Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving AFFiNE.
Want the closest match?
PixnoMost similar to AFFiNE in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Pixno in a new tab)Need a free plan?
ObsidianHas a free plan, rated 4.6 out of 5.
Visit (opens Obsidian in a new tab)Want to pay less than AFFiNE?
TanaFrom $5/mo, against from $8/mo for AFFiNE.
Visit (opens Tana in a new tab)Want the best rated?
Notion AIRated 4.5 out of 5 in our review, against 4.2 for AFFiNE.
Visit (opens Notion AI in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than AFFiNE, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AFFiNEBaseline | 4.2 | $8/mo | Yes | An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined | |
| Pixno | 3.8−0.4 | Free | Yes | Snap a photo of a textbook page or lecture slide, get an organized note in seconds - exports straight to Notion, Obsidian or Google Docs. | vs AFFiNE |
 Capacities | 4.3+0.1 | $12/mo$4 more | Yes | Structured object types, not just freeform blocks | vs AFFiNE |
 Fibery Ai | 4.2Same | $12/mo$4 more | Yes | Customizable work management platform that lets teams build their own database-driven tools with AI built in. | vs AFFiNE |
| Notion AI | 4.5+0.3 | $10/mo$2 more | Yes | AI woven into the workspace most PKM competitors get compared against | vs AFFiNE |
| Tana | 4.3+0.1 | $5/mo$3 less | Yes | Supertags turn freeform notes into structured, queryable data | vs AFFiNE |
 Anytype | 4.2Same | $10/mo$2 more | Yes | Local-first and encrypted, with no cloud account required | vs AFFiNE |
| Obsidian | 4.6+0.4 | $4/mo$4 less | Yes | Notes stored as plain local Markdown files, not a proprietary database | vs AFFiNE |
 Appsmith | 4.3+0.1 | $15/mo$7 more | Yes | Open-source low-code platform for building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards. | vs AFFiNE |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches AFFiNE.
Pixno
3.8Free
vs AFFiNE−0.4
Snap a photo of a textbook page or lecture slide, get an organized note in seconds - exports straight to Notion, Obsidian or Google Docs.
- Image, audio and document to structured notes
- Direct export to Notion, Obsidian, Google Docs, Evernote and more
- Web-enhanced notes with related external readings
Captures directly from a photo, not just typed or already-digital text
OCR/audio misreads on handwriting or fast speech deserve a quick review pass
Capacities
4.3$12/mo
vs AFFiNE$4 more+0.1
Structured object types, not just freeform blocks.
- Structured object types (books, people, projects) with defined properties
- Automatic structure based on content type
- Free tier for standard use
Structured object types reduce disorganized freeform note sprawl
More structure means more upfront setup than a purely freeform notes app
Fibery Ai
4.2$12/mo
vs AFFiNE$4 moreSame
Customizable work management platform that lets teams build their own database-driven tools with AI built in.
- Fully custom databases, fields, and relationships instead of fixed app modules
- AI features embedded directly in custom-built entities for drafting and summarizing
- Built-in whiteboards, docs, and formulas alongside structured data
Genuine flexibility to model a team's actual workflow instead of adapting to a rigid template
Setup and configuration take longer than adopting a template-based project tool
Notion AI
4.5$10/mo
vs AFFiNE$2 more+0.3
AI woven into the workspace most PKM competitors get compared against.
- AI writing, summarization, and Q&A grounded in existing workspace content
- Built on Notion's established all-in-one docs and database platform
- Free tier for individual use
AI grounded directly in years of existing workspace content for established users
AI features and team collaboration require a paid plan
Tana
4.3$5/mo
vs AFFiNE$3 less+0.1
Supertags turn freeform notes into structured, queryable data.
- Supertags adding structured fields to freeform outline text
- Live outliner interface combined with database-like querying
- Free tier for standard use
Supertag system genuinely blends freeform notes and structured data
Supertag system has a real learning curve for new users
Anytype
4.2$10/mo
vs AFFiNE$2 moreSame
Local-first and encrypted, with no cloud account required.
- Local-first architecture with end-to-end encryption
- Peer-to-peer sync without requiring a cloud account
- Customizable object-based data model
Genuine local-first, encrypted architecture, not privacy as an afterthought
Peer-to-peer sync can feel less seamless than a pure cloud-sync competitor
Obsidian
4.6$4/mo
vs AFFiNE$4 less+0.4
Notes stored as plain local Markdown files, not a proprietary database.
- Notes stored as local, plain Markdown text files
- Extensive community plugin ecosystem
- Full functionality without requiring a cloud account
Genuine file-format portability and long-term data ownership
Plugin-heavy customization has a real setup learning curve
Appsmith
4.3$15/mo
vs AFFiNE$7 more+0.1
Open-source low-code platform for building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards.
- Drag-and-drop internal tool builder
- 25+ database and REST API connectors
- Open-source, self-hostable codebase
Free-forever tier supports up to 5 users
Free tier caps out at 5 users
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is AFFiNE free?
AFFiNE has a free plan, and paid plans start from $8/mo.
What is the best free alternative to AFFiNE?
Obsidian is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.6 out of 5). Other free options: Notion AI, Capacities, Tana.
What is the cheapest alternative to AFFiNE?
Among paid plans, Obsidian has the lowest starting price (from $4/mo). If you need it free, start with Obsidian.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.