Free & open source alternatives to Notion

6 free notes, docs and task management apps to use instead of Notion

The best free alternative to Notion is AppFlowy. Pages, blocks, databases and kanban boards like Notion, and you can self-host it.

Other great options: AFFiNE, Obsidian, Anytype, Joplin and Logseq.

Quick pick: Closest to Notion with your data on your own device: AppFlowy. For personal notes as Markdown files: Obsidian. Need a whiteboard too: AFFiNE.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use Notion for free

Notion Free plan for individuals.
Notion Education Plus is free for students and teachers who sign up with a school email.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

6 best alternatives to Notion

AppFlowy

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (95/100)78,427

Open sourceEasy to use

Pages, blocks, databases and kanban boards like Notion, and you can self-host it.

Open-source Notion-style app for notes, databases and task boards. Data stays on your device, with local AI and a self-hosting option.

Works like Notion: pages, blocks, tables, kanban
Your data stays on your own device
Available in many languages

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted

AppFlowy details Official website ↗

AFFiNE

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (95/100)74,313

Open sourceEasy to use

Combines docs, a whiteboard and databases in one workspace.

Open-source workspace that combines documents, a freeform whiteboard and databases, with local-first storage.

Write documents and sketch on a whiteboard in one place
Works offline and can be self-hosted

Platforms: Web · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted

AFFiNE details Official website ↗

Obsidian

Notes & teamwork

FreeSome learning curve

Markdown notes stored on your device, with a rich plugin ecosystem.

Note-taking app built on local Markdown files that you link into a web of knowledge. Free for both personal and work use.

Notes are your own .md files, no lock-in
Thousands of community plugins

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

Obsidian details Official website ↗

Anytype

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (95/100)9,060

Source availableEasy to use

End-to-end encrypted, with peer-to-peer sync instead of a central cloud.

Notion-style app for notes and personal knowledge, end-to-end encrypted. Stores data locally and syncs peer-to-peer between devices.

End-to-end encrypted and works offline
Flexible object types and relations

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

Anytype details Official website ↗

Joplin

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (95/100)57,074

Open sourceEasy to use

An open-source notebook that syncs via Dropbox, OneDrive or your own server.

Open-source Evernote alternative with notebooks, tags, web clipper, to-dos and end-to-end encryption. Imports Evernote .enex files.

Imports Evernote data directly (.enex)
Free sync via OneDrive, Dropbox or Nextcloud
Available in many languages

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

Joplin details Official website ↗

Logseq

Notes & teamwork HealthGood (95/100)45,513

Open sourceSome learning curve

Daily outliner-style journaling with two-way links between notes.

Outliner-style note app with daily journals and two-way links, stored as files on your device. Well suited to study and research notes.

Daily journal and linked ideas
Your data is plain files on your device

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

Logseq details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
AppFlowy	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, Self-hosted	Easy to use	78,427
AFFiNE	Open source	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, Self-hosted	Easy to use	74,313
Obsidian	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Some learning curve	—
Anytype	Source available	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	9,060
Joplin	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	57,074
Logseq	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Some learning curve	45,513

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Notion?

The most popular picks are AppFlowy, AFFiNE, Obsidian and Anytype. Closest to Notion with your data on your own device: AppFlowy. For personal notes as Markdown files: Obsidian. Need a whiteboard too: AFFiNE.

How do I move my data from Notion to AppFlowy?

In Notion choose Export > Markdown & CSV, then in AppFlowy use Import > Notion. Pages and basic databases come across; some embedded blocks need to be rebuilt.