AFFiNE vs Zettlr
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
Zettlr
Markdown editor for writers, researchers, and Zettelkasten users
| Feature | AFFiNE | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 72,916 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2022 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Notion, Obsidian |
What are AFFiNE and Zettlr?
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
Zettlr
Zettlr is a desktop Markdown editor designed for academic writing and Zettelkasten note management, with citation support and internal linking. While desktop-first, it works on plain Markdown folders that can sync between machines.
- Zettelkasten linking
- Citation manager support
- Multi-format export
- Folder-based projects
AFFiNE vs Zettlr: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for AFFiNE versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Zettlr is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while AFFiNE arrived in 2022. AFFiNE has the considerably larger community, at 72,916 GitHub stars versus 13,577. AFFiNE lists first-class Docker deployment; Zettlr does not.
Why pick each one
Choose AFFiNE if…
- Versatile workspace
- Local-first design
- Modern UI
Watch out for
- Self-hosting still maturing
- Resource intensive
Choose Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. AFFiNE has the larger community, while Zettlr is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are AFFiNE and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and Zettlr with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or Zettlr?
Zettlr has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.