Notion does three jobs for most teams: a block editor for docs and notes, databases for lightweight tracking, and a wiki people can search. No single open-source project matches all three as smoothly, but several match one or two of them very well, and you get to keep the data on your own server.
Every tool below is under an OSI-approved licence (AGPL-3.0 or MIT), checked against its repository. Two popular tools that are often called open source but aren't, Outline and Anytype, are listed separately at the end so you know what you're agreeing to.
Licences checked against each repository on November 6, 2026.
Describes itself as an open-source Notion alternative: block documents, databases with grid, board and calendar views, and AI features. Desktop and mobile apps are built with Flutter, and AppFlowy Cloud can be self-hosted for sync and collaboration.
A privacy-first workspace that merges documents, an infinite canvas (edgeless mode) and tables. Local-first by default, with a self-hostable server for teams. The Community Edition is MIT-licensed.
Collaborative wiki and documentation software with real-time editing, spaces, permissions and diagrams. Deploys with Docker and Postgres. Some enterprise features live in separately licensed folders; the core is AGPL-3.0.
Best for: Personal knowledge base with block references
A self-hosted knowledge workspace with block-level references, embedded queries and database views. Runs as a desktop app or in Docker with browser access.
A hierarchical note-taking app for building a large personal knowledge base, with a self-hostable sync server, note cloning, scripting and encryption for individual notes.
A simple wiki that organises content into shelves, books, chapters and pages, with roles, permissions and search. PHP/Laravel; development has moved to Codeberg.
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How to choose
If you need…
Start with
Replace Notion for a team, docs plus databases
AppFlowy
Docs and whiteboards together
AFFiNE
An internal wiki non-developers will edit
Docmost or BookStack
Docs stored in Git alongside code
Wiki.js
A personal second brain with backlinks
Logseq, SiYuan or Trilium
Quick notes on a tiny server
Memos
Often called open source, but aren't
Public source code, but under licences the Open Source Initiative doesn't approve. Fine to use; read the terms first.
Outline(BSL 1.1)
Source code is public and self-hosting is allowed, but the Business Source License is not an open-source licence. Each version converts to Apache-2.0 after its change date.
Anytype(Any Source Available License 1.0)
Local-first and readable source, but the licence limits commercial use, so it isn't OSI-approved.
Open-source Notion alternatives: FAQ
Quick answers to common questions
Is there an open-source version of Notion?
Notion itself is proprietary. AppFlowy is the closest open-source equivalent, with block documents and database views under AGPL-3.0. AFFiNE (MIT) is a strong second choice if you also want a whiteboard.
Which open-source Notion alternative can I self-host for a team?
AppFlowy and AFFiNE both offer self-hostable servers for team sync. If you mainly need a shared wiki rather than databases, Docmost, BookStack and Wiki.js are simpler to run with Docker.
Is Outline open source?
No. Outline's code is public, but it's licensed under the Business Source License 1.1, which its own licence text says is not an open-source licence. Each release converts to Apache-2.0 after a change date.
Can I import my Notion workspace into these tools?
Usually, through Notion's Markdown or HTML export, which most of these tools can read. AppFlowy also advertises migration help from Notion. Databases and relations rarely survive cleanly, so test with a copy of one workspace before moving everything.
What's the difference between AGPL and MIT for a self-hosted notes app?
For internal use, nothing in practice. The difference appears if you modify the code and offer it to others over a network: the AGPL requires you to publish your changes, while MIT doesn't.
Maintain an open-source Notion alternative?
List it on TechLogHub and we'll review it for this page.
