Anytype
FreemiumLocal-first, end-to-end encrypted knowledge OS that gives you Notion-like features with complete data ownership and P2P sync
What is Anytype?
Anytype is a radically private alternative to Notion, built by a non-profit foundation and designed around local-first, end-to-end encrypted, peer-to-peer principles. Unlike Notion or Capacities, your Anytype data lives on your devices and is synced between them via an encrypted peer-to-peer protocol — there is no central server that can read your notes. Even Anytype the company cannot see your content. This makes Anytype particularly attractive to privacy-conscious users, journalists, researchers in sensitive fields, and anyone uncomfortable with Big Tech cloud storage. Feature-wise, Anytype looks and feels remarkably similar to Notion: you have objects (like pages), types (like databases), sets (like filtered views), and relations (like properties). You can build knowledge bases, personal wikis, task lists, book libraries, project trackers, and more using the same mental model as Notion. Anytype added multiplayer (real-time collaboration) in 2024 and continues to roll out new features in 2026. The free tier is generous: unlimited objects, full local sync, and 1 GB of encrypted backup storage. Paid plans access more backup storage, custom types for Sets, and more spaces for collaboration. Anytype is an ambitious attempt to prove that a Notion-quality experience can exist entirely without central servers — and in 2026 it is the closest any app has come to that goal.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Privacy-focused users who want a Notion-like experience with local-first, end-to-end encrypted storage
Teams needing polished real-time collaboration at scale, or users who want Notion-level templates and integrations
Free · Builder $9.99/mo (annual ~$8.25) · Co-Creator $99/year ($8.25/mo)
Yes — unlimited objects, P2P sync, 1 GB encrypted backup
End-to-end encryption and local-first storage — Anytype the company cannot read your data
Smaller ecosystem than Notion — fewer templates, integrations, and community resources
Bottom line: Anytype scores 4.3/5 — The best choice if you want Notion-style features with complete privacy. Free tier is genuinely generous. Upgrade only when you need more backup storage or multiple collaborative spaces.
Pricing
Explorer (Free): Unlimited objects, unlimited types, full local-first P2P sync across your devices, 1 GB encrypted backup storage, basic features.
Builder — $9.99/month (or $99/year = $8.25/mo): Everything in Explorer plus 256 GB encrypted backup storage, custom types for collections, faster sync, priority support, early access to new features. Most solo users need this level if they store a lot of images or PDFs.
Co-Creator — $99/year (one-time commitment): Same features as Builder at an annual rate, supporting the Anytype non-profit's mission. Best value for users committed to Anytype long-term.
Enterprise/Teams: Custom pricing for organizations needing larger spaces, shared workspaces with many members, and admin features. Contact Anytype directly.
Key Features
- Local-first storage — data lives on your devices, not on Anytype's servers
- End-to-end encryption — Anytype cannot read your content
- Peer-to-peer sync between your devices without a central cloud
- Objects, types, sets, and relations (similar to Notion's database model)
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration (launched 2024)
- Templates for common use cases — library, CRM, task tracker, knowledge base
- Flexible relations for linking between any objects
- Cross-platform — macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Open source components and transparent roadmap from a non-profit foundation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best privacy of any Notion alternative — true end-to-end encryption
- Generous free tier with unlimited objects and full P2P sync
- Notion-style flexibility with objects and relations, no lock-in
- Non-profit foundation model signals long-term commitment to users
Cons
- Smaller template and integration ecosystem vs Notion
- Mobile apps less polished than desktop experience
- AI features lag behind Notion, Capacities, and Tana
FAQ
How is Anytype different from Notion?
Anytype is local-first and end-to-end encrypted, while Notion is cloud-based with company-side encryption. Your data in Anytype lives on your devices and syncs peer-to-peer between them; Notion stores your data on its own servers and can technically access it. Feature-wise they are similar (objects, types, relations) but Notion has a richer template library, more integrations, built-in AI, and team features. Anytype wins on privacy, data ownership, and free tier generosity.
Is Anytype really free?
Yes — the Explorer plan is genuinely free with no time limit, includes unlimited objects, full peer-to-peer sync across your devices, and 1 GB of encrypted backup storage. The paid plans add more backup storage (256 GB), custom collection types, and faster sync. Most solo users can live on the free plan indefinitely unless they store a lot of images or PDFs, in which case Builder ($8.25-9.99/mo) is needed for the larger backup quota.
Does Anytype work offline?
Yes, by design. Because Anytype is local-first, the app works completely offline — you can create, edit, and browse all your objects without an internet connection. When your devices come online, they sync with each other via the P2P network. This is fundamentally different from cloud-first apps like Notion or Capacities, where offline support is layered on top of a cloud-dependent architecture.
What is end-to-end encryption in Anytype?
Every object you create is encrypted on your device with a key that only you hold. When your data syncs between your devices (or to the backup servers), it remains encrypted — Anytype the company has no ability to read your content. This is the same model used by Signal or ProtonMail. If you forget your recovery phrase, even Anytype cannot recover your account, so users must take responsibility for storing their keys safely.
Does Anytype support real-time collaboration?
Yes, as of 2024 Anytype supports multiplayer real-time editing. You can share spaces with other Anytype users and collaborate on objects together. Collaboration is also end-to-end encrypted. However, the collaboration experience is less polished than Notion's — fewer fine-grained permissions, no public sharing in the Notion sense, and no built-in comments workflow. Works well for small trusted teams, not public wikis.
Does Anytype have AI?
Limited. Anytype has not built first-party AI features in the way Notion, Capacities, or Mem have. This is partly by design — piping encrypted data through OpenAI would break the privacy model. The team has talked about eventually supporting local AI models (via Ollama or similar) but as of early 2026 there is no built-in AI chat or semantic search.
Is Anytype really a non-profit?
Yes. Anytype is built by the Anytype Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Germany and the Netherlands, structured specifically to prevent the company being acquired or pivoted away from its local-first, privacy-focused mission. This is genuinely rare in the note-taking space and appeals to users worried about what happened to Evernote or Simplenote after acquisition. The source code for the clients is open source on GitHub.
📋 Good to know
Download from anytype.io on all your devices. Create an account and save your recovery phrase securely — there is no password reset. Start with a template or build a blank space.
End-to-end encrypted with local-first storage. Anytype cannot read your content. Data stored on your devices, synced P2P. GDPR compliant by design. Open source clients.
Builder ($8.25-9.99/mo) when you need more than 1 GB of encrypted backup or custom collection types. Co-Creator ($99/year) is the best value for annual billing.
Moderate. Similar to Notion but with different terminology (objects, types, sets). Most users are productive in 2-3 hours.