AFFiNE vs RedNotebook
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
AFFiNE
Workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases
VS
RedNotebook
Open-source journaling and diary application
| Feature | AFFiNE | RedNotebook |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 71,312 | ★ 558 |
| First released | 2022 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Day One, Journey |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or RedNotebook better?
Neither is universally better. AFFiNE has the larger community, while RedNotebook is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are AFFiNE and RedNotebook free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and RedNotebook under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and RedNotebook with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. RedNotebook: check the project docs for container support.