AFFiNE vs NoteGen
We give AFFiNE and NoteGen the same GPA: 3.4 out of 4.0. AFFiNE grades higher on ease of use. NoteGen grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
AFFiNE
Open-source workspace that merges docs, whiteboards and databases
How we grade them
| 3.4GPAAFFiNEVery good | 3.4GPANoteGenVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPro is $6.75 a month billed annually, about the $5.99 this category typically starts at, for 100 GB and 10 members a workspace. AI isn't in it: that's another $8.9 a month. The $499.99 Believer lifetime plan is for fans. | AFree and open source under GPL-3.0, with no subscription and no account. The site says all core features are free and that donating doesn't buy you feature priority or private support. |
| Free plan and trial | AUnlimited local workspaces with no account, plus a free cloud tier with 10 GB of storage and 3 members a workspace. Most people could stay here. The cloud caps are 10 MB a file, 3 login devices and 7 days of version history. | AThe full app is free on every platform, with built-in free AI models or your own provider. Even the sync server can be self-hosted at no charge. There's no paid tier to hit. |
| Features | ABlock-based documents, the Edgeless whiteboard and databases all in one place, working fully offline on desktop. The cloud adds real-time co-editing and version history. Templates run from Cornell notes to storyboards, and you can host the whole stack yourself. | ACapture text, voice, screenshots, links and files as records, then have AI turn the ones you pick into a summary, report or article. Add a Markdown editor with math, Mermaid diagrams and file history, a chat and agent that works over your notes, and an infinite canvas. |
| Ease of use | BWe have no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. The desktop app opens without an account and works offline, and cloud sync is something you add later if you want it. Hosting it yourself means Docker. | CNo store rating to go on, and the listing shows real setup. The Mac app isn't signed, so the download page hands you Terminal commands if macOS calls it damaged. Sync means connecting GitHub, S3 or WebDAV yourself, and your own AI models need configuring. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, so every device is covered. But the listing shows no integrations and no API, so it doesn't talk to your other tools. | BWindows, macOS and Linux apps, a web clipper, and sync through GitHub, GitLab, Gitee, Gitea, S3 or WebDAV. Phone apps exist but they're Alpha: an ARM64 APK for Android and TestFlight for iPhone. That keeps it off the A for now. |
| Best for | docs and a whiteboard in one open source workspace | dumping thoughts in now and letting AI tidy them later |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: AFFiNE and NoteGen. How we grade
Where they differ
- AFFiNE starts at $6.75 per month, billed annually. NoteGen is free.
- Only AFFiNE lists a web app.
- AFFiNE is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- AFFiNE also covers databases.
- NoteGen also covers notes, Markdown and web clipper.
At a glance
| AFFiNE | NoteGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $6.75 per month, billed annually | Free |
| Free plan | Free: unlimited local workspaces, plus AFFiNE Cloud with 10 GB of storage, 10 MB per file, up to 3 members per workspace, 3 login devices and 7 days of version history. | Free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no subscription or account. The site says all core features are free and that donations do not buy feature priority or private support. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Toeverything | codexu and contributors |
| Price read from | affine.pro | notegen.top |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
AFFiNE
- People who want documents and a whiteboard in the same workspace
- Users who want notes stored on their own device
- Teams looking to self-host a knowledge base
NoteGen
- People who capture fragments first and write them up later
- Using AI on notes with the models and API keys you choose
- Keeping notes as Markdown files synced through Git or your own storage
Worth knowing
AFFiNE
- The Free cloud tier is capped at 10 GB of storage, 10 MB per file, 3 members per workspace and 3 login devices.
- AFFiNE AI is a separate add-on at $8.9 a month, billed annually, rather than part of the Pro or Team feature lists.
- The self-hosted backend uses the AFFiNE Enterprise Edition license, which allows source review only without a commercial agreement.
- The Believer Plan's lifetime license is for personal use.
NoteGen
- The README labels the desktop apps Beta and the mobile apps Alpha: Android is an ARM64 APK download and iOS is distributed through TestFlight.
- The macOS app is not signed, and the download page gives Terminal commands to run if macOS reports it as damaged.
- AI features rely on built-in free models or a provider you configure, and the docs note that data sent to an online model leaves the device.
- The self-hosted sync server is marked experimental, and the site warns against treating an instance as the only copy of important data.
Key features
AFFiNE
- Docs, whiteboards and databases together
- Block-based documents, the Edgeless whiteboard and databases live in one workspace, used for wikis, mood boards, storyboards, project tasks and mind maps.
- Local-first storage
- The desktop apps run documents, databases and the whiteboard locally and fully offline, with no account required. Cloud sync is optional.
- Cloud collaboration
- AFFiNE Cloud adds real-time co-editing of documents and whiteboards, a notification center and version history: 7 days on Free, 30 days on Pro.
- AFFiNE AI
- A paid add-on that drafts and rewrites text, translates, fixes grammar, finds action items and turns outlines into mind maps or presentations (beta).
- Self-hosting
- The full stack can run on your own servers with Docker. Self-hosting is free for up to 10 seats per workspace, and a Team license adds more.
- Templates
- Ready-made templates include a digital planner, storyboard, Cornell notes, one-pager, checklist and vision board.
NoteGen
- Records for quick capture
- Text, voice recordings, screenshots, images, links, files and to-dos go into one stream and are filtered later by tag, time or type, so nothing has to be filed when it is captured.
- AI organization into notes
- Selected records are organized into a summary, report or article from a template or a prompt, and AI tools can continue, shorten, expand, rewrite or translate text in the editor.
- Markdown editor
- Notes are standard Markdown files in a workspace folder, edited visually or in source mode, with tables, task lists, code blocks, math, Mermaid diagrams, export and file history.
- Chat and Agent
- Chat answers questions using notes, records and a knowledge base. Agent mode can read and change notes, folders and tags once you approve its tools, and supports MCP servers and Skills.
- Infinite canvas
- Notes, records, images, links, shapes and charts become nodes that can be connected and grouped, and AI can generate flowcharts, charts and Mermaid diagrams from note content.
- Sync to a place you choose
- Notes stay on the device by default and can sync through GitHub, GitLab, Gitee, Gitea, S3 or WebDAV. A self-hosted NoteGen Server adds realtime sync and collaboration.
Plans
AFFiNE
Free$0
Listed as Local FOSS + Cloud Basic: unlimited local workspaces and editing, with 10 GB of cloud storage and up to 3 members per workspace.
Pro$6.75
per month, billed annually
100 GB of cloud storage, 100 MB per file, up to 10 members per workspace and 30 days of version history.
AFFiNE AI$8.9
per month, billed annually
Add-on that brings AI writing, rewriting, translation, mind maps and presentations into docs and whiteboards.
Team$10
per seat / month, billed annually; $12 billed monthly
100 GB of storage plus 20 GB per seat, 500 MB per file, multiple admin roles and priority support. Also sold for self-hosted use.
Believer Plan$499.99
one-time purchase
Lifetime personal use of everything in Pro, with 1 TB of cloud storage.
EnterpriseCustom
For 100+ seats and regulated industries: custom contract, dedicated contact, source code review and hybrid self-host and cloud options.
NoteGen
NoteGen$0
The full app on every platform, with built-in free models or your own AI provider. The sync server can be self-hosted at no charge.
Ways to pay less
AFFiNE
- Annual discount
Save 15% with annual billing
The pricing page states a 15% saving on annual billing. Team is $10 per seat a month billed annually or $12 billed monthly, and the App Store lists Pro at $7.99 monthly or $81 yearly.
- Lifetime license
Believer Plan lifetime license
A single $499.99 payment gives lifetime personal use of AFFiNE Pro with 1 TB of cloud storage and no subscription.
NoteGen
No public discounts listed.
