5 Open Source alternatives to Notion in 2026
We compare 5 self-hostable tools you can deploy on your own server in minutes, with license, tech stack and a ready-to-copy docker-compose.
Quick comparison
Sorted by featured first, then GitHub stars as a tiebreaker — the same rule we use across the whole site.
Detailed profile of each alternative
Alternative to Notion
Notes and database workspace, the open source alternative to Notion.
Alternative to Linear, Notion, Slack
Projects + chat + docs in one, an alternative to Linear/Notion/Slack.
Alternative to Confluence, Notion
Fast, elegant team wiki, an alternative to Confluence.
Alternative to Confluence, Notion
Modern collaborative wiki, an open source alternative to Confluence.
Alternative to Notion
Docs + whiteboard on one canvas, an alternative to Notion.
How do I replace Notion?
A practical guide with the real use case and limitation of each of the 5 alternatives, to pick the one that fits best.
See replacement guide →How much does Notion cost, and how much can you save?
Notion costs $10/mo per user. Self-hosting the alternative, you only pay for the server — usually a few dollars a month.
Calculate your exact savings in the SaaS Audit →Already know which one you want?
Add AppFlowy to the Stack Builder and generate a ready-to-deploy docker-compose.yml, alone or alongside the rest of your stack.
Build my stackFrequently asked questions
Do I need Docker to self-host a Notion alternative?
Yes, for all 5: each one has a ready-to-copy docker-compose.yml. You just need Docker installed on your server.
How much RAM do I need at minimum?
The lightest option on this list is AppFlowy, which runs on as little as 1GB of RAM — enough for a cheap VPS.
Are they all 100% free, or are there paid features like on Notion?
1 out of 5 are 100% FOSS. The rest are Open-Core: the core is free and self-hostable, but some advanced feature may stay paid — we call it out on each tool's page.