AFFiNE vs Outline: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Notion. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
Quick answer: AFFiNE combines documents, databases, and an infinite whiteboard on the same canvas — great if you want something more visual than a traditional wiki. Outline is a more focused team wiki, with instant search and clear collections. AFFiNE is MIT licensed; Outline is BUSL-1.1 (not OSI).
| AFFiNE | Outline | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| License | MIT | BUSL-1.1 |
| GitHub stars | ~46k | ~30k |
| Tech stack | Rust, TypeScript, PostgreSQL | Node.js, React, PostgreSQL, Redis |
| Replaces | Notion | Confluence, Notion |
AFFiNE has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
AFFiNE
Docs + whiteboard on one canvas, an alternative to Notion.
Pros
- Combines notes and a whiteboard, something Notion doesn't offer natively
Things to consider
- The official self-host setup still evolves quickly between versions
Outline
Fast, elegant team wiki, an alternative to Confluence.
Pros
- Very polished interface, fast team adoption
Things to consider
- BUSL-1.1 license restricts offering it as a competing SaaS
Key features
AFFiNE
- Notion-style docs and databases
- Integrated infinite whiteboard
- Local-first mode
Outline
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Instant search
- Collections and team permissions
Already know which one you prefer?
Add it to your Stack Builder and generate a ready-to-deploy docker-compose.yml alongside the rest of your stack.
Go to Stack BuilderFrequently asked questions
AFFiNE or Outline if I only need a team wiki?
Outline: it's focused specifically on team documentation, with instant search and a clear collections structure. AFFiNE's whiteboard adds no value if you only need organized text.
Which one has a visual whiteboard?
Only AFFiNE combines documents, databases, and an infinite whiteboard on the same canvas. Outline doesn't have that feature — it's a wiki focused on text and collections.
What license does each use?
AFFiNE is MIT, a real OSI license. Outline is BUSL-1.1 (Business Source License): the code is public, but it isn't an OSI-recognized license — this matters most if you plan to offer either one as your own paid SaaS.
Which one is more mature for production?
Outline has spent more years focused specifically on its use case (team wiki). AFFiNE is more ambitious in combining more features, but its official self-host still evolves quickly between versions, as we note on its page.