AFFiNE vs Notesnook
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
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | AFFiNE | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 72,866 | ★ 14,626 |
| First released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are AFFiNE and Notesnook?
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
Notesnook
Notesnook is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app with end-to-end encryption on all notes. Its sync server can be self-hosted so users keep complete control of their encrypted data.
- End-to-end encrypted notes
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich text editor
- Cross-platform apps
AFFiNE vs Notesnook: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for AFFiNE versus GPL-3.0 for Notesnook. Notesnook is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. AFFiNE has the considerably larger community, at 72,866 GitHub stars versus 14,626.
Why pick each one
Choose AFFiNE if…
- Versatile workspace
- Local-first design
- Modern UI
Watch out for
- Self-hosting still maturing
- Resource intensive
Choose Notesnook if…
- Strong privacy by default
- Polished apps on all platforms
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is relatively new
- Some features tied to subscription
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or Notesnook 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 Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and Notesnook with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or Notesnook?
Notesnook 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.