AppFlowy is an open-source collaborative workspace tool positioned as an alternative to Notion, emphasizing data privacy and customization capabilities. Built with Flutter and Rust, it supports cross-platform deployment, offering note management, project collaboration, and database features. The 2025 update integrates AI capabilities and real-time collaboration, suitable for both individual and team use.
Core Features
Block Editor & Multi-Dimensional Data Management
- Supports 20+ content blocks including rich text, tables, kanban boards, and calendars, with customizable properties (text/number/date/select).
- Database views: Table, gallery, timeline, and Gantt charts with filtering, sorting, and batch operations.
AI-Enhanced Tools
- Intelligent Content Processing: Generates summaries, translations, and code snippets using GPT-4o/Claude 3, with support for local deployment of Mistral 7B/Llama 3 models.
- Workflow Automation: AI automatically extracts tasks, generates meeting minutes, and links to databases.
- Semantic Search: Cross-document full-text retrieval with natural language queries (e.g., "Find last week's project progress").
Collaboration & Synchronization
- Real-time multi-user editing with cursor position display and change tracking, supporting comments and @mentions.
- Flexible sync options: Local files, iCloud, WebDAV, and self-hosted servers with encrypted data transmission.
Offline-First Design
- Fully offline work mode with local storage of all operations, automatic incremental sync upon network recovery.
- Local backups and version history with point-in-time recovery.
Features & Advantages
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Source & Free | AGPLv3 license with fully open source code (GitHub: AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy) and no feature restrictions. |
| Data Sovereignty | Supports local storage and self-hosting (Docker/Kubernetes), avoiding vendor lock-in and compliant with GDPR standards. |
| Cross-Platform Experience | Native apps for Windows/macOS/Linux/iOS/Android/Web with interface response time < 200ms. |
| Highly Customizable | Custom themes (light/dark mode/fonts), plugin ecosystem (800+ community plugins), and template library (200+ templates). |
| Performance Optimization | Rust backend handles large datasets, with million-note library startup time < 3 seconds and 40% lower memory usage than Notion. |
Application Scenarios
- Personal Knowledge Management: Build bidirectionally linked knowledge graphs with Markdown and LaTeX support.
- Team Collaboration: Project task assignment, meeting note sharing, and document co-editing with role-based permissions.
- Software Development: Code snippet management, API documentation generation, GitHub integration with syntax highlighting and version comparison.
- Education & Research: Course notes, literature management, and academic diagramming, compatible with Zotero citation plugins.
- Privacy-Sensitive Scenarios: Medical records and legal document management with self-hosted mode ensuring data isolation.
Supported Platforms
- Device Requirements:
- Desktop: Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+/Fedora 34+).
- Mobile: iOS 14+, Android 14+ (优先支持 Samsung Galaxy series).
- Web: Chrome 91+, Edge 91+, Safari 15+.
- Deployment Options: Desktop client, Docker self-hosting, official cloud service (Free/Pro versions).
- Hardware Compatibility: Supports pressure-sensitive input from Apple Pencil, Samsung S Pen, and Wacom tablets.
Open Source Information
- License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPLv3); modified code for commercial use must be open-sourced.
- Community Ecosystem: 58.3k GitHub stars, 500+ contributors, supporting plugin development and feature customization.
- Commercial Services: Pro version at $8/user/month (advanced AI models, priority support); enterprise edition with dedicated deployment solutions.