AFFiNE vs AppFlowy: Open-Source Notion Clones
Quick Verdict
AppFlowy is the safer choice for self-hosting today. Its desktop app is polished, it works well offline, and the server component — while complex — is functional. AFFiNE is more experimental: it combines documents, whiteboards, and databases in a unified workspace, but the self-hosted version is pre-1.0 and prone to breaking changes. If you need a working Notion alternative now, go with AppFlowy. If you want to experiment with a more ambitious vision, try AFFiNE.
Overview
AppFlowy is a Notion alternative built with Rust (backend) and Flutter (frontend). It offers a block-based editor with databases (grid, kanban, calendar views), nested documents, and a native desktop experience. Self-hosting uses AppFlowy Cloud — a multi-service stack with GoTrue auth, PostgreSQL, Redis, and MinIO.
AFFiNE is a workspace that merges docs, whiteboards, and databases into one tool. The editor supports block-based writing similar to Notion, but adds an infinite canvas (whiteboard) mode where blocks can be freely positioned. It’s built with TypeScript/React and uses PostgreSQL and Redis for the self-hosted backend.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AFFiNE | AppFlowy |
|---|---|---|
| Editor type | Block-based + whiteboard canvas | Block-based (Notion-like) |
| Databases / tables | Yes (basic) | Yes (grid, kanban, calendar) |
| Whiteboard / canvas | Yes (infinite canvas) | No |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Offline support | Yes (local-first) | Yes (local-first) |
| Native desktop app | Electron | Flutter (native) |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Markdown support | Import/export | Import/export |
| Templates | Yes | Yes |
| Slash commands | Yes | Yes |
| AI features | Built-in (optional, cloud) | Plugin-based |
| Authentication | Built-in | GoTrue (built-in) |
| Docker deployment | Moderate (3 services) | Complex (5+ services) |
| Resource usage | 1-2 GB RAM | 2-4 GB RAM |
| Maturity | Pre-1.0, expect breaking changes | Pre-1.0, more stable server |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
Installation Complexity
AFFiNE’s self-hosted deployment requires the AFFiNE GraphQL server, PostgreSQL, and Redis. The official Docker Compose is relatively straightforward, but the self-host-predeploy script must run before the server starts (handles database migrations). Configuration is mostly environment variables. The deployment is simpler than AppFlowy Cloud.
AppFlowy Cloud requires more services: API server, GoTrue (auth), PostgreSQL, Redis, and MinIO (S3-compatible object storage). You clone the official repo, configure .env files, and run docker compose. More moving parts means more potential failure points, but the setup process is documented.
Performance and Resource Usage
AFFiNE is lighter on resources — ~1-2 GB RAM for the full stack. The web interface is responsive, though the whiteboard canvas can get slow with many blocks.
AppFlowy Cloud uses 2-4 GB RAM due to the additional services (especially MinIO). The Flutter desktop app is fast and native-feeling, which compensates for the heavier server footprint.
Community and Support
AppFlowy has a larger community (50,000+ GitHub stars) and more active development pace. Documentation for self-hosting has improved but still has gaps. The desktop app is the primary focus; the server component gets less attention.
AFFiNE has strong momentum (35,000+ GitHub stars) and an active team, but the project pivots frequently. Self-hosting documentation is sparse and often outdated between versions. The cloud-hosted version is the primary product; self-hosting is secondary.
Use Cases
Choose AFFiNE If…
- You want a combined document + whiteboard workspace
- Visual thinking and spatial organization matter to you
- You prefer a lighter server deployment (fewer services)
- You’re comfortable with pre-1.0 software and frequent updates
- You want MIT-licensed software
Choose AppFlowy If…
- You need Notion-like databases with grid, kanban, and calendar views
- A polished native desktop app matters more than web experience
- You want a larger community and more ecosystem momentum
- Database features are critical to your workflow
- You need a more functional offline experience
Final Verdict
Neither is fully production-ready for team use, but AppFlowy is closer. Its database features are more mature, the desktop app is more polished, and the project has more community momentum. AFFiNE’s whiteboard integration is genuinely unique — no other Notion alternative offers infinite canvas editing alongside structured documents — but the self-hosted version needs more time to stabilize. For personal use or small teams willing to tolerate rough edges, either works. For anything approaching production, consider Outline or BookStack instead.
FAQ
Are either of these ready for production team use?
Not fully. Both are pre-1.0 on the server side. AppFlowy’s desktop app is usable for personal productivity. For team knowledge bases, Outline and BookStack are more battle-tested.
Can I use both without self-hosting the server?
Yes. Both have cloud-hosted offerings and work as local-only desktop apps. Self-hosting is optional — useful for sync and collaboration, but not required for solo use.
Which handles Notion imports better?
Both support Markdown import from Notion exports, but neither preserves Notion databases, relations, or formulas. Documents and basic formatting transfer; structured data doesn’t.
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