AppFlowy vs Outline
Self-host pick — both replace Notion (Notes / wiki / docs).
Both AppFlowy and Outline self-host as a replacement for Notion (Notes / wiki / docs). Pick Outline if you want the lighter footprint — 15min docker-compose, $5 vps handles a 25-person team comfortably (postgres + redis + s3-compatible blob store on the same box). Pick AppFlowy if you need users who specifically want the Notion block model (toggles, callouts, kanban) — 30min docker-compose (AppFlowy Cloud) and $10 vps for a small team; appflowy cloud stack is heavier (postgres + redis + minio + ai worker).
| AppFlowyopen-source | Outlineopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | BSL-1.1 |
| Setup time | 30min docker-compose (AppFlowy Cloud) | 15min docker-compose |
| Monthly cost | $10 VPS for a small team; AppFlowy Cloud stack is heavier (Postgres + Redis + MinIO + AI worker). | $5 VPS handles a 25-person team comfortably (Postgres + Redis + S3-compatible blob store on the same box). |
| GitHub | AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy | outline/outline |
| Replaces | Notion | Notion + 2 other |
Good fit for
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli notion prints Notion's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, AppFlowy or Outline?
AppFlowy: 30min docker-compose (AppFlowy Cloud). Outline: 15min docker-compose.
What does each cost to run?
AppFlowy: $10 VPS for a small team; AppFlowy Cloud stack is heavier (Postgres + Redis + MinIO + AI worker).. Outline: $5 VPS handles a 25-person team comfortably (Postgres + Redis + S3-compatible blob store on the same box).. Both projects are free and open source.
Do AppFlowy and Outline replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Notion.