5 Privacy-Focused Notion Alternatives That I Tried!

Byadmin

Warp Terminal
✅ Local-first
✅ Open Source
✅ Note-taking / Journal
✅ AI assistant (paid unlocks more usage)
✅ Self-host
✅ Android and iOS apps
✅ Templates
✅ Collaboration (cloud)
❌Calendar
❌Two-factor Authentication (cloud)
❌Google Drive/Slack connections
❌No Notion importAnd, of course, the AI features are exclusive to paid customers (and only if you are signed in using an online account).You just need to hit the “Anonymous” button on its start screen to use it offline without any account syncing feature.I find AppFlowy as a simpler alternative to Notion if you do not need all Notion-like abilities. You can focus on managing tasks, to-do lists, and organize notes with AppFlowy just fine. And, there is a little extra in the form of templates available. So, you can use some of the same Notion templates here as well.So, if you want something that does a better job at taking control of your data, offers a reviewable source-code, or just offers something different, there are some alternatives you can choose instead.

💭
Notion is a unique and competitive offering in itself. So, it is tough to find an exact replacement. All the available options are mere choices that you can go for instead as per different requirements, these may never be able to replace Notion.

1. AFFiNE

affine screenshot
I think this is a suitable option for users laser-focused on creating one type of document.

I hope these options should work for all kinds of preferences.Suggested Read 📖

For some, it is just the UI, and for others, it is all about the functionality.

💭💭💭💭💭Anytype does offer a nice Notion import feature as well. However, it is not perfect (which they have mentioned in their documentation). So, you will have to do a little work after importing the data to organize it appropriately.

That being said, AFFiNE tries to do more than what Notion has to offer. It focuses on being local-first, and also offers drawing capabilities as standout features.

13 Useful Tips on Organizing Notes Better With ObsidianUtilize Obsidian knowledge tool more effectively with these helpful tips and tweaks.

Wrapping Up

📋In the journey of exploring such tools, Notion is probably my super favorite. Whether you are looking for a second brain app, something to manage team tasks, or to jot down ideas, Notion is an all-in-one app.While I like it overall, it did disappoint me when I tried to import my data from Notion (it failed!). Maybe while we publish this, the issue is fixed, and the migration is swift. Until then, I would recommend this to users who hesitated using Notion for being proprietary or if you do not have a lot of data to copy.I find Anytype one of the best alternatives to Notion with a solid focus on privacy. If you do not mind the source-available license, you should like the experience, as it feels just like using a local-version of Notion.Considering it does not rely on the cloud, you can choose to use it completely offline (on your browser, or as an app).

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