AppFlowy vs AFFiNE: Which to Self-Host?
Quick Verdict
AppFlowy is the more mature and stable choice for a self-hosted Notion replacement. It has a more polished desktop client, better database features, and a more established community. AFFiNE is more ambitious — combining documents and whiteboards — but is still in active development with rougher edges. Choose AppFlowy for production use today; watch AFFiNE for the future.
Overview
AppFlowy is an open-source Notion alternative focused on documents and databases. Desktop and mobile clients sync through AppFlowy Cloud (self-hostable). Features include rich text documents, database views (table, kanban, calendar, grid), and workspace collaboration.
AFFiNE is an open-source platform combining Notion-style documents with Miro-style whiteboards. Any page can switch between document mode and whiteboard mode. Features include block editing, infinite canvas, database views, and real-time collaboration.
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.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AppFlowy | AFFiNE |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Rich text with blocks | Rich text with blocks |
| Databases | Table, kanban, calendar, grid | Table, kanban |
| Whiteboards | No | Yes (infinite canvas) |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Rust-based (Flutter, polished) | Electron-based |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android | Limited (web responsive) |
| Self-hosted server | AppFlowy Cloud (multi-service) | AFFiNE Server (multi-service) |
| Authentication | GoTrue (email, OAuth) | Built-in (email, Google OAuth) |
| Offline support | Yes (local-first) | Yes (local-first) |
| AI features | Built-in AI assistant | Built-in AI features |
| Storage | PostgreSQL + S3 | PostgreSQL + local/S3 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Custom (AGPL for server) |
Installation Complexity
AppFlowy Cloud deploys as 5+ Docker services: API server, GoTrue (auth), PostgreSQL, Redis, and MinIO (object storage). Configuration involves cloning the deployment repo and editing a .env file. It’s complex but well-documented.
AFFiNE deploys as 3+ Docker services: AFFiNE server, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Slightly fewer services than AppFlowy, but the configuration is less documented for self-hosting.
Both require meaningful setup effort. Neither is a simple two-container deployment like BookStack or Trilium.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Resource | AppFlowy Cloud | AFFiNE |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (full stack) | 2-4 GB | 2-3 GB |
| CPU | Moderate | Moderate |
| Services | 5+ containers | 3+ containers |
| Min recommended RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
Similar resource profiles — both are resource-intensive multi-service deployments.
Community and Support
AppFlowy: ~60,000+ GitHub stars, active Discord, growing community, backed by a funded company. Regular releases and improving self-hosting documentation.
AFFiNE: ~45,000+ GitHub stars, active Discord, backed by a funded company. Rapid development with frequent releases, though self-hosting documentation lags behind the cloud version.
Both have strong community traction. AppFlowy has more focus on self-hosting. AFFiNE moves fast but breaks things.
Use Cases
Choose AppFlowy If…
- You want the most Notion-like experience in a self-hosted package
- Database views (table, kanban, calendar) are important
- You want polished native desktop and mobile apps
- You need a stable self-hosted deployment today
- Offline-first with sync matters
- You don’t need whiteboards
Choose AFFiNE If…
- You want documents + whiteboards in one tool
- Visual thinking and canvas-based work are part of your workflow
- You’re comfortable with beta-quality software
- You want to consolidate Notion + Miro into a single self-hosted app
- You primarily work in a web browser
Final Verdict
AppFlowy is the practical choice today. It covers Notion’s core features (docs + databases) in a more stable package with better self-hosting documentation and polished native apps. If you need a Notion replacement you can deploy and rely on, AppFlowy is ahead.
AFFiNE is the exciting choice for the future. The document + whiteboard combination is genuinely innovative. But the self-hosted experience has rough edges, mobile support is limited, and you’ll encounter bugs. If you’re willing to deal with beta software and want the most ambitious Notion alternative, AFFiNE is worth trying.
For production team use: AppFlowy. For personal experimentation: AFFiNE is worth a look.
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