AppFlowy vs Notesnook Sync Server
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?
AppFlowy
Open-source workspace and Notion alternative
VS
Notesnook Sync Server
Self-hosted backend for the Notesnook encrypted notes app
| Feature | AppFlowy | Notesnook Sync Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 75,074 | ★ 905 |
| First released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Notion, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
Why pick each one
Choose Notesnook Sync Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C#
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is AppFlowy or Notesnook Sync Server better?
Neither is universally better. AppFlowy has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are AppFlowy and Notesnook Sync Server free and open-source?
Yes. AppFlowy is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notesnook Sync Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AppFlowy and Notesnook Sync Server with Docker?
AppFlowy: yes. Notesnook Sync Server: yes.