Notion alternatives: 3 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
Notion, except the useful copy can live on your machine.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop or mobile installer, hosted signup, or Docker self-hosting
dataLocal app data stays in AppFlowy's application-data directory; self-hosted sync uses PostgreSQL and S3-compatible storage
the catch vs NotionIts database formulas, integrations, automation, publishing and real-time collaboration are less mature than Notion's.
setupNone for local use; self-hosting adds Docker, PostgreSQL, object storage, mail, HTTPS and backups
facts verified 2026-08-10
Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop or mobile package, or Docker
enginesOpenAI API or OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including locally hosted backends configured by base URL
dataWorkspace blocks are JSON .sy files with assets on disk; the project warns that ordinary sync-drive folders can corrupt the workspace
the catch vs NotionIt is much weaker for frictionless team collaboration, public sharing and polished relational databases than Notion.
setupThe app installs cleanly, but built-in cloud sync is paid and generic sync-folder services are explicitly unsafe
facts verified 2026-08-10
Notion and Miro had one child, then let it keep files locally.
licenseMIT
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop or mobile installer, hosted signup, or Docker self-hosting
dataLocal-first workspace data is stored on the device; self-hosted sync uses the configured server database and storage
the catch vs NotionIts databases, automations, integrations, sharing and collaborative polish are less mature than Notion's.
setupNone for the desktop app; self-hosting requires Docker, persistent storage, a domain and server administration
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppFlowy | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android, self-hosted | 74,999 | 2026-07 |
| SiYuan | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | macos, windows, linux, android, self-hosted, browser-extension | 45,647 | 2026-08 |
| AFFiNE | MIT | one-click install | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android, self-hosted | — | — |
They pay for a shared workspace that nontechnical teammates can trust and understand. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $144 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Notion?
Yes: AppFlowy, SiYuan, AFFiNE. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Notion?
Our verdict is KINDA. A solo notes-and-database workspace is buildable, but Notion's block editor, permissions, sync, templates, AI, integrations, and collaboration take real product work. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at vibecodeit.com/notion.
