Choosing the right tool to manage your notes, projects, and ideas is important. Anytype vs AFFiNE Pro are two powerful, modern applications that aim to be your all-in-one digital workspace.
They are both popular alternatives to older tools like Notion, offering new and flexible ways to organize your digital life. Understanding their main differences will help you choose the best one for your needs.
What is Anytype?
Anytype is a privacy-focused, local-first platform designed to be a personal knowledge management system. It emphasizes complete data ownership and security by keeping your information stored on your devices first. This tool uses an object-based system, meaning everything you create—a note, a task, or a person—is a connected object. It’s open-source, promoting transparency and a community-driven ecosystem.
What is AFFiNE Pro?
AFFiNE Pro is a versatile, open-source productivity platform that merges documents, databases, and a powerful whiteboard, all in one space. It’s known for its ability to switch between a structured document view and a free-form visual canvas instantly. This platform is a favorite for team collaboration and visual thinkers because of its “Edgeless Mode,” which is a massive digital whiteboard. AFFiNE Pro’s flexibility allows you to easily switch between writing, planning, and brainstorming without changing apps.
Anytype: The Privacy-First Knowledge Hub
Anytype’s core strength lies in its local-first approach, which means your data lives securely on your device, not on a company’s cloud server. It uses peer-to-peer, end-to-end encryption for syncing across your devices, ensuring that only you can read your information. This focus makes it the clear choice for users who prioritize maximum data privacy and control over their digital assets.
Its unique Object-Based System makes the organization very flexible; every item is an object with custom properties that can be related to others. This creates a personal, interconnected web of knowledge, visualized beautifully in the Graph View, helping you see how all your ideas connect. This design is perfect for building a complex, customized personal wiki or knowledge base.
AFFiNE Pro: The Flexible, Collaborative Workspace
AFFiNE Pro stands out by combining the structured editing of a document with the boundless freedom of an Edgeless Canvas (whiteboard). This unique Hyper Fused Platform allows you to type a structured outline and then switch to the visual canvas to rearrange those same ideas into a mind map or flowchart. This feature is great for brainstorming and visualizing complex projects.
Its design is tailored for real-time collaboration, making it an excellent tool for teams, remote work, and shared projects. Multiple users can jump into the same document or whiteboard to edit and brainstorm together seamlessly.AFFiNE Pro also includes powerful databases and an integrated AI assistant to boost productivity and content creation.
Comparison of Key Features
| Feature | Anytype | AFFiNE Pro |
| Data Storage Priority | Local-First (on-device) | Cloud-First (with local option) |
| Data Privacy/Security | End-to-End Encryption, Decentralized Sync | Standard Cloud Security (for Pro), Open-Source |
| Organizational Model | Object-Based, Bi-Directional Linking | Block-Based, Document, Database, & Whiteboard |
| Whiteboard/Canvas | Limited/Developing | Edgeless Canvas (Seamless Doc-to-Canvas Switch) |
| Collaboration | Limited/Developing (P2P Shared Spaces) | Strong Real-Time (Excellent for Teams) |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Final Thoughts
Choosing between Anytype and AFFiNE Pro depends on what you value most in a digital workspace. If your main goal is maximum privacy, data control, and building a deeply interconnected personal knowledge base, then Anytype is the superior choice. If you prioritize real-time teamwork, a highly flexible visual workspace, and the seamless combination of documents and whiteboards, AFFiNE Pro will be the better fit for your collaborative workflow. Both are great modern options, but they serve slightly different needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which tool is better for personal note-taking?
Anytype is generally better for personal note-taking and knowledge management because of its strong focus on privacy and its object-based system. This unique structure helps you build a rich, personalized network of connected thoughts and ideas.
2. Which application is best for team collaboration?
AFFiNE Pro is the better choice for team collaboration right now. It offers robust real-time editing and sharing within its documents, and its powerful Edgeless Canvas (whiteboard) is perfect for group brainstorming sessions.
3. What does “local-first” mean for Anytype?
“Local-first” means your data is primarily stored on your own device, giving you total control and access even without an internet connection. This is different from cloud-first app,s where your data mainly lives on the company’s servers.
4. What is the difference between Anytype’s ‘Objects’ and AFFiNE Pro’s ‘Blocks’?
In Anytype, an “Object” is a meaningful piece of data (like a meeting note or a contact) with custom properties. In AFFiNE Pro, a “Block” is a basic building unit of content, like a paragraph of text, an image, or a to-do item.
5. Does AFFiNE Pro have an offline mode?
Yes, AFFiNE Pro does offer some offline capabilities, allowing you to view and edit certain data without an internet connection.However, its real-time collaboration and syncing features rely on being online.
6. Which tool is more beginner-friendly?
Both tools have a slight learning curve because of their advanced features. However, AFFiNE Pro’s ability to switch between standard document view and a visual canvas might make it feel more intuitive for new users initially.
7. Are Anytype and AFFiNE Pro open-source?
Yes, both Anytype and AFFiNE Pro are open-source. This means their source code is public and can be inspected by anyone, which promotes transparency and allows the community to contribute to their development.
8. How does the Graph View work in Anytype?
The Graph View in Anytype visually displays the connections between your objects (notes, tasks, etc.). This helps you see a holistic map of your knowledge and navigate through related ideas very quickly and intuitively.
9. Can I easily switch from Notion to either of these tools?
Both Anytype and AFFiNE Pro offer features and structures similar to Notion, which makes switching easier. AFFiNE Pro specifically has tools to import content from Notion, Markdown, and HTML to simplify your move.
10. Is the AFFiNE Pro whiteboard feature unique?
Yes, the most unique part of AFFiNE Pro’s whiteboard (Edgeless Canvas) is the seamless, one-click switch. You can transform your structured document content into a visual mind map instantly, which is a powerful way to organize your ideas.
