AFFiNE vs Notion
AFFiNE
affine.pro
Notion
notion.comSide by side
| Figure | AFFiNE | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $6.75/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · Document Collaboration Software | 9.5 (#1) | 9.0 (#5) |
| Founded | 2022 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Integrations | The product supports Google Calendar and CalDAV synchronization, a web clipper, and imports from Notion, Obsidian, Bear and OneNote. | Slack,Google Drive,Figma,GitHub,Zoom,Microsoft Teams |
| Platforms | AFFiNE lists browser access, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, a Chrome Web Clipper, and self-hosted Docker deployment. | web,windows,macos,ios,android,chrome_extension |
Plans
AFFiNE
- FreeFree
- Local FOSS + Cloud BasicFree
- Pro$6.75 a month
- AFFiNE AI$8.90 a month
- AFFiNE AI$8.90 a month
- Team$10 a month
- Believer$499.99, paid once
- Believer Plan$499.99, paid once
- Code LicensePriced on request
- EnterprisePriced on request
Notion
- FreeFree
- Plus$10 a month
- Business$20 a month
- BusinessPriced on request
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
AFFiNE
AFFiNE combines documents, whiteboards, databases, and AI in a local-first workspace. Its AI tools can draft and summarize content, adjust tone, generate mind maps, and create presentations. AFFiNE AI runs through AFFiNE Cloud and requires sign-in; each Cloud user receives 10 trial experiences, and the page says users can bring their own API key starting with version 0.27.
A built-in MCP server lets compatible clients such as Claude and Cursor search a workspace and read documents. Its credentials are limited to one workspace, can be revoked, and default to read-only access. The desktop app stores documents and whiteboards on the device for offline reading and editing without an account. Mobile apps focus on capturing and reviewing notes, while the full Edgeless whiteboard and local file control are on desktop. The free cloud tier includes up to 3 workspace members, 10 GB of storage, and 7 days of version history. The editor, desktop app, and most of the codebase are MIT-licensed; the backend uses the AFFiNE Enterprise Edition license. AFFiNE serves individual creators, small teams, and enterprise teams seeking self-hosting or custom deployment.
Notion
Notion is a cloud workspace for organising personal projects and coordinating work. Its pages, blocks, and databases support note sharing and real-time collaboration, and offline access is available. It runs on the web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with a Chrome extension also listed. Connections include Slack, Google Drive, Figma, GitHub, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. Notion supports semantic search, AI search or answers, and version history. The Free plan costs $0 per member per month and includes trial AI capabilities and a trial of Notion AI. Free uploads are limited to 5 MB per file, multi-member Free workspaces have a limited number of blocks, and external guests are limited to 10. Plus costs $10 per member per month, and Business costs $20 per member per month; yearly payment saves up to 20%. Paid plans list unlimited guests. Notion says data is encrypted and private, and that Notion AI does not use customer data to train models unless users opt in. Enterprise workspaces get zero data retention with LLM providers.