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Self-hosted and open-source Notion alternatives

This list is for people who like what Notion does but want to own the data: run it on their own server, keep it on their own devices, or at least pick a tool whose source they can read. Seven options follow. They split into two kinds: Notion-style workspaces with blocks and databases (AFFiNE, AppFlowy, Anytype, SiYuan), and team wikis that trade databases for simplicity or for Git (Outline, Docmost, Folio).

Be careful with the words "open source" and "self-hosted" here: they mean different things for different tools. AppFlowy's apps are open source but its self-hosted server is a commercial codebase with a one-seat free tier. AFFiNE's editor is MIT but its server backend is source-available. Anytype's client is source-available. Outline is source-available under the Business Source License. The cards below spell each case out.

Facts about other products checked against their own sites on . Folio is our project; the order below is not a ranking.

Which one to pick

  • The closest Notion-style workspace, with desktop and mobile appsAppFlowy or AFFiNE
  • Local-first, encrypted, peer-to-peer, for personal or small-team useAnytype
  • A team wiki rather than a workspace, with real-time editingOutline or Docmost
  • Pages as Markdown files in your own Git repository, with agents over MCPFolio
  • Personal notes with block references, free for most featuresSiYuan

How we chose

We looked for tools you can run yourself or own locally, and compared each one on the same points. Every fact below comes from the project's own website or repository; the links are at the end.

  • Self-hosted or local ownership: where the data lives and what running it takes.
  • License: open source (OSI-approved), source-available, or open core.
  • Notion-style blocks and databases, or a wiki.
  • Real-time collaboration, where the vendor documents it.
  • AI and agents, where the vendor documents it.
  • Import from Notion.
  • Price, including what the free self-hosted tier limits.

Where Notion itself stands

Notion is a hosted service. Its pricing page lists Free, Plus, Business and Enterprise plans and no self-hosted option. Plus is listed at $10 and Business at $20 per member per month, and yearly billing saves up to 20%. SAML single sign-on starts at Business, and the Notion Agent is on Business and above (Notion pricing page, checked October 11, 2026).

Leaving is possible but not seamless. Notion exports a page as Markdown, HTML or PDF, and a database as CSV. Exporting the whole workspace is limited to administrators and can take up to 30 hours, and pages the exporter cannot access are not included.

If a managed workspace suits you and the price is acceptable, staying is a fine choice. The tools below are for when ownership, data location or cost per seat is the reason you are looking.

7 options, one by one

1. AFFiNE

Official site

A workspace with documents, an "Edgeless" whiteboard and databases in one canvas, positioned as a local-first alternative to Notion and Miro.

License
MIT for the editor and most of the code; the self-hosted server backend is source-available under the AFFiNE Enterprise Edition license
Hosting
Cloud, or self-hosted with Docker Compose; the desktop app works offline with local workspaces.
Price
Self-hosted: free up to 10 seats per workspace; Team is $10 per seat per month billed annually ($12 monthly).

Strengths

  • Real-time collaboration on team workspaces.
  • Imports a Notion export (HTML with subpages, or Markdown).
  • Docs and whiteboard together; AI is optional and uses your own provider keys when self-hosted.

Drawbacks

  • The backend is not OSI open source: without a commercial agreement you may only review its code.
  • The free self-hosted tier stops at 10 seats per workspace.
  • You operate HTTPS, storage, backups and upgrades yourself.

Best for: Small teams that want a Notion-and-Miro-style workspace they can run themselves.

2. AppFlowy

Official site

Describes itself as the open-source alternative to Notion, bringing wikis, projects and AI together. Co-editing in real time, and apps on every major platform.

License
AGPL-3.0 for the apps; the self-hosted server is a commercial, closed-source codebase (open core)
Hosting
Self-hosted with Docker Compose, or AppFlowy's managed cloud. Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and the web.
Price
Self-hosted: Free (one seat), One $6 a month, Team $10 per seat per month billed annually (up to 1,000 seats), Enterprise custom. Cloud: Personal $0, Pro $16 per member per month billed annually.

Strengths

  • Native desktop and mobile apps.
  • Imports from Notion, including on self-hosted instances.
  • AI can run with self-hosted language models.
  • Its self-hosted feature list includes SSO with SAML 2.0, SCIM, LDAP and audit logs; check which plan carries each.

Drawbacks

  • The self-hosted server is closed source: the old open repository is archived, and current builds come as Docker images.
  • The free self-hosted tier has one seat.
  • Self-hosted plans are billed annually only.

Best for: Teams that want native apps on every platform and will pay per seat for a self-hosted Team plan.

3. Anytype

Official site

A local-first, end-to-end-encrypted knowledge base where you define your own data model with types and relations. Data stays on your devices; sync is peer-to-peer or through a network you can host.

License
Client: Any Source Available License 1.0 (free for non-commercial use, and for commercial use on allowed networks). The any-sync backend is MIT.
Hosting
Local-first apps for desktop and mobile with peer-to-peer sync, or a self-hosted any-sync network (Docker Compose).
Price
Free: 100 MB of remote storage and 10 shared channels. Plus $4, Pro $8, Ultra $16 a month. A self-hosted network needs no membership.

Strengths

  • Offline-first with end-to-end encryption.
  • Imports from Notion through the Notion API, and Markdown, HTML and CSV files.
  • You can self-host the sync backend and need no membership for it.

Drawbacks

  • The client is source-available, not open source.
  • The Docker Compose backend is described as designed for personal use, review or testing; Anytype for Business lists self-hosting as an option.
  • Built as a personal knowledge base first, by its own description, so it is a different model from a team wiki.

Best for: Individuals and small groups who put privacy and offline use first.

4. Outline

Official site

A fast team wiki with real-time editing, comments, an API and an MCP server. It is a wiki, not a database workspace: no Notion-style relations.

License
Business Source License 1.1: source-available, not an open-source license; becomes Apache 2.0 on 2030-09-09
Hosting
Hosted cloud, or self-hosted with Docker, PostgreSQL 14+ and Redis 4+.
Price
Cloud: $10, $79 or $249 a month for 1-10, 11-100 or 101-200 members, 30-day trial. The community edition is free to self-host.

Strengths

  • Real-time collaborative editing; accepts Markdown as you type or paste.
  • Accepts Notion export files, plus Confluence and Word.
  • MCP server for AI assistants.

Drawbacks

  • Source-available: the license forbids offering it as a service to third parties.
  • No native mobile apps (it installs as a PWA); desktop apps exist for macOS and Windows.
  • Setup needs a compatible authentication provider.

Best for: Teams that mainly want a good wiki, and are fine with a source-available license or the cloud.

5. Docmost

Official site

An open-source collaborative wiki and documentation tool that calls itself an alternative to Confluence and Notion. Real-time collaboration, spaces and full-text search are in the free edition.

License
AGPL-3.0 for the core; the enterprise features are under a separate Docmost Enterprise license
Hosting
Self-managed (Docker; its install guide uses PostgreSQL and Redis).
Price
Community: free. Business: $6 per seat per month billed annually, minimum 10 seats. Enterprise: custom.

Strengths

  • Real-time collaboration in the free edition.
  • Its feature list includes Notion import, diagrams (Draw.io, Excalidraw, Mermaid) and templates.
  • Business adds SSO, AI and MCP.

Drawbacks

  • SSO, AI and page-level permissions are in paid editions.
  • Business has a 10-seat minimum.
  • A wiki rather than a Notion-style workspace.

Best for: Teams that want a wiki with a free core, and may later buy Business for SSO and AI.

6. Folio

Our projectOfficial site

A wiki whose pages are Markdown files in your own Git repository, with real-time editing, data tables, forms and Excalidraw boards in the same tree. Agents read and write the same pages through an MCP server, and a built-in assistant works inside the wiki.

License
MIT
Hosting
Self-hosted only (Docker, PostgreSQL and Redis). No hosted version.
Price
Free software. You pay for your server, and for a Cursor subscription if you want the built-in assistant.

Strengths

  • Pages are plain files in your Git repository: no export step, no lock-in.
  • Real-time editing, data tables and forms stored as Markdown, whiteboards, offline mode for documents you opened before.
  • MIT license.

Drawbacks

  • No one-click Notion importer: you bring Markdown files in, or paste.
  • No SSO, SCIM or user groups: sign-in is email and password, optionally Google.
  • No native mobile apps; the interface is responsive.
  • The built-in assistant needs a Cursor subscription.
  • Tables are Markdown-backed, not Notion's relational databases.

Best for: Teams that want their wiki as readable files in Git and agents working on the same pages.

7. SiYuan

Official site

A privacy-first personal knowledge management system with block-level references and a Markdown WYSIWYG editor, with AI writing and Q&A through the OpenAI API.

License
AGPL-3.0
Hosting
Local-first desktop and mobile apps (Android, iOS, HarmonyOS), or a self-hosted Docker deployment.
Price
Most features are free, even for commercial use; some features are for paid members.

Strengths

  • Fine-grained block references and Markdown that stays standard.
  • Apps for desktop and mobile, and a Docker image.
  • Most features free for commercial use.

Drawbacks

  • Personal knowledge management is its focus; it is not built as a team wiki.
  • The Docker deployment works in a browser only: no desktop or mobile app connections, no PDF, HTML or Word export, no Markdown import.
  • Some features need a paid membership.

Best for: Individuals who want a local-first notes tool with block references, optionally served from their own server.

Notion alternatives compared

As of October 2026.

Notion alternatives compared, as of October 2026
ProductLicenseHostingApps and collaborationAI and agentsNotion importPrice
AFFiNEMIT editor, source-available backendCloud or self-hosted; offline desktopDesktop and web; real-time collaborationOptional AI with your own keysYes: HTML or Markdown exportSelf-host free up to 10 seats; Team $10 per seat per month, annual
AppFlowyAGPL-3.0 apps; closed-source self-hosted serverSelf-hosted or cloudDesktop, iOS, Android, web; real-time co-editingAI, including self-hosted modelsYes, including self-hostedSelf-host: free (1 seat), Team $10 per seat per month, annual
AnytypeSource-available client, MIT backendLocal-first; self-hosted sync networkDesktop and mobile; peer-to-peer syncNot reviewedYes, via the Notion APIFree tier; Plus $4, Pro $8, Ultra $16 a month
OutlineBSL 1.1 (source-available)Cloud or self-hostedWeb, macOS and Windows apps; real-timeMCP server; AI answers in paid editionsAccepts Notion exportsCloud from $10 a month; community self-host free
DocmostAGPL-3.0 core, enterprise features separateSelf-managedWeb; real-timeAI and MCP in BusinessListed among its import formatsCommunity free; Business $6 per seat per month, annual, 10-seat minimum
Folio (our project)MITSelf-hosted (Docker)Web, responsive, no native apps; real-timeBuilt-in assistant (needs Cursor) and MCP serverNo importerFree software
SiYuanAGPL-3.0Local apps or self-hosted DockerDesktop, mobile, browser; personal focusAI via the OpenAI APINot reviewedMostly free; some paid-member features

As of October 2026. "Not reviewed" means we did not check that point, not that the feature is missing. Prices are those listed on each vendor's site on October 11, 2026.

Questions people ask

What is the best self-hosted alternative to Notion?

There is no single answer, because the tools differ in kind. For a Notion-style workspace, AppFlowy and AFFiNE are the closest, and both offer self-hosting with a seat-limited free tier. For a team wiki, Outline and Docmost. For pages as Markdown files in Git, Folio. For local-first and encrypted, Anytype.

Is there a free Notion alternative?

Notion itself has a Free plan. Among self-hosted tools, AFFiNE is free up to 10 seats per workspace, AppFlowy's self-hosted free tier has one seat, Anytype has a free tier with 100 MB of remote storage and needs no membership for a network you host yourself, SiYuan has most features free, and Folio is free software. Docmost's and Outline's community editions are free too.

Which of these are truly open source?

Folio is MIT. SiYuan is AGPL-3.0. Docmost's core is AGPL-3.0 with separately licensed enterprise features. AFFiNE's editor is MIT but its server backend is source-available. AppFlowy's apps are AGPL-3.0 but its self-hosted server is a commercial codebase. Anytype's client is source-available (its sync backend is MIT). Outline uses the Business Source License, which is not an open-source license.

Can I import my Notion workspace?

AFFiNE, AppFlowy, Anytype and Outline all accept Notion exports, and Docmost lists Notion import among its formats. Folio has no one-click Notion importer. Notion exports pages as Markdown, HTML or PDF and databases as CSV, and only workspace administrators can export the whole workspace, which can take up to 30 hours. Expect to rebuild databases and relations by hand in any of them.

Does Notion offer self-hosting?

Its pricing page lists hosted plans (Free, Plus, Business, Enterprise) and no self-hosted option. If self-hosting is a hard requirement, you need one of the alternatives above.

Compare Folio in detail

Folio vs. NotionFolio vs. OutlineFolio vs. a conventional wikiOpen-source and self-hosted Confluence alternativesSelf-hosted wiki software for a team or company wiki

See whether Folio fits your team.

Open the public demo with no sign-up, or run it yourself with Docker. Folio is MIT licensed.

Try the demoInstall Folio
Sources (33 links, checked 2026-10-11)

Prices, licenses and features on this page come from these pages. Vendors change them; if you see something out of date, tell us on GitHub and we will fix it.