AFFiNE vs Trilium
Is it time to switch? We break down the differences so you can stop bleeding money.
Choose AFFiNE.
If you want to own your data, save money, and avoid vendor lock-in, AFFiNE is more popular among developers.
What Actually Matters
No fluff โ just the differences that affect your decision
Both open source, different licenses: AFFiNE uses Other, Trilium uses AGPL-3.0. Check the fine print if you're building commercial.
Both can run on your own metal with Docker. Full data ownership, no cloud dependency. We have deploy guides for each.
AFFiNE leads at 73.5k stars vs 38.3k, but both have solid communities. You won't be alone with either choice.
Both written in TypeScript. Same ecosystem, same talent pool โ makes switching easier if you ever need to.
Try both โ most offer free tiers. The right pick depends on your stack size, team, and tolerance for DevOps.
AFFiNE
There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ษโfain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
Why Choose AFFiNE
- โModern block editor with Notion-like feel
- โSpatial canvas for whiteboarding and visual thinking
- โHybrid local-first and cloud sync architecture
Drawbacks
- รStill in beta
Trilium
A hierarchical note-taking application built on TypeScript and available for desktop platforms, allowing users to organize and build their personal knowledge base. Supports data synchronization, tagging, and media embedding.
Why Choose Trilium
- โBuilt on TypeScript โ ensuring a robust and maintainable architecture
- โSupports data synchronization โ keeping notes up-to-date across devices
- โHierarchical organization โ enabling users to build a structured knowledge base
Drawbacks
- รSelf-hosting can be complex
- รSmaller ecosystem compared to other note-taking applications
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