AppFlowy vs CherryTree
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
AppFlowy
Open-source workspace and Notion alternative
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CherryTree
Hierarchical rich-text and code note-taking application
| Feature | AppFlowy | CherryTree |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 76,904 | ★ 3,951 |
| First released | 2021 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Notion, Evernote | OneNote, Evernote |
What are AppFlowy and CherryTree?
AppFlowy
AppFlowy is an open-source workspace for notes, wikis, and project management designed as a privacy-first alternative to Notion. It can run locally and supports a self-hosted sync backend.
- Notion-like blocks and databases
- Local-first data
- Self-hostable cloud backend
- Cross-platform apps
CherryTree
Cherrytree is an open-source hierarchical note-taking application featuring rich text and syntax highlighting. It stores everything in a single XML or SQLite file, making it easy to back up and move.
- Hierarchical note tree
- Rich text and code highlighting
- Single-file XML or SQLite storage
- Password protection
AppFlowy vs CherryTree: key differences
AppFlowy is written in Dart, while CherryTree is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for AppFlowy versus GPL-3.0 for CherryTree. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AppFlowy. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while AppFlowy arrived in 2021. AppFlowy has the considerably larger community, at 76,904 GitHub stars versus 3,951. AppFlowy lists first-class Docker deployment; CherryTree does not.
Why pick each one
Choose AppFlowy if…
- Strong Notion alternative
- Active development
Watch out for
- Self-hosted backend is newer
- Still maturing
Choose CherryTree if…
- Highly portable single-file notes
- Good for structured notes
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No built-in sync
Frequently asked questions
Is AppFlowy or CherryTree better?
Neither is universally better. AppFlowy has the larger community, while CherryTree is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are AppFlowy and CherryTree free and open-source?
Yes. AppFlowy is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and CherryTree under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AppFlowy and CherryTree with Docker?
AppFlowy: yes. CherryTree: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, AppFlowy or CherryTree?
CherryTree has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for AppFlowy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.