AFFiNE vs Mindwendel
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
Mindwendel
Self-hosted brainstorming and idea capture board
| Feature | AFFiNE | Mindwendel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 71 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Elixir |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 72,916 | ★ 140 |
| First released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Miro, Google Keep |
What are AFFiNE and Mindwendel?
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
Mindwendel
Mindwendel is an open-source, self-hosted application for brainstorming and capturing ideas as quick notes on shared boards. Teams use it to collect, group, and vote on ideas in real time.
- Shared brainstorming boards
- Real-time idea capture
- Grouping and voting
- Lightweight to host
AFFiNE vs Mindwendel: key differences
AFFiNE is written in TypeScript, while Mindwendel is built with Elixir. Licensing differs — MIT for AFFiNE versus Apache-2.0 for Mindwendel. Mindwendel 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 140.
Why pick each one
Choose AFFiNE if…
- Versatile workspace
- Local-first design
- Modern UI
Watch out for
- Self-hosting still maturing
- Resource intensive
Choose Mindwendel if…
- Great for team idea sessions
- Simple and focused
Watch out for
- Not a general note app
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or Mindwendel 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 Mindwendel free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and Mindwendel under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and Mindwendel with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. Mindwendel: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or Mindwendel?
Mindwendel 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.