AFFiNE
There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
AFFiNE is an open-source, local-first workspace app that combines structured note-taking like Notion with an infinite visual canvas like Miro, all your data stays on your own device by default.
AFFiNE is an open-source, all-in-one workspace application that aims to combine the functionality of two very different tools — Notion (a structured document and database tool) and Miro (a visual whiteboard) — into a single product. The core idea is that you should be able to work in both a traditional text-document mode and an open infinite canvas mode, and mix the two freely.
In AFFiNE, everything is composed of blocks — chunks of content like text, images, databases, embedded web pages, sticky notes, shapes, or linked documents. These blocks can be placed freely on an edgeless visual canvas for spatial brainstorming, or organized into structured pages for writing and note-taking. Switching between the two views is built into the product rather than being a separate app or mode. The tool also includes an AI assistant that can help write documents, convert outlines into presentations, summarize content, or generate mind maps.
A defining feature is its local-first approach: your data is stored on your own device by default, meaning you are not dependent on a company's servers to access your notes. Real-time collaboration and cloud sync are available as optional layers on top of this. The app can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, and the code is open source so it can be forked and extended.
You would reach for AFFiNE when you want a knowledge management workspace where you can write structured notes, organize tasks, sketch ideas on a whiteboard, and collaborate — without your data being locked into a proprietary cloud service. It works in the browser, as a desktop app built with Electron, and can be self-hosted. The codebase is primarily TypeScript.
Where it fits
- Keep project notes, task databases, and whiteboard sketches in one app without switching between Notion and a separate diagramming tool.
- Self-host a team knowledge base and collaborative whiteboard to keep sensitive data off third-party cloud servers.
- Use the built-in AI assistant to convert rough bullet-point notes into a polished document or presentation.
- Organize personal knowledge with linked pages and canvas mind maps, with all data stored locally on your device.