy stores locally too, but pushes self-hosting harder. Run your own server for team collaboration. Full infrastructure control. Appeals to organizations with compliance requirements.

Winner: Tie — Anytype for individuals wanting simplicity; AppFlowy for teams needing control.

Features & Functionality

Anytype’s Approach

Anytype uses objects. Everything—notes, tasks, books, people—is an object. Objects connect through relations. You get a knowledge graph like Obsidian, but with structure.

Strengths:

Limitations:

AppFlowy’s Approach

AppFlowy copies Notion. Pages, blocks, and database views with multiple layouts.

Strengths:

Limitations:

Winner: AppFlowy — For raw feature count, especially databases and project management views.

Performance & Offline Experience

Both work offline. Anytype does it better.

Anytype loads instantly. Data’s already there. No sync delays. Mobile works great—create anywhere, sync later.

AppFlowy works offline too, but shows sync indicators sometimes. Desktop is solid. Mobile needs polish.

Winner: Anytype — Cleaner offline experience.

Collaboration & Sharing

Big difference here.

Anytype added collaboration recently. Limited. You can share spaces, but real-time co-editing isn’t the focus. Built for personal use first.

AppFlowy builds collaboration in from the start. Self-hosted instances support multiple users, permissions, workspace sharing. Designed for teams.

Winner: AppFlowy — Better for teams.

Pricing & Open Source Status

Anytype is free for personal use. Unlimited objects and devices. They’ll charge for team features later—not for personal use.

AppFlowy is completely free. Open source. No paid tiers. No restrictions. They make money through enterprise support and managed hosting.

Both are genuinely open source. Audit the code. Fork it. Self-host.

Winner: AppFlowy — Completely free.

Learning Curve & Onboarding

Anytype has a learning curve. Objects, types, relations—it’s confusing at first. Once you get it, it’s powerful. But you have to get it.

AppFlowy feels familiar if you’ve used Notion. Pages, blocks, slash commands. Translates directly. Database features add complexity, but you can ignore them at first.

Winner: AppFlowy — Easier to start.

Use Case Recommendations

Choose Anytype if:

Choose AppFlowy if:

The Verdict

No universal winner. Depends on your needs.

Anytype wins for individuals. Better privacy. Smoother mobile. Interface stays out of your way. Trade-off: fewer features, especially databases.

AppFlowy wins for teams. Database functionality rivals Notion. Self-hosting gives control. Trade-off: steeper setup, mobile needs work.

Individuals starting fresh? Anytype. Teams leaving Notion? AppFlowy.

Both beat Notion on privacy. Both have smaller ecosystems. But either beats surrendering your data.

Last updated: April 12, 2026

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