AppFlowy vs Trilium
Is it time to switch? We break down the differences so you can stop bleeding money.
Choose AppFlowy.
If you want to own your data, save money, and avoid vendor lock-in, AppFlowy is more popular among developers.
What Actually Matters
No fluff โ just the differences that affect your decision
Both are open source under AGPL-3.0. No lock-in on either side โ pick based on fit, not fear.
Both can run on your own metal with Docker. Full data ownership, no cloud dependency. We have deploy guides for each.
AppFlowy dominates with 77.3k GitHub stars vs 38.3k. Bigger community = more plugins, more answers on Stack Overflow, faster bug fixes.
AppFlowy is built in Dart, Trilium in TypeScript. Matters if you want to contribute, extend, or debug internals.
Try both โ most offer free tiers. The right pick depends on your stack size, team, and tolerance for DevOps.
AppFlowy
Bring projects, wikis, and teams together with AI. AppFlowy is the AI collaborative workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data. The leading open source Notion alternative.
Why Choose AppFlowy
- โLocal-first architecture โ your data never leaves your machine
- โPrivacy-focused alternative to Notion
- โBuilt in Rust for native desktop performance
Drawbacks
- รNo web version (yet)
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
Related Comparisons
Explore alternatives for other tools in Productivity