Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Capacities.
Want the closest match?
AnytypeMost similar to Capacities in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Anytype in a new tab)Need a free plan?
TrelloHas a free plan, rated 4.5 out of 5.
Visit (opens Trello in a new tab)Want to pay less than Capacities?
TanaFrom $5/mo, against from $12/mo for Capacities.
Visit (opens Tana in a new tab)Want the best rated?
HeptabaseRated 4.4 out of 5 in our review, against 4.3 for Capacities.
Visit (opens Heptabase in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Capacities, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 CapacitiesBaseline | 4.3 | $12/mo | Yes | Structured object types, not just freeform blocks | |
| Anytype | 4.2−0.1 | $10/mo$2 less | Yes | Local-first and encrypted, with no cloud account required | vs Capacities |
| Tana | 4.3Same | $5/mo$7 less | Yes | Supertags turn freeform notes into structured, queryable data | vs Capacities |
 Supernormal | 4.3Same | $18/mo$6 more | Yes | Templated meeting notes matched to the specific type of meeting | vs Capacities |
 AFFiNE | 4.2−0.1 | $8/mo$4 less | Yes | An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined | vs Capacities |
| Trello | 4.5+0.2 | $5/mo$7 less | Yes | The kanban-board work management tool, now with Atlassian Intelligence AI built into every card | vs Capacities |
 Mem | 4.1−0.2 | $10/mo$2 less | Yes | Organizes itself automatically, without manual folders or tags | vs Capacities |
 MyMemo | 3.8−0.5 | $5.9/mo$6.1 less | Yes | Collects saved content into a personal knowledge base you can question directly. | vs Capacities |
| Heptabase | 4.4+0.1 | $9/mo$3 less | No | A visual whiteboard for connecting notes, built for deep research work | vs Capacities |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Capacities.
Anytype
4.2$10/mo
vs Capacities$2 less−0.1
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
Tana
4.3$5/mo
vs Capacities$7 lessSame
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
Supernormal
4.3$18/mo
vs Capacities$6 moreSame
Templated meeting notes matched to the specific type of meeting.
- Meeting-type-matched note templates
- Automatic template selection based on meeting context
- Free tier for standard use
Template-matched notes fit different meeting types more naturally
More features require a paid plan
AFFiNE
4.2$8/mo
vs Capacities$4 less−0.1
An open-source Notion alternative, docs and whiteboard combined.
- Combined documents, whiteboard, and database in one workspace
- Fully open-source with self-hosting available
- Freeform canvas alongside structured document editing
Genuine open-source alternative to closed note-taking platforms
Smaller ecosystem and community than Notion's much larger user base
Trello
4.5$5/mo
vs Capacities$7 less+0.2
The kanban-board work management tool, now with Atlassian Intelligence AI built into every card.
- Atlassian Intelligence writing assistant built into card descriptions and comments
- AI summarization that condenses long notes or meeting minutes into a short overview
- AI action-item extraction that turns messy notes into a structured checklist
Free plan is genuinely usable for individuals and small teams, not a limited-feature trial
AI features are recent additions layered onto an older product, not a ground-up AI-native design
Mem
4.1$10/mo
vs Capacities$2 less−0.2
Organizes itself automatically, without manual folders or tags.
- Automatic note organization without manual folders or tags
- AI surfaces related notes based on current context
- Free tier for standard use
Removes the burden of manual folder and tag maintenance
Automatic organization can feel less predictable than manual control for some users
MyMemo
3.8$5.9/mo
vs Capacities$6.1 less−0.5
Collects saved content into a personal knowledge base you can question directly.
- Personal knowledge base from saved content
- Question answering across your own material
- Handles articles, documents and notes
Attacks retrieval rather than just saving
Answers need checking against the saved source
Heptabase
4.4$9/mo
vs Capacities$3 less+0.1
A visual whiteboard for connecting notes, built for deep research work.
- Visual whiteboard-based note organization and connection
- Spatial arrangement for mapping complex research relationships
- Built for literature review and multi-source research work
Visual whiteboard suits genuinely non-linear, complex research work
No free tier to test before committing
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Capacities free?
Capacities has a free plan, and paid plans start from $12/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Capacities?
Trello is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.5 out of 5). Other free options: Tana, Supernormal, Anytype.
What is the cheapest alternative to Capacities?
Among paid plans, Tana has the lowest starting price (from $5/mo). If you need it free, start with Trello.
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.