Can I open-source Notion?

YES · mature open-source replacement
price $12/moyou'd save $144/yrcategory 🧠 notes & knowledgereplaced by 0 people

Yes. AppFlowy (75k stars), Joplin (56k stars), SiYuan (46k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Notion — self-host in one command and stop paying $12/mo.

why people still pay

They pay for a shared workspace that nontechnical teammates can trust and understand.

what you lose

xmature block editor

xcross-device sync

xpermissions

xdatabase views

xtemplates marketplace

xintegrations

xAI workspace context

the open-source alternatives

These projects already replace it, free.

AAppFlowyNotion, except the useful copy can live on your machine.75kjul 2026open source↗SSiYuanBlocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.46kaug 2026open source↗OOutlineFast, collaborative team wiki and knowledge base with slick editor40kaug 2026open source↗

What each one is, in full: AppFlowy · SiYuan · Outline

all 8 open-source alternatives to Notion →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

share on X ↗"I just replaced Notion ($12/mo) with open source"
the numbers

Notion pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
free$0/workspace$0/workspaceUnlimited pages/blocks for 1 person; 5 MB/file, 7-day history, 10 guests, 1 chart and 1 notion.site domain; multi-member workspaces have an unpublished block cap.
plus$12/user$10/userUnlimited blocks; files up to about 5 GB each; 30-day history; unlimited guests; 5 notion.site domains and unlimited charts.
business$24/user$20/user90-day history, unlimited guests and 5 notion.site domains; Notion AI included subject to fair-use limits.
enterprisecustom—Unlimited page history; custom seats, security controls and pricing.

free tierFor 1 person: unlimited pages/blocks, 5 MB uploads, 7-day history, 10 guests, 1 chart and 1 notion.site domain; 2+ member workspaces face an unpublished block cap.

billingmonthly + annual; per member per workspace; added seats prorated; removed seats stay paid until renewal

hidden costsEach workspace bills separately. Custom Notion Agents cost $10 per 1,000 credits; credit billing for Workers begins 2026-10-15. Custom domains cost $10/month each or $8/month each on annual billing. Removing a member does not refund the current term, though the paid seat can be reassigned.

verified 2026-08-11 · source ↗

questions
Is Notion free?

Free for individuals with unlimited blocks; 5 MB uploads and 7-day history. Paid is Plus at $12/mo (checked 2026-08-07).

Can I open-source Notion?

Yes. AppFlowy replaces Notion today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.

How much does Notion cost?

Notion costs about $12/month (Plus, checked 2026-08-07), which is $144 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.

What do I lose by replacing Notion?

Honestly: mature block editor; cross-device sync; permissions; database views; templates marketplace; integrations; AI workspace context. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Notion?

Yes: AppFlowy (Notion, except the useful copy can live on your machine.) SiYuan (Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.) Outline (Fast, collaborative team wiki and knowledge base with slick editor) All 8 curated open-source alternatives are at caniopensourceit.online/notion/alternatives.