Notion alternatives: 8 open-source picks
Notion costs $12/mo — $144 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by AppFlowy, SiYuan and Outline. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
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
Fast, collaborative team wiki and knowledge base with slick editor
licenseBSL-1.1
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Hierarchical note-taking app for building large personal knowledge bases
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Open-source collaborative wiki and documentation software with real-time editing
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Local-first, E2E-encrypted everything app with objects, sets, and graphs
licenseAny Source Available License
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Markdown note-taking app with E2E-encrypted sync across all platforms
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Local-first outliner for networked thought with backlinks and daily journals
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: AppFlowy · SiYuan · Outline · Trilium Notes · Docmost · Anytype
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Notion alternative
Easiest to get running
AppFlowy — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
AppFlowy, with 74,999 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Works on your phone
AppFlowy has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
what you give up by leaving Notion
- mature block editor
- cross-device sync
- permissions
- database views
- templates marketplace
- integrations
- AI workspace context
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Notion alternatives at a glance
| 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 |
| Outline | BSL-1.1 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 40,000 | 2026-08 |
| Trilium Notes | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 37,000 | 2026-08 |
| Docmost | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 21,000 | 2026-08 |
| Anytype | Any Source Available License | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 8,500 | 2026-08 |
| Joplin | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 56,000 | 2026-08 |
| Logseq | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 44,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Notion
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.
questions about switching from Notion
Is there an open-source alternative to Notion?
Yes: AppFlowy, SiYuan, Outline and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Notion?
Our verdict is 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. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/notion.
What is the easiest open-source Notion alternative to set up?
AppFlowy — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Notion alternative?
By GitHub stars, AppFlowy (74,999). Joplin is next with 56,000.
