Free & Open Source Notion Alternatives in 2025

AppFlowy stands out as a privacy-first collaborative workspace that puts you in control of your data. Built with both teams and individuals in mind, it offers powerful AI capabilities including local models like Mistral 7B and Llama 3, alongside cloud options like GPT-4 and Claude 3 Sonnet.

The platform excels with its versatile features:

• Run AI models locally for enhanced privacy
• Create custom views and organize data your way
• Work offline with 100% local storage option
• Self-host the entire system
• Access your workspace across desktop and mobile devices
• Collaborate seamlessly with rich content types and database tools

With a thriving community of over 6,000 members across 190 countries, AppFlowy is continuously evolving through community contributions. The platform's open-source nature ensures transparency and allows for unlimited customization, making it ideal for users who value both privacy and flexibility in their digital workspace.

AFFiNE is an innovative all-in-one knowledge platform that revolutionizes how teams collaborate and create. Built as a privacy-focused, local-first solution, it seamlessly integrates document editing, whiteboarding, and project management into a unified workspace.

The platform offers three core capabilities that work in perfect harmony:

• Dynamic Document Creation: Build rich content with block-based editing and AI assistance
• Infinite Whiteboarding: Visualize ideas on an endless canvas with freeform drawing tools
• Efficient Project Planning: Organize work with Kanban boards and collaborative task management

What sets AFFiNE apart is its hyperfused approach - users can seamlessly switch between different modes without losing context or switching tools. The open-source nature ensures transparency and enables community-driven development, while the local-first architecture gives users full control over their data.

Whether you're a student taking notes, a designer sketching concepts, or a team managing complex projects, AFFiNE adapts to your workflow while maintaining a clean, intuitive interface.

Outline is a powerful knowledge management solution built for modern teams. The platform features a lightning-fast markdown editor with slash commands and interactive embeds, enabling teams to create and organize documentation effortlessly.

Key features include real-time collaboration with multiplayer editing and threaded comments, AI-powered search for instant document discovery and question answering, and deep Slack integration for seamless knowledge sharing within your existing workflows.

The platform stands out with its:

• Intuitive interface and blazing-fast performance
• Robust security with granular permissions and user groups
• Support for 20+ languages including RTL
• 20+ integrations with tools like Figma and Loom
• Custom domain and white-labeling options
• Open source codebase for self-hosting flexibility

Whether you're documenting processes, sharing product specs, or creating support resources, Outline helps teams build a single source of truth that's accessible, organized, and always up-to-date.

Focalboard is a powerful open source project management solution that gives teams complete control over their workflow. Built as a robust alternative to proprietary tools, it offers multiple view options including Kanban boards, tables, galleries, and calendars to visualize work effectively.

Teams can collaborate in real-time with card comments, @mentions, and granular permission controls. The platform includes unlimited boards and custom attributes, allowing organizations to create perfectly tailored workspaces. Get started quickly with pre-built templates for project tasks, content calendars, OKRs, roadmaps, and more.

Key features include:

• Flexible task organization with grouping, filtering, and sorting
• File sharing and team messaging capabilities
• Comprehensive backup and archiving options
• Multi-team views and priority labeling
• Full customization of templates and attributes

As a 100% open source solution, Focalboard offers complete transparency and control over your project management infrastructure, backed by an active community of contributors and users.