About AFFiNE

AFFiNE is an open-source workspace that combines writing, drawing and planning in a single app. Documents, an edgeless whiteboard and table views share the same blocks, so you can place rich text, sticky notes, embedded web pages, database views, linked pages, shapes and even slides anywhere on one canvas. It is presented as an alternative to Notion and Miro.

The project stresses local-first storage, meaning your data lives on your own device first, together with real-time collaboration. A multimodal AI assistant helps write reports, turn outlines into slides, summarize articles into mind maps and organize tasks. Under the hood it uses CRDTs for syncing and is built mostly in TypeScript and Rust, with Electron for the desktop app. It also supports Markdown, wiki and knowledge-base use, and presentations.

AFFiNE's license is listed as 'Other' on GitHub, so review it before commercial use. There is a live demo and documentation on the project site, a hosted version is available, and the app can also be self-hosted.

Key features

Docs, whiteboard and tables on one canvas
Local-first data storage on your device
Real-time multi-user collaboration
AI assistant for writing, slides and mind maps
Markdown editing and linked pages
Desktop app built on Electron

Good fit for

→Replacing both Notion and Miro with one app
→Team knowledge base and wiki
→Planning and brainstorming on a whiteboard

Built with: TypeScript; Rust; Electron
Tags: notion-alternative; miro-alternative; whiteboard; knowledge-base; local-first; wiki; note-taking; crdt; ai