# AppFlowy vs AFFiNE

> Pick AppFlowy if you want a Notion-style workspace with native desktop and mobile apps; pick AFFiNE if you want docs and whiteboards merged in one self-hosted Community Edition.

## Verdict

AppFlowy's apps are fully open source, but its current self-hosted server comes from a closed-source commercial codebase with a limited free tier, so it is best for individuals or for teams willing to pay. AFFiNE combines docs, an edgeless whiteboard and databases, and its Community Edition server can be self-hosted, which makes it the better pick for a free self-hosted team workspace.

- Best for AppFlowy: Individuals who want a local-first Notion-like app with native mobile clients
- Best for AFFiNE: Teams that want docs plus whiteboards on a self-hosted Community Edition server

## Key differences

| Aspect | AppFlowy | AFFiNE |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apps are AGPL-3.0; the current self-hosted server is a closed-source commercial build with a free tier | Mostly MIT; server code is Community Edition (MPL-2.0) plus paid Enterprise Edition parts |
| Language/stack | Flutter (Dart) and Rust | TypeScript with BlockSuite editor and Rust CRDT components |
| Standout features | Databases with grid, board and calendar views, AI features, native performance | Docs and an edgeless whiteboard canvas fully merged, multi-view databases |
| Mobile apps | Official Android and iOS apps | Desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux; mobile support is newer and less mature |
| Self-hosting | Docker Compose from the AppFlowy-SelfHost-Commercial repo; free tier allows one user seat | Docker Compose for AFFiNE Community Edition, documented at docs.affine.pro |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | AppFlowy | AFFiNE |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 77,152 | 73,246 |
| Forks | 6,054 | 5,335 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 8 | 752 |
| Last commit | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| Latest release | 0.14.6 | v0.27.4 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT (client) and AFFiNE Enterprise Edition licence (server) |
| License type | Open source | Source-available |
| Language | Dart | TypeScript |
| Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | https://github.com/AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy | https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE |

App pages: [AppFlowy](https://appsgit.com/apps/appflowy), [AFFiNE](https://appsgit.com/apps/affine)

## FAQ

### Is AppFlowy still free to self-host?

The AppFlowy apps are open source, but the self-hosted server now ships from a closed-source commercial codebase. Its free tier includes one user seat per instance plus a few guest editors, and more seats need a paid plan.

### Is AFFiNE fully open source?

Most of the code is MIT licensed and the Community Edition server is MPL-2.0. Some server features fall under the AFFiNE Enterprise Edition license, which requires a subscription for production use.

### Which is the better Notion alternative?

For solo use with native apps, AppFlowy feels closest to Notion. For a self-hosted team space that also needs whiteboards, AFFiNE is the stronger choice.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/appflowy-vs-affine
Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly.
Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.