AppFlowy vs Affine: Which Notion Alternative to Self-Host?

Quick Verdict

AppFlowy is the better choice for most self-hosters who want a Notion replacement that works reliably today. It has stronger database features, polished native apps on desktop and mobile, and a more stable self-hosted deployment. AFFiNE is the pick if you specifically need integrated whiteboards alongside documents — but expect rougher self-hosting docs and fewer database view options. Choose AppFlowy for production use; choose AFFiNE if whiteboards are non-negotiable.

Updated March 2026: Verified with AppFlowy v0.11.4 and AFFiNE v0.26.3 Docker configurations.

Overview

AppFlowy (68,000+ GitHub stars) is an open-source Notion alternative focused on documents and databases. Built with Rust and Flutter, it offers desktop and mobile clients that sync through AppFlowy Cloud (self-hostable). Core features: rich text documents, database views (table, kanban, calendar, grid), workspace collaboration, and a built-in AI assistant. Current desktop release: v0.11.4 (Mar 2026), self-hosted backend: AppFlowy Cloud v0.9.64.

AFFiNE (64,000+ GitHub stars) is an open-source platform combining Notion-style documents with Miro-style whiteboards. Any page can switch between document mode and whiteboard mode — this is its defining feature. Built with TypeScript, it offers block editing, infinite canvas, database views, and real-time collaboration. Current self-hosted release: v0.26.3 (Feb 2026).

Both aim to replace Notion. AppFlowy focuses on doing Notion’s core features well. AFFiNE tries to go beyond Notion by adding visual whiteboard capabilities. If you’re also considering Outline or BookStack, see our note-taking roundup.

Feature Comparison

Feature	AppFlowy	AFFiNE
Documents	Rich text with slash commands, blocks, toggles	Rich text with slash commands, blocks
Database views	Table, kanban, calendar, grid, checklist	Table, kanban
Whiteboards	No	Yes (infinite canvas with shapes, connectors, sticky notes)
Whiteboard-doc linking	N/A	Yes — embed docs in canvas, link canvas to pages
Real-time collaboration	Yes (via AppFlowy Cloud)	Yes (WebSocket-based)
Desktop app	Flutter (Rust backend) — fast, low memory	Electron — heavier, cross-platform
Mobile app	Native iOS and Android	Web-based responsive (no native app)
Self-hosted server	AppFlowy Cloud (5+ services)	AFFiNE Server (3+ services)
Authentication	GoTrue (email, OAuth, SAML)	Built-in (email, Google OAuth)
Offline support	Yes (local-first, CRDT sync)	Yes (local-first, CRDT sync)
AI features	Built-in AI assistant (summarize, translate, improve)	Built-in AI (similar capabilities)
Storage backend	PostgreSQL + S3/MinIO	PostgreSQL + local filesystem or S3
API access	REST API + WebSocket	REST API
Plugin/extension system	Plugin marketplace (growing)	Limited
Import from Notion	Built-in importer (pages, databases, nested)	Markdown import only
Export formats	Markdown, JSON	Markdown, HTML
License	AGPL-3.0	Custom (AGPL for server, MIT for editor)

Docker Setup Comparison

Both apps require multi-service Docker deployments. Neither is a quick single-container setup.

AppFlowy Cloud

AppFlowy Cloud deploys as 5+ services. Clone the deployment repository and configure via .env:

services:
  appflowy-cloud:
    image: appflowyinc/appflowy_cloud:0.9.64
    ports:
      - "8025:8025"
    environment:
      - APPFLOWY_ENVIRONMENT=production
      - APPFLOWY_DATABASE_URL=postgresql://appflowy:changeme@postgres:5432/appflowy
      - APPFLOWY_REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379
      - APPFLOWY_S3_BUCKET=appflowy
      - APPFLOWY_S3_REGION=us-east-1
      - APPFLOWY_S3_ACCESS_KEY=minioadmin         # Change for production
      - APPFLOWY_S3_SECRET_KEY=minioadmin          # Change for production
      - APPFLOWY_S3_USE_MINIO=true
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
      - minio
      - gotrue
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - appflowy-net

  gotrue:
    image: appflowyinc/gotrue:0.13.1
    environment:
      - GOTRUE_JWT_SECRET=your-jwt-secret-here     # Change this
      - DATABASE_URL=postgresql://appflowy:changeme@postgres:5432/appflowy
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - appflowy-net

  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: appflowy
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: changeme    # Change to a strong random password
      POSTGRES_DB: appflowy
    volumes:
      - appflowy-pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - appflowy-net

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - appflowy-net

  minio:
    image: minio/minio:RELEASE.2024-12-18T13-15-44Z
    command: server /data --console-address ":9001"
    environment:
      MINIO_ROOT_USER: minioadmin       # Change for production
      MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD: minioadmin   # Change for production
    volumes:
      - appflowy-minio:/data
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - appflowy-net

volumes:
  appflowy-pgdata:
  appflowy-minio:

networks:
  appflowy-net:

Five services minimum: API server, GoTrue (auth), PostgreSQL, Redis, MinIO. Well-documented with an official deployment guide.

AFFiNE Self-Hosted

AFFiNE deploys as 3 services — fewer containers, but self-hosting docs are thinner:

services:
  affine:
    image: ghcr.io/toeverything/affine-graphql:v0.26.3
    ports:
      - "3010:3010"
    environment:
      - NODE_OPTIONS="--import=./scripts/register.js"
      - AFFINE_CONFIG_PATH=/root/.affine/config
      - DATABASE_URL=postgresql://affine:changeme@postgres:5432/affine
      - REDIS_SERVER_HOST=redis
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
    volumes:
      - affine-config:/root/.affine/config
      - affine-storage:/root/.affine/storage
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - affine-net

  postgres:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: affine
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: changeme    # Change to a strong random password
      POSTGRES_DB: affine
    volumes:
      - affine-pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - affine-net

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - affine-net

volumes:
  affine-config:
  affine-pgdata:
  affine-storage:

networks:
  affine-net:

Three services: AFFiNE server, PostgreSQL, Redis. Simpler stack but less documented — expect to check GitHub issues for setup troubleshooting.

Setup Complexity Comparison

Aspect	AppFlowy	AFFiNE
Containers required	5+	3
Configuration files	`.env` (well-documented)	Environment vars (less documented)
Object storage	MinIO required	Local filesystem or optional S3
Auth setup	GoTrue (separate service)	Built-in
Time to first login	15-30 minutes	10-20 minutes
Official deployment docs	Comprehensive	Sparse
Update process	Pull new images, restart	Pull new images, run migrations

Neither is a simple two-container deployment like BookStack or Trilium. If setup complexity is a dealbreaker, consider Outline — it’s the easiest Notion alternative to self-host.

Whiteboard Deep Dive

AFFiNE’s whiteboard is its strongest differentiator. Here’s what it actually offers:

AFFiNE whiteboard features:

Infinite canvas with freeform drawing
Shapes, connectors, sticky notes, text boxes
Embed document pages directly into the canvas
Switch any page between doc mode and canvas mode
Frame-based presentation mode (like a lightweight slide deck)
Real-time collaboration on the canvas

What AppFlowy offers instead:

No whiteboard or canvas feature at all
Focuses on structured views: table, kanban, calendar, grid
If you need visual brainstorming alongside AppFlowy, pair it with Excalidraw (separate deployment)

The practical impact: If your workflow involves mapping ideas visually before writing them up, AFFiNE lets you do both in one tool. Teams doing product planning, brainstorming sessions, or visual documentation benefit most. If you work purely in text and structured data, whiteboards add nothing — AppFlowy’s stronger database features matter more.

Performance and Resource Usage

Resource	AppFlowy Cloud	AFFiNE
RAM (full stack, idle)	2-4 GB	1.5-3 GB
RAM (10 active users)	4-6 GB	3-5 GB
CPU (idle)	Low (Go + Rust)	Low-moderate (Node.js)
Disk (application)	~2 GB (with MinIO)	~1 GB
Containers	5+	3
Min recommended server RAM	4 GB	4 GB
Desktop app memory	~150-300 MB (Flutter)	~400-800 MB (Electron)

AppFlowy’s Rust/Go backend is more memory-efficient per user. AFFiNE’s Node.js server uses more baseline memory. On the desktop side, AppFlowy’s Flutter client is noticeably lighter than AFFiNE’s Electron app — especially on older hardware.

For a single-user self-hosted setup, both run fine on a 4 GB VPS or a Raspberry Pi 5 with adequate storage.

Migrating from Notion

If you’re coming from Notion, migration smoothness differs significantly between the two.

AppFlowy Notion Import

AppFlowy has a built-in Notion importer that handles:

Pages with nested subpages (preserves hierarchy)
Database views (tables, kanban boards)
Relations between databases
Inline content (images, embeds, callouts)
Toggle blocks and synced blocks

How to migrate: In AppFlowy, go to Settings → Import → Notion. Authenticate with your Notion account, select workspaces/pages, and AppFlowy pulls them in. Most workspaces import cleanly. Databases with complex formulas or rollups may need manual cleanup.

AFFiNE Notion Import

AFFiNE only supports Markdown import. The migration path:

Export from Notion (Settings → Export → Markdown & CSV)
Import Markdown files into AFFiNE

What you lose: Database views, relations, nested page structure (flattened), inline databases, synced blocks, and any Notion-specific formatting. You get the text content but lose the structure.

Migration Verdict

For Notion migration, AppFlowy is dramatically better. The built-in importer preserves most of your workspace structure. AFFiNE’s Markdown-only import means significant manual restructuring after import.

Self-Hosting Maturity

Both are actively developed pre-1.0 software. Here’s where their self-hosting maturity stands in March 2026:

Aspect	AppFlowy	AFFiNE
Self-hosting since	2023 (AppFlowy Cloud)	2023
Deployment docs	Comprehensive (dedicated guide, .env template)	Sparse (community-contributed, GitHub issues)
Update stability	Low breaking changes, bi-weekly releases	Higher churn, weekly releases with occasional breaks
Database migrations	Handled by AppFlowy Cloud service	Requires running migration script before each update
Backup documentation	PostgreSQL + MinIO volumes, documented	PostgreSQL + storage volumes, less documented
Multi-user production	Designed for teams (GoTrue auth, SAML, OAuth)	Designed for individuals/small teams
AI features (self-hosted)	Supports external AI providers (OpenAI, local LLMs)	AI features cloud-only for now
Plugin system	Growing marketplace (AppFlowy-Plugins repo)	Planned but not yet available

Bottom line: AppFlowy’s self-hosting is more production-ready. The documentation, update stability, and auth system are designed for team deployment. AFFiNE’s self-hosting works for individuals but requires more troubleshooting and carries higher update risk.

Community and Support

Metric	AppFlowy	AFFiNE
GitHub stars	68,000+	64,000+
Release cadence	Bi-weekly	Weekly
Self-hosting docs quality	Good (dedicated deployment guide)	Sparse (community-contributed)
Discord community	Active, responsive team	Active, responsive team
Funding	Backed by funded company	Backed by funded company
Breaking changes frequency	Low (stable releases)	Higher (fast iteration)
Plugin ecosystem	Growing marketplace	Limited

Both have strong communities and corporate backing. AppFlowy’s edge is stability and self-hosting documentation. AFFiNE moves faster but ships breaking changes more often — expect occasional migration headaches between versions.

Use Cases

Choose AppFlowy If…

You want the closest Notion-like experience in a self-hosted package
Database views (table, kanban, calendar, grid) are essential to your workflow
You need polished native desktop and mobile apps
You want a stable self-hosted deployment you can rely on daily
Offline-first with reliable sync matters for your team
You don’t need whiteboards or can use Excalidraw separately
You’re migrating a team from Notion and need smooth import

Choose AFFiNE If…

You need documents + whiteboards in one tool (this is the deciding factor)
Visual thinking, brainstorming, and canvas-based work are core to your workflow
You want to consolidate Notion + Miro into a single self-hosted app
You’re comfortable with beta-quality self-hosting docs
You primarily work in a web browser (no need for native mobile)
You’re a solo user or small team that can tolerate occasional update issues

Final Verdict

AppFlowy is the better Notion replacement for most self-hosters. It covers Notion’s core features (docs + databases + four view types) in a more stable package with better self-hosting documentation and polished native apps on every platform. The database features alone — calendar view, grid view, checklist view — put it ahead for anyone organizing projects or tasks. Deploy it, import your Notion workspace, and it works.

AFFiNE wins on exactly one thing: whiteboards. If your workflow requires visual brainstorming alongside documents — product planning, architecture diagrams, mind maps — AFFiNE’s infinite canvas is genuinely useful and Notion doesn’t offer it at all. But the self-hosted experience has rougher edges, there’s no native mobile app, database views are limited to table and kanban, and you’ll hit documentation gaps during setup.

Our recommendation: AppFlowy for teams. AFFiNE for solo users who need whiteboards. If you just want something that works and don’t care about whiteboards, AppFlowy every time.

FAQ

Can I run both AppFlowy and AFFiNE on the same server?

Yes. They use different ports (AppFlowy: 8025, AFFiNE: 3010) and can share the same PostgreSQL instance with separate databases. On a 4 GB server, running both is tight — 8 GB recommended if you want both stacks simultaneously. A reverse proxy handles routing each to its own subdomain.

Which is more stable for daily use?

AppFlowy. It ships fewer breaking changes between releases, and the Flutter-based desktop apps are polished and reliable. AFFiNE iterates faster but ships breaking changes more frequently — expect occasional rough edges after updates. For a team relying on notes daily, AppFlowy’s stability matters.

Which has better mobile apps?

AppFlowy has native iOS and Android apps that sync through AppFlowy Cloud. They’re fast and offline-capable. AFFiNE’s mobile experience is web-based — functional but noticeably slower than a native app, with no offline support. If mobile access matters, AppFlowy has a clear edge.

Which is better for visual thinkers?

AFFiNE. Its integrated whiteboard connects directly to documents — any page switches between document mode and infinite canvas mode. You can embed doc pages into the canvas, draw connectors between ideas, and present frames like slides. AppFlowy has zero whiteboard functionality. If you need visual brainstorming alongside AppFlowy, deploy Excalidraw separately.

Can I import my data from Notion?

Both support Notion import, but the experience differs significantly. AppFlowy has a built-in Notion importer that handles pages, databases, relations, and nested content — most workspaces import cleanly. AFFiNE only supports Markdown import, so you’d export from Notion as Markdown first, losing database views and relations. For Notion migration, AppFlowy is much smoother.

Which uses fewer server resources?

AFFiNE’s stack is lighter (3 containers vs 5+) and uses slightly less RAM at idle. But AppFlowy’s Rust/Go backend is more efficient per user under load. For a single user, the difference is negligible — both run on a 4 GB VPS. For 10+ users, AppFlowy scales better due to its compiled backend.

Can I use either with LDAP or SSO?

AppFlowy supports SAML and OAuth through GoTrue, making it easier to integrate with existing identity providers. AFFiNE supports Google OAuth and email authentication out of the box but lacks SAML support for self-hosted deployments. For enterprise SSO requirements, AppFlowy is ahead. Consider pairing either with Authentik or Authelia for centralized auth.

Are these production-ready for a team of 20+?

AppFlowy Cloud is designed for team use and handles 20+ users well with proper resource allocation (8+ GB RAM, dedicated PostgreSQL). AFFiNE can work for small teams but its self-hosting documentation and update stability make it riskier for larger deployments. For 20+ users, AppFlowy is the safer bet. For 50+, also evaluate Outline which has the most mature team collaboration features.

How do AppFlowy and AFFiNE compare to Notion?

Both replicate Notion’s core document + database model. AppFlowy is closer to Notion’s feature set — it has four database view types (table, kanban, calendar, grid), nested pages, relations, and a built-in Notion importer. AFFiNE goes beyond Notion by adding whiteboards but has fewer database features (table and kanban only). Neither matches Notion’s third-party integrations ecosystem yet. For a complete breakdown of Notion alternatives, see our Replace Notion guide.

Do either support offline mode?

Yes — both are local-first. AppFlowy stores data locally and syncs when connected to AppFlowy Cloud. It works fully offline and resolves conflicts via CRDT when back online. AFFiNE also uses local-first CRDT sync, but offline mode is more reliable on the desktop app than through the browser. For truly offline-first usage, AppFlowy’s native Flutter apps handle it more gracefully.

Can I self-host the AI features?

AppFlowy supports connecting to external AI providers (OpenAI, or local LLMs like Ollama) from your self-hosted instance. You configure the AI provider endpoint in AppFlowy Cloud’s environment variables. AFFiNE’s AI features are currently cloud-only — the self-hosted version doesn’t include them. If self-hosted AI is important, AppFlowy is the only option.

Which is better as a personal wiki?

For a personal knowledge base, both work but face strong competition from dedicated wiki tools. AppFlowy’s database views make it better for structured note-taking (project trackers, reading lists, CRM-style databases). AFFiNE’s whiteboard mode is useful for mind mapping and connecting ideas visually. However, for a pure wiki experience with better search, linking, and organization, consider BookStack (simplest), Outline (most polished), or Trilium (most flexible for personal use). See our note-taking roundup for the full comparison.