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Notion vs AppFlowy

A side-by-side look at Notion (the paid SaaS) and AppFlowy (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

Notion AppFlowy
Tagline All-in-one workspace for notes, docs, and databases. Open source alternative to Notion, built in Rust, and Flutter.
License Proprietary SaaS AGPL-3.0
Pricing Free tier; paid from $10/user/month. Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 3/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) Yes
Desktop apps Varies by product Windows, macOS, Linux
Mobile apps Official apps typically available iOS, Android
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

The closest visual and feature clone of Notion's blocks and databases.

AppFlowy strengths

  • Familiar Notion-style blocks and databases.
  • Local-first desktop app for privacy.
  • Active development and growing plugin ecosystem.

AppFlowy weaknesses

  • Newer project — some Notion features still missing.
  • Real-time collaboration is still maturing.
  • Mobile apps lag behind desktop.

What's the catch with Notion?

  • Data lives on someone else's server; sensitive notes feel exposed.
  • Slow on large workspaces and offline support is limited.
  • Export options for full workspaces are clunky.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to Notion: see Notion alternatives, or learn more about AppFlowy on its project page.

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Recommended reading

The real monthly cost of a Notion workspace at scale

Add-ons, seats, AI credits, storage. What a mid-sized team actually pays for Notion once you count everything — and what switching saves.

When self-hosting goes wrong: seven failure modes and how to avoid them

An honest retrospective on the ways self-hosted setups break — not in theory, but in practice — and the small habits that prevent most of them.

Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?

Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.