AFFiNE vs Anytype
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
AFFiNE
Workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases
VS
Anytype
Local-first encrypted knowledge workspace
| Feature | AFFiNE | Anytype |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 72,916 | ★ 8,846 |
| First released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Notion |
What are AFFiNE and Anytype?
AFFiNE
AFFiNE is an open-source knowledge base that combines documents, whiteboards, and databases in a single workspace. It targets users wanting an all-in-one alternative to Notion and Miro. It is deployed via Docker.
- Docs, whiteboard and database in one
- Local-first data model
- Real-time collaboration
- Edgeless canvas mode
Anytype
Anytype is a local-first, encrypted knowledge management app for notes, tasks, and objects with a flexible data model. It targets users wanting a private Notion-like tool. It uses peer-to-peer sync and an optional self-hosted sync node.
- Local-first encrypted storage
- Flexible object-based model
- Peer-to-peer sync
- Self-hostable sync node
AFFiNE vs Anytype: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Anytype is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. AFFiNE has the considerably larger community, at 72,916 GitHub stars versus 8,846.
Why pick each one
Choose AFFiNE if…
- Versatile workspace
- Local-first design
- Modern UI
Watch out for
- Self-hosting still maturing
- Resource intensive
Choose Anytype if…
- Strong privacy model
- Flexible structure
- Works offline
Watch out for
- Self-hosting sync is advanced
- Ecosystem still young
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or Anytype better?
Neither is universally better. AFFiNE has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are AFFiNE and Anytype free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and Anytype under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and Anytype with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. Anytype: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or Anytype?
Anytype has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.