Capacities alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Capacities: cloud-based, not local Markdown files, and little support for team collaboration. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Capacities, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Anytype currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	AFFiNE	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +4	4 of 4	63.1

1. AFFiNETop pick
Best for: People who want Notion-style docs and a whiteboard in one local-first, self-hostable app
Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted
63.1
score / 100
Why switch from Capacities
Open-source docs, whiteboards and databases you can self-host.
Pros
Docs and whiteboard views of the same page
Local-first, works offline
Self-hosting option
Free for personal use
Cons
Less mature than Notion, with rough edges
Server is source-available rather than fully open source
Mobile apps trail the desktop
Visit AFFiNE Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.357
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is AFFiNE a good Capacities alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Editor licence
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026affine.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Self-hosting
Yes, source-available backend
Checked Oct 25, 2026affine.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Team plan
$10 per seat/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026affine.pro(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026affine.pro(opens source in a new tab)

The best Capacities alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Capacities alternative for most people

Anytype

Object-based notes too, but local-first, encrypted and open source.

Best Capacities alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Tana Outliner

A similar typed-notes idea in an outliner, with more power for automation.

Best Capacities alternative for open source

AFFiNE

Open-source docs, whiteboards and databases you can self-host.

Best Capacities alternative for self-hosting

AFFiNE

Open-source docs, whiteboards and databases you can self-host.

Best Capacities alternative for Mac

Obsidian

Local files and plugins if you'd rather build your own structure.

Best Capacities alternative for Windows

Notion

Better for teams, with full databases and shared workspaces.

Best Capacities alternative for Linux

Heptabase

Visual whiteboards and cards for research-heavy knowledge work.

Best Capacities alternative for iPhone and Android

Anytype

Object-based notes too, but local-first, encrypted and open source.

Best Capacities alternative for working in the browser

Tana Outliner

A similar typed-notes idea in an outliner, with more power for automation.

Capacities alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Capacities?

Anytype ranks first right now. Object-based notes too, but local-first, encrypted and open source. Tana Outliner and Obsidian follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Capacities?

Yes. Anytype (free plan + paid), Tana Outliner (free plan + paid), Obsidian (free plan + paid) and Notion (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Capacities?

Yes: AFFiNE. AFFiNE can also be self-hosted.

Which Capacities alternatives work on Linux?

Anytype, Obsidian, AFFiNE and Heptabase run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Capacities?

The complaints we hear most: cloud-based, not local Markdown files; little support for team collaboration; object model takes time to learn.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Capacities, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.