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AFFiNE

Open-source, local-first workspace that merges docs, whiteboards and databases, with a free plan and paid cloud sync for individuals and teams.

Our take: AFFiNE is one of the better free picks if your notes and diagrams belong together, and the free tier is generous for a small group.

Best forDocs plus whiteboard notes
ReviewedPricing: Freemium
7.6 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try AFFiNEFree; Pro $6.75/mo billed yearly ($7.99 monthly)

AFFiNE is an open-source, local-first workspace that puts documents, a whiteboard and databases on the same canvas, for individuals and small teams. The Free plan includes unlimited local workspaces and 10 GB of cloud storage for up to 3 members. Pro costs $7.99 a month, or $81 a year ($6.75 a month).

The bottom line

Strong free option for docs-plus-whiteboard work; read the backend license before self-hosting.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isAn open-source, local-first workspace where documents, an infinite whiteboard and databases live on the same canvas.
Our takeAFFiNE is one of the better free picks if your notes and diagrams belong together, and the free tier is generous for a small group.
Pro is cheap, and you can stay fully local if you never need sync. Two cautions: the project is still pre-1.0, and the self-hosted backend is not open source in the usual sense, so teams planning to customize their own server need a commercial license.
Why we rate itA generous free plan and low-cost Pro for a tool that merges docs, whiteboard and databases.
The catchPre-1.0 software, and the self-hosted backend needs a commercial license to modify.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Personal knowledge bases
  • Small teams mixing notes and diagrams
  • Users who want local-first data
Not good for
  • Teams needing a mature integration catalogue
  • Orgs that must modify a self-hosted backend without a contract
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Minutes: download or open the web app and start writing.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    More than 3 members or 10 GB pushes you to Pro or Team.
  3. Walled garden
    Low to medium: local-first storage, but the backend license limits self-hosted changes.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try AFFiNE

AFFiNE plans and prices

PlanPriceStorage and membersOther limits and extras
Free$010 GB cloud, up to 3 members per workspace10 MB files, 7-day history, 3 devices, unlimited local workspaces
Pro$7.99 a month, or $81 a year ($6.75 a month)100 GB, up to 10 members100 MB files, 30-day history
Team (cloud)$12 per seat a month, or $120 per seat a year ($10 a month)100 GB plus 20 GB per seat, 10+ seats500 MB files, multiple admins, priority support
Believer$499.99 one-time1 TB, personal useLifetime Pro
AFFiNE AI add-on$106.80 a year ($8.90 a month)Writing, rewriting, slides and mind maps
Self-hosted Team$10 per seat a monthYour own servers, 10+ seatsEnterprise and code licenses are custom

From AFFiNE's pricing page and its public prices API, checked 4 October 2026. The pricing page shows annual figures; monthly prices come from the API the checkout uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AFFiNE free?

Yes. The Free plan includes unlimited local workspaces plus 10 GB of cloud storage, 10 MB files, up to 3 members per workspace, 7 days of version history and up to 3 devices, with no time limit (checked 4 October 2026).

How much is AFFiNE Pro?

Pro costs $7.99 a month billed monthly or $81 a year, which works out to $6.75 a month. Team costs $12 per seat monthly or $120 per seat a year. The AI add-on is $106.80 a year, and the Believer Plan is a one-time $499.99 for lifetime personal Pro with 1 TB (checked 4 October 2026).

Can I self-host AFFiNE?

Yes, AFFiNE publishes a Docker setup and a self-hosting guide. The editor and desktop app are MIT-licensed, but the backend server uses the AFFiNE Enterprise Edition license: without a commercial agreement you may only review that code, and modifying or redistributing it needs authorization. A self-hosted Team tier costs $10 per seat a month for 10+ seats.

Which is better, AFFiNE or Notion?

AFFiNE suits people who want local-first storage and a whiteboard on the same page as their docs, and its free plan covers small groups. We have not tested Notion side by side, so weigh the integrations and templates you rely on before switching.

Where can I download AFFiNE?

From affine.pro/download or GitHub releases. The current release ships desktop apps for Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple silicon) and Linux (AppImage, deb, flatpak), and the iOS app is on the App Store.

How do I log in to AFFiNE?

Conversion Gems is a review site. AFFiNE's web app and account pages are at app.affine.pro; the desktop apps sign in to the same account.

AFFiNE alternatives

Other open and local-first workspaces from our reviews:

Showing 1–3 of 3
Sources checked October 4, 2026: AFFiNE pricing, AFFiNE prices API (app.affine.pro), AFFiNE on GitHub, Latest AFFiNE release.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#AFFiNE#OpenSource#NotionAlternative#Whiteboard

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