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Notion alternatives: 16 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Notion: needs an internet connection for most work, and large workspaces can feel slow. We ranked 16 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Notion, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Obsidian currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Logseq logoLogseqOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +21 of 366.7
2Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 360.8
3AFFiNE logoAFFiNEFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 447.5
4AppFlowy logoAppFlowyOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 447.5
  1. Logseq logo

    1. LogseqTop pick

    Best for: Outliner thinkers who want local, open-source notes with backlinks

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notion

    Free, open-source outliner with backlinks if you mainly use Notion for notes.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Local Markdown or Org files
    • Strong backlinks and block references

    Cons

    • Outliner-only structure isn't for everyone
    • Mobile apps feel less polished
    Visit Logseq Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1579
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Logseq a good Notion alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown/Org files
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Joplin logo

    2. Joplin

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    60.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notion

    Open-source notes with encrypted sync to storage you choose.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1579
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good Notion alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. AFFiNE logo

    3. AFFiNE

    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

    47.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notion

    Open-source docs and databases plus a whiteboard, local-first and self-hostable.

    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 ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1550
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AFFiNE a good Notion 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)
  4. AppFlowy logo

    4. AppFlowy

    Best for: Teams and individuals who want Notion-style docs and databases on their own servers

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    47.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notion

    Open-source Notion-style pages and databases you can run on your own servers.

    Pros

    • Open source and self-hostable, even air-gapped
    • Databases with grid, board and calendar views
    • Can use self-hosted AI models
    • Free personal plan

    Cons

    • Fewer integrations and templates than Notion
    • AGPL licence can be a hurdle for some companies
    • Sync and collaboration still less polished
    Visit AppFlowy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1550
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AppFlowy a good Notion alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $12 per member/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, including air-gapped
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Notion alternative for…

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

Obsidian logo

Best Notion alternative for most people

Obsidian

Local Markdown files you own and offline use, instead of a cloud-only workspace.

Logseq logo

Best Notion alternative for a free option

Logseq

Free, open-source outliner with backlinks if you mainly use Notion for notes.

Anytype logo

Best Notion alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Anytype

Similar objects-and-views structure, but local-first with end-to-end encryption.

Joplin logo

Best Notion alternative for open source

Joplin

Open-source notes with encrypted sync to storage you choose.

AFFiNE logo

Best Notion alternative for self-hosting

AFFiNE

Open-source docs and databases plus a whiteboard, local-first and self-hostable.

ClickUp logo

Best Notion alternative for Mac

ClickUp

Combines docs with stronger task and project management for teams.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Notion alternative for Windows

Microsoft OneNote

Free with a Microsoft account if you only need notebooks, not databases.

Capacities logo

Best Notion alternative for Linux

Capacities

A calmer personal knowledge base with typed objects and a generous free plan.

Craft logo

Best Notion alternative for iPhone and Android

Craft

More polished documents and native apps for individuals and small teams.

AppFlowy logo

Best Notion alternative for working in the browser

AppFlowy

Open-source Notion-style pages and databases you can run on your own servers.

Notion alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Notion?

Obsidian ranks first right now. Local Markdown files you own and offline use, instead of a cloud-only workspace. Anytype and Logseq follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Notion?

Yes. Obsidian (free plan + paid), Anytype (free plan + paid), Logseq (open source) and Joplin (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Notion?

Yes: Logseq, Joplin, AFFiNE and AppFlowy, plus 1 more in the list above. Joplin, AFFiNE and AppFlowy can also be self-hosted.

Which Notion alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian, Anytype, Logseq, Joplin and ClickUp run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Notion?

The complaints we hear most: needs an internet connection for most work; large workspaces can feel slow.

How is this list ranked?

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