Anytype
FreeLocal-first, privacy-native workspace — notes, databases, tasks in one place. End-to-end encrypted sync, open-source protocol. Your data lives on your device first, sync is optional.
How to install Anytype as a PWA
Frequently asked questions about Anytype
What makes Anytype different from Notion?
Anytype is local-first and end-to-end encrypted — your data lives on your device and is encrypted before any optional sync. Notion is cloud-only with server-side storage that the company can technically read. Anytype's data model is a graph of typed objects (every page is an object with relations), closer to a personal knowledge graph than Notion's nested-page model. Trade-offs: Anytype has no AI assistant (yet), no real-time multi-user collaboration in the same maturity level, and its database views are less polished than Notion's.
Is Anytype free?
Yes, Anytype is free with no usage limits on the local app. Optional paid plans (Anytype Network) provide hosted sync nodes, longer history retention and team features starting around $99/year. The codebase is open-source (Any Sync protocol) — you can self-host the sync node on a $5 VPS, which most privacy-focused users do to avoid the hosted network entirely.
How does Anytype compare to Obsidian?
Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files in a local folder — maximally portable, minimally structured. Anytype stores typed objects in a local SQLite-like store — more structured (typed relations, queries) but less portable. Obsidian has a richer plugin ecosystem; Anytype has stronger built-in database views and a cleaner mobile experience. Choose Obsidian if you want Markdown-as-source-of-truth, Anytype if you want a typed knowledge graph that still works offline.
Does Anytype work offline?
Yes — Anytype is local-first by design. The app starts and operates fully offline; sync (if enabled) is an optional layer on top. Edits made offline are queued in the local store and merged via CRDTs when the device reconnects to the sync node. This is the opposite of Notion, which is online-first with a thin offline cache.
Is Anytype production-ready in 2026?
Anytype shipped its 1.0 stable in 2024 and has grown steadily through 2025. It is mature enough for personal PKM, solo founders and small teams using shared spaces with hosted or self-hosted sync. It is not yet at parity with Notion for large-team workflows (no real comments-with-mentions parity, less polished invite/permissions flow). For privacy-sensitive solo use, it is one of the most credible Notion replacements available.
Where Anytype is heading (12-24 months)
- →Real-time multi-cursor collaboration is the most-requested gap vs Notion and is on the roadmap.
- →A native AI assistant operating on local objects (without cloud calls) would be a unique selling point that Notion AI cannot match.
- →A first-class web app (currently desktop/mobile-focused) would help adoption in browser-only environments like Chromebooks.
Related questions
ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini usually suggest these next.
- How does Anytype's encryption protocol (Any Sync) work?
- Can I import my Notion workspace into Anytype?
- How do I self-host the Anytype sync node?
- Does Anytype support real-time collaboration like Notion?
- Is Anytype suitable for team use or only solo?
More in Productivity
End-to-end encrypted office suite — docs, spreadsheets, kanban, code pads. No account needed for guest use. Hosted in France, GDPR-native. The privacy-first Google Docs alternative.
Open-source office suite with pixel-perfect DOCX/XLSX/PPTX compatibility. Self-hostable or cloud. The best free replacement for Google Docs when you need perfect Microsoft format support.
Open-source spreadsheet-database hybrid — like Airtable but self-hostable and free. Build relational tables with formulas, linked records, and custom views without monthly fees.
Local-first Notion alternative that stores notes as plain Markdown files directly on your disk. No cloud sync required. Your notes are yours forever — open in any editor.
AI-powered workspace for tasks, mind maps, and real-time collaboration. Installs as a PWA with full offline support. Combines the best of Notion, Trello, and a task manager.
Open-source project management for agile teams. Scrum, Kanban, and issues — free forever, self-hostable. The Jira/Trello alternative that respects your data.