Notion has been the cornerstone of my productivity for a long time. I really like how it handles databases and lets me create things like custom dashboards. But sometimes it feels like you spend more time managing the app than actually getting things done. So, I’ve been on a journey to find better Notion alternatives.

That search led me to AFFiNE. It has all the core things I love about Notion, like databases and dashboards, but it goes beyond that. Plus, it’s much more privacy-focused. Here’s why I’ve been reaching for AFFiNE over Notion these days…

Instant block editing

It uses the slash command just like Notion

One of the things that made Notion so appealing in the first place was the slash command. All I had to do to get anything on my page was hit / and select what I needed from the dropdown. AFFiNE has the same function. The block menu covers all the usual suspects: text, headers, to-do lists, numbered lists, bullet lists, dividers, quotes, and more. But it also has richer options that makes it a full productivity suite: tables, kanban boards, images, links, embeds, and even code blocks with syntax highlighting. So for those who build dashboards and detailed notes, you’re not just typing in a note but constructing something interactive.

I also like how fluidly some of the blocks can change forms; for example, a numbered list can be turned into a bullet list in one click. Rearranging blocks is also just a drag away. The result is a writing and organizing flow that feels fast and predictable, and it still keeps that same Lego-block feel of Notion. It also has a couple of unique blocks that Notion doesn’t, such as Mind Map and Frame.

Better mind mapping

Create mind maps in a few clicks, no code needed

Speaking of mind maps, Notion doesn’t have built-in mind mapping features. The best you can do is embed a diagram with Mermaid, and while the syntax is pretty straightforward, it’s still writing code to sketch out workflows and ideas. Personally, I quite enjoy using Mermaid, but if there’s an option to draw my diagrams as opposed to programming them, I’m definitely reaching for it.

Mind maps are native in AFFiNE. They’re powered by the same Edgeless canvas you’ll see throughout the rest of the app, but attuned specifically to mind mapping. Unlike Notion, which takes a whole workaround to get your mind map on your page, all you have to do in AFFiNE is press the slash command and select Mind Map. Double-clicking on the mind map block will open it in its own window, where you can continue editing it.

In the canvas editor, you can customize your mind map however you see fit by adding connected arrows, typing text, adding shapes, changing the colors of everything, and so on. As a visual thinker, this mind mapping integration alone is pretty much enough to make me leave Notion.

The canvas

Notion doesn’t have anything close

Mind mapping is just one of the things you can do with AFFiNE’s canvas. It’s an infinite whiteboard (called Edgeless) with a handful of robust features and tools. You can drop a canvas into your page as a block with the slash command; it’s called a Frame. Opening this canvas transforms your workspace into a freeform space. It comes with all the tools you’d need for a whiteboard, including shapes, drawing features, sticky notes, and more. It reminds me of Obsidian Canvas.

It has databases

Notion-style

This is where AFFiNE really starts stepping into Notion’s lane. Just like in Notion, you can create databases that act as the backbone of your workspace. This includes tables, boards, calendars, galleries, lists, and more. They’re not just statistical spreadsheets either; each entry can expand into its own page that you can further elaborate on with all the same block options. I’ve been using databases to track tasks and organize my projects. All it takes is hitting the slash command and selecting the Table option.

Moreover, AFFiNE’s databases support many of the same functions Notion’s do, including things like relations to create a link between two blocks of related data. Plus, it has calculations, which are great for managing things like task performance or budgets. One of the coolest things, however, is that you can actually drop a database (or any page, really) directly into a canvas as its own element.

Better AI tools

It’s built right into your workflow

AFFiNE comes with a set of AI helpers, so you don’t have to bounce between apps to draft or restructure text. With the command slash, you can apply a host of AI tools like grammar fixes, summarization, translation, tone changes, and more. Beyond this, it also has a chatbot built in, which can access both your content information as well as do web searches. It does have some limitations with real-time data and dynamic web content, however.

AFFiNE is more than a Notion clone

AFFiNE is a fully realized productivity suite that combines blocks, databases, mind mapping, canvas editing, a suite of AI tools, and much more that I didn't cover here. It goes beyond what I’d expect from a free tool, letting me organize and visualize my work without jumping between apps or losing momentum. It’s the kind of tool that makes you wonder why you ever settled for less.