Notion
Coda
ConfluenceAbout AppFlowy
AppFlowy is what you reach for when you love what Notion does but not where your data lives. It bundles documents, wikis, databases and project boards into a single app that runs natively on your machine — and keeps your notes on your machine by default.
Because it is AGPL-licensed and self-hostable, there is no per-seat pricing creeping up as your team grows and no vendor that can lock you out of your own knowledge base. You can audit the code, run it offline, and host the optional sync layer yourself.
It is built in Flutter and Rust rather than a browser shell, so the desktop and mobile apps feel fast and native instead of like a website in a window. For teams that want Notion's shape with an owner-operated foundation, AppFlowy has become the default open answer.
What makes it different
Your pages live on your device and work fully offline. Optional self-hosted sync keeps the data yours end to end.
Docs, wikis, kanban boards, grids and calendars share one data model — no bouncing between disconnected tools.
Bring your own model or run one locally. Summarize, draft and ask questions without shipping your notes to a third party.
Written in Flutter and Rust for real desktop speed on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Rust
Flutter
Dart
TypeScript
SQLite
DockerThe honest read
- Genuinely local-first — works offline with data stored on-device
- One app replaces separate docs, wiki and project-board tools
- AGPL-licensed and self-hostable — no per-seat lock-in
- Fast native apps across desktop and mobile, not a web wrapper
- Large, fast-moving community and frequent releases
- Real-time collaboration is still maturing next to Notion
- Self-hosted cloud sync takes setup vs a hosted SaaS
- Smaller template and third-party integration ecosystem
- A few advanced database features are still in progress
Quick answers
Yes. AppFlowy is open source under AGPL-3.0 and free to download and use, including self-hosting. There is an optional paid AppFlowy Cloud if you would rather not run sync yourself.
For the core workflow — docs, wikis, databases and boards in one workspace — yes. The biggest gaps are real-time collaboration polish and the size of the template and integration ecosystem.
Locally on your device by default. If you want sync across devices or teammates you can self-host AppFlowy Cloud or use the hosted option — either way the data stays under your control.
Yes. AppFlowy Cloud can be self-hosted with Docker, giving your team shared workspaces without sending data to a third-party SaaS.
The apps are built in Flutter for the UI and Rust for the core engine, with SQLite for local storage — which is why the desktop and mobile builds feel native rather than like a web app.
More open-source picks
End-to-end encrypted, local-first knowledge base built around objects.
Fast team wiki and knowledge base with real-time editing.
Privacy-first outliner for networked notes over plain markdown.
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