Open-Source Alternatives to Notion
Based on our dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Notion are Outline, AppFlowy and AFFiNE. The Notion plan we benchmark is Business ($12/seat/mo).
Data last updated . How we check.
Quick comparison
Outline
Fast, collaborative team knowledge base & wiki built with React and Node.js
- Instant slash-commands & Markdown
- Native Slack & OIDC/SSO auth
- 1-click Notion workspace importer
Docker image outlinewiki/outline:latest. GitHub: outline/outline (29.4k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://www.getoutline.com
AppFlowy
Open-source AI workspace for wikis, projects, and databases with local-first privacy
- Kanban, Grid, Calendar & Doc views
- Works with local Ollama LLMs
- Desktop + mobile native apps
Docker image appflowyinc/appflowy_cloud:latest. GitHub: AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy (61.2k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://appflowy.io
AFFiNE
Privacy-focused workspace blending Notion docs with Miro-style infinite whiteboards
- Edgeless canvas + structured docs
- CRDT real-time local-first sync
- Self-hosted cloud Docker image
Docker image ghcr.io/toeverything/affine-graphql:stable. GitHub: toeverything/AFFiNE (45.8k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://affine.pro
Switching from Notion
- Pick an alternative above and open its comparison page for the cost breakdown.
- Generate a free starter
docker-compose.ymlin the stack builder. - Test it on a small server with a copy of your data before moving the team over.
- Check the migration notes in the table, and the official docs of the tool you pick.
More detail: Replace Notion guide.
FAQ
What are the open-source alternatives to Notion?
In the StackSwitcher dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Notion are Outline, AppFlowy, AFFiNE.
Which Notion plan does StackSwitcher compare against?
We benchmark Notion Business ($12/seat/mo). The main pain point we note: Per-seat costs balloon quickly; data stored in proprietary cloud; AI add-ons cost an extra $8-$10/seat/mo.
How much RAM does Outline need when self-hosted?
Our starter Docker config budgets 512 MB of RAM for Outline plus Postgres and Redis. Real needs depend on your usage.
How much RAM does AppFlowy need when self-hosted?
Our starter Docker config budgets 1024 MB of RAM for AppFlowy plus Postgres and Redis. Real needs depend on your usage.
How much RAM does AFFiNE need when self-hosted?
Our starter Docker config budgets 768 MB of RAM for AFFiNE plus Postgres and Redis. Real needs depend on your usage.
Config templates are MIT licensed and provided "AS IS", with no warranty of any kind and no liability. Prices and specs are informational estimates from our dataset, so check the vendor and project sites before you decide. See the Terms & No Warranty disclaimer.