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Notion does 4 jobs: notes, wikis and docs, databases (tables and boards), sync across devices. Most projects replace one or two of them, so pick the job you actually need.
Open-source alternatives to Notion that run locally, allow commercial use and need no paid API include Trilium Notes (notes, wikis and docs and sync across devices; AGPL-3.0). AFFiNE and Anytype cover all 4 Notion jobs.
Local-first workspace merging docs, whiteboard canvas and multi-view databases, with real-time sync and a self-hostable server.
Local-first, end-to-end encrypted knowledge base with pages, databases and kanban, optional P2P sync or a self-hosted sync network.
Flutter and Rust desktop and mobile workspace for docs, wikis and projects, positioned as an open-source Notion alternative.
Markdown note-taking app with notebooks, web clipper and end-to-end encrypted sync via Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3 or Joplin Cloud.
Real-time collaborative team knowledge base and wiki with Markdown support, self-hosted via Docker or used as a hosted service.
Privacy-first personal knowledge base with block-level references, Markdown WYSIWYG editing, database table views and Docker hosting.
Hierarchical note-taking app for large personal knowledge bases, with scripting, encryption and sync to a self-hosted server.
No project meets all of your requirements. The list below shows what you'd need to relax.
We hid them because something is missing, unknown or conflicting. Here's what.
Yes. Anytype, AFFiNE, AppFlowy, SiYuan and Trilium Notes are free to download and run on your own computer without paid API keys. Anytype and AFFiNE cover every job we list for Notion; the others cover only part of it, so check which job you need.
Yes, with Outline (BUSL-1.1), Anytype (Custom licence) and AFFiNE (Custom licence). Check the hardware notes and licence conditions on each page before you start.
Yes, with Outline (BUSL-1.1), Anytype (Custom licence) and AFFiNE (Custom licence). Check the hardware notes and licence conditions on each page before you start.
Confirmed: SiYuan and Trilium Notes. With conditions: AFFiNE, Anytype, AppFlowy, Joplin and Outline. This is not legal advice; read each licence.
AFFiNE and Anytype cover every job we list for Notion.