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.
ZombieNotion, 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
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
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
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 canivibecodeit.com/notion.
