AFFiNE is a workspace that fully integrates documents, whiteboards, and databases, with optional AI capabilities. It is officially described as open-source knowledge base software and a local-first workspace, positioned as an open-source alternative to Notion and Miro, enabling teams and creators to build interconnected knowledge bases, plan projects, visualize ideas, and control their own data.
Purpose AFFiNE is aimed at individuals and teams who need to write, draw, and plan in one place. It can be used to build team knowledge bases, organize project plans, record decisions, visually sort out ideas, and keep related knowledge connected, without having to switch between multiple single-purpose tools.
Main capabilities
- Documents: Build and stack content in blocks; users can start from a blank space and let content blocks appear, stack, and form structure.
- Whiteboards: Create visually and collaborate with others to present ideas; ideas can be framed into slides to form engaging presentations.
- Databases: Used for planning, tracking, and collaboration, helping users keep track of workloads.
- AI: Officially said to have an AI partner that helps with better writing, drawing, and planning, but the materials do not provide a specific list of AI features or implementation details.
- Templates: Provides ready-to-use templates suitable for various projects.
- Local-first and privacy: Designed around a local-first and privacy-oriented workflow, giving individuals and teams more control over the management of documents, plans, and knowledge base data.
How to use The materials show that AFFiNE is an integrated platform in which users can write, draw, and plan "all at once." The editor is MIT-licensed and supports self-hosting, with up to 10 seats per workspace free. Regarding specific installation commands, client downloads, or online usage processes, the materials do not provide them.
Use cases
- Building internal knowledge bases, organizing project plans, recording decisions, and visually sorting out ideas.
- Teams that need to bring structured documents, visual whiteboards, databases, and AI workflows together to reduce tool switching.
- Individuals or organizations concerned with local-first, privacy, and data autonomy.
- Used from next-generation startups to mature organizations.
Limitations and information not yet provided The materials do not provide specific AI pricing, prices, platform support (such as operating systems, mobile), specific feature limitations, or details of paid plans beyond self-hosting. How AI features are enabled and which AI models are supported are also not yet explained.
