Best Self-hosted Alternatives to Craft

AppFlowy is an open-source, privacy-focused collaborative workspace designed as an alternative to Notion. It combines rich documents, databases, boards, and AI-assisted tools across desktop, mobile, and web clients while keeping a local-first data model.

Key Features

• Rich editor with many block/content types (code blocks, equations, embeds, toggles) and customizable templates
• Database views: grid, board (kanban), calendar and custom views for structured data
• Hybrid architecture: Flutter-based native clients and a Rust core handling business logic and persistence
• Local-first storage using SQLite plus CRDT-based collaboration layers and optional cloud sync
• Built-in AI features (AI chat and writers) with support for local and external models and model selection
• Cross-platform distribution: native macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android clients; web client for browser access
• Extensible plugin and template ecosystem with community-contributed Flutter packages and editor plugins

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management and note-taking with structured databases and rich content
• Team collaboration for project documentation, shared wikis, and kanban-based task tracking
• Publishing documentation or lightweight sites and using AI to generate summaries, drafts, or takeaways

Limitations and Considerations

• Feature parity with established commercial products is still evolving; some advanced Notion features may be missing or in-progress
• Web deployment and self-hosted web setup can require configuration (CORS, environment variables) and has had community-reported friction during installation
• Commercial/cloud features and enterprise-grade services are shipped separately (cloud offerings and paid tiers); community and plugin ecosystems are active but still maturing

AppFlowy is best suited for users who want control over their data, cross-device native experiences, and an open-source, extensible workspace. It is actively developed with a thriving community, and feature coverage continues to expand through releases and community contributions.

AFFiNE is an open-source, local-first knowledge OS that combines documents, whiteboards and multi-view databases into a single hyper-fused workspace. It offers cross-platform clients (web, desktop, mobile) and real-time collaboration while emphasizing privacy and self-hosting options.

Key Features

• Unified canvas merging rich text, visual whiteboards and multi-view databases into one editable space.
• Multimodal AI assistant for writing, drawing, summarization, slide generation and brainstorming.
• Local-first storage and real-time synchronization for collaborative editing across clients.
• Cross-platform distribution with desktop (Electron-based) apps and mobile clients, plus a web demo.
• Built on a polyglot stack including TypeScript frontends, Rust-based data engine (OctoBase/Cargo toolchain), CRDT sync foundations and modern frontend tooling.

Use Cases

• Team knowledge bases and product wikis that need rich visual boards and structured databases in one workspace.
• Design and ideation sessions combining freeform whiteboarding with embedded documents and assets.
• Personal and team note-taking with templates, real-time collaboration and local-first data ownership.

Limitations and Considerations

• Plugin/third-party block ecosystem is still maturing; a more extensive plugin marketplace and third-party block ecosystem is planned but not yet fully available.
• An Enterprise Edition is referenced as forthcoming; some enterprise features (SSO, advanced admin/audit) are not yet published in the Community Edition.

AFFiNE targets users who want a privacy-focused, extensible alternative to siloed doc and whiteboard tools. It is suitable for individuals and teams that prefer self-hosting, local-first storage and a single hyper-fused workspace for creative and structured work.

Joplin is a free and open source note-taking and to-do application designed for keeping your data private while staying available across devices. It is offline-first and can sync using end-to-end encryption via multiple backends, including WebDAV and Nextcloud.

Key Features

• Organize notes in notebooks with tags and powerful full-text search
• Markdown-based notes with optional rich-text editing
• End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for sync to protect note contents
• Sync with multiple providers and standards (including WebDAV-compatible services)
• Web Clipper extension to save web pages or screenshots as notes
• Import from Evernote (ENEX) and import/export Markdown
• Customization via plugins, themes, and an extension API
• Available on desktop and mobile, plus a terminal application

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management across devices with encrypted synchronization
• Migrating from Evernote and consolidating notes into an open format
• Capturing research and articles via web clipping for offline reading

Joplin fits individuals and teams that want flexible note organization, broad sync options, and strong privacy controls. Its open formats and extensibility make it a solid long-term notes and knowledge base solution.

SiYuan is a privacy-focused, open-source personal knowledge management application that organizes content as editable blocks and supports Markdown WYSIWYG. It emphasizes local-first storage with optional end-to-end encrypted synchronization and offers desktop, mobile and Docker deployments.

Key Features

• Block-based editor with block-level references and two-way links for fine-grained connections.
• Markdown WYSIWYG editing plus large-document (million-word) editing with dynamic loading.
• Built-in database/table view, SQL query embeds and template/snippet support.
• Spaced-repetition flashcards and AI-assisted writing/Q&A via external model APIs.
• OCR support (Tesseract), PDF annotation linking and rich embeds (charts, flowcharts, math).
• Multiple sync options including end-to-end encrypted sync, S3 and WebDAV backends, and Docker deployment.

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management and research notes with block-level linking for networked thought.
• Publishing and documentation workflows where notes are exported to standard Markdown, HTML or platform-targeted formats.
• Shared team knowledge bases or a self-hosted notes server accessible via Docker and mobile/desktop clients.

Limitations and Considerations

• Some member-only features require payment; the project notes that some capabilities are gated for paid members.
• Community discussions and repository issues have raised concerns about telemetry defaults and the need for careful plugin vetting; administrators should review telemetry and plugin settings for privacy-sensitive deployments.

SiYuan combines a block-first editor model with server-backed features (Docker, APIs, sync) and desktop/mobile clients, making it suitable for users who want a privacy-oriented, extensible PKM system. Its active open-source repository and plugin ecosystem support customization, but administrators should review paid-feature gating and telemetry settings before production use.

Trilium Notes is a cross-platform note-taking application designed for building large, structured personal knowledge bases. It can be used locally as a desktop app or run as a server to access notes in a browser and synchronize across devices.

Key Features

• Deep hierarchical note tree with cloning (one note can appear in multiple places)
• Rich WYSIWYG editor with Markdown-like autoformat, tables, images, and math
• Code notes with syntax highlighting and dedicated editor
• Full-text search plus fast navigation, hoisting, and command palette-style search
• Note revisions/versioning for review and undo
• Per-note encryption with password-protected sessions
• Web clipper support for saving web content into notes
• Extensibility via attributes, scripting, custom widgets, and built-in REST API
• Multiple note types and visual tools (canvas, Mermaid diagrams, mind maps, relation/note maps)
• Collections for structured workflows (tables, kanban boards, calendar, geomap, presentations)

Use Cases

• Personal or team knowledge base with structured documentation and cross-linked notes
• Research and project organization using tables, kanban boards, diagrams, and saved searches
• Private journaling and sensitive information storage using per-note encryption

Limitations and Considerations

• Uses an SQLite database; sharing the database directly over a network drive is discouraged due to corruption risk
• Not intended as a large-file storage system; synchronization can be unreliable with very large uploads
• No official native mobile app; mobile access is primarily via the web/mobile frontend (PWA)

Trilium Notes combines a strong hierarchical model with powerful search, versioning, and automation features. It is well-suited for users who want an extensible knowledge base that scales to very large collections of notes while keeping control of their data.

Wiki.js is a modern, lightweight wiki application designed for internal documentation, knowledge bases, and team collaboration. It focuses on modular extensibility, strong access controls, and flexible deployment options.

Key Features

• Markdown-based content editing with rich formatting and media support
• Modular architecture with many optional integrations (auth, search, storage, logging, rendering)
• Extensive administration interface for managing content, users, and settings
• Flexible access control for public, private, or mixed wikis
• Multiple authentication options including local auth and enterprise integrations (LDAP, SAML, OAuth2/OIDC)
• Two-factor authentication support for compatible authentication modules
• Compatible with multiple SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite)

Use Cases

• Team knowledge base for processes, runbooks, and internal documentation
• Product and engineering documentation portal with structured pages
• Company intranet wiki with SSO-backed access control

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced capabilities depend on enabling and configuring specific modules and external services
• Database and authentication feature availability can vary depending on the selected backend and provider

Wiki.js is a solid choice for organizations that want a fast, customizable wiki with strong administration and authentication flexibility. Its modular design makes it suitable for both small private wikis and larger documentation hubs.

Docs is an open-source collaborative note-taking, wiki and documentation platform from La Suite numérique. It provides real-time collaborative editing, offline sync, export options and a Django + React/Next.js stack for extensible deployments.

Key Features

• Real-time collaborative editing powered by operational transform / CRDT tooling (Yjs / HocusPocus) for low-latency co-editing.
• Dual editing modes: rich in-line editor (BlockNote) and Markdown support with slash-commands and block types.
• Offline editing with automatic sync when reconnected.
• Export to multiple document formats (.odt, .docx, .pdf) with customizable templates.
• Granular access controls and subpages to organize team knowledge.
• AI-assisted actions (rephrase, summarize, translate, prompt creation) integrated into the editor.
• Production-ready deployment patterns: Kubernetes for production and Docker Compose for local/dev environments.

Use Cases

• Internal knowledge base and team wiki for public sector or enterprise documentation.
• Collaborative authoring of policies, procedures, and technical docs with live multi-author workflows.
• Documentation portals and public-facing docs sites when combined with La Suite deployment patterns.

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced editor features (for example certain PDF export capabilities) rely on BlockNote "XL" packages that are GPL-licensed and not MIT-compatible; those features can be disabled to produce an MIT-only build (PUBLISH_AS_MIT).
• Official public instances may require federated or government-specific authentication (example: ProConnect for certain French government instances).

Docs is suitable for organizations that need a self-hosted, extensible collaborative documentation solution with real-time editing and export workflows. The project is community-driven and designed to scale from small teams to government deployments.

La Suite Docs is a collaborative editor for notes, wiki pages, and internal documentation that helps teams turn documents into structured knowledge. It focuses on real-time co-editing, organized pages, and secure sharing.

Key Features

• Real-time collaborative editing powered by CRDT-based synchronization
• Block-based rich-text editor with slash commands and Markdown input
• Granular access control for documents and workspaces
• Subpages to organize content into navigable knowledge structures
• Offline editing with automatic sync when back online
• Export to multiple formats (with optional components depending on licensing)
• Built-in AI actions for rewriting, summarizing, translation, and typo fixing

Use Cases

• Team knowledge base and lightweight internal wiki
• Collaborative meeting notes and project documentation
• Shared writing workspace for public-sector or enterprise teams needing access controls

Limitations and Considerations

• Some export capabilities rely on optional components that may introduce GPL-licensed dependencies depending on build configuration

La Suite Docs is a strong fit for organizations that want an editor-first documentation tool with live collaboration and structured knowledge building. It can be deployed in production using containerized setups, and scales to larger installations when paired with appropriate infrastructure.

Blinko is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app designed for quickly capturing short “card” notes and organizing them over time. It adds AI-assisted retrieval using RAG, enabling natural-language search across your personal knowledge base while keeping data under your control.

Key Features

• Card-style note capture optimized for quick, lightweight writing
• Markdown-based notes for simple formatting and portability
• AI-enhanced retrieval using RAG for natural language querying of notes
• Self-hosted data storage emphasizing data ownership and privacy
• Web app built with a modern UI stack
• Optional multi-platform desktop experience via Tauri

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management with fast capture of ideas and snippets
• Searching a private notes archive using natural-language queries
• Lightweight alternative to heavier note systems for daily journaling and memos

Limitations and Considerations

• AI/RAG features may require additional configuration and external model/provider choices depending on your setup

Blinko fits users who want a clean, fast note workflow with Markdown and the option to add AI-powered retrieval. It is especially suited to individuals prioritizing privacy and control while still benefiting from modern AI search.

HedgeDoc (formerly CodiMD) is an open-source, web-based Markdown editor focused on real-time collaboration. It enables teams to co-edit notes in the browser, share note links, and work together on text, diagrams, and presentations.

Key Features

• Real-time collaborative editing in the browser
• Markdown-based notes with support for diagrams and embedded content
• Presentation mode for Markdown slides
• Simple note permission controls for sharing and editing
• Revision history with the ability to review and revert changes
• Designed to run with low system requirements

Use Cases

• Team meeting notes and collaborative documentation
• Workshops, classes, and live note-taking sessions
• Creating Markdown slide decks for internal presentations

Limitations and Considerations

• HedgeDoc 2 is a rewrite and the development branch may not include all features compared to the stable 1.x releases

HedgeDoc is well-suited for groups that want a fast, link-shareable collaborative editor with Markdown-centric workflows. It combines realtime editing with practical publishing features like revisions and presentation mode for everyday knowledge sharing.

Standard Notes is a privacy-focused note-taking application that uses end-to-end encryption to protect notes and files so only you can decrypt your data. It supports cross-device sync, offline access, and a flexible editing experience for different writing and organization styles.

Key Features

• End-to-end encryption with a zero-knowledge design for notes and attached files
• Cross-platform apps and web app with sync across unlimited devices
• Offline access so you can read and edit notes without an internet connection
• Multiple editor types, including Markdown and rich text, plus support for code snippets and lists
• Self-hosting support by pointing clients to a custom sync server via configuration
• Built with a public codebase and designed for long-term, durable personal knowledge storage

Use Cases

• Private personal knowledge management for journals, records, and sensitive documents
• Secure storage of credentials, keys, and confidential notes alongside attachments
• Team members or individuals who need a consistent notes workflow across desktop and mobile

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced editor and productivity features are provided via extensions and may require additional configuration or a paid plan depending on the feature

Standard Notes is a strong fit for users who want straightforward note-taking with rigorous privacy guarantees and reliable multi-device access. It is especially well-suited for storing long-lived personal or professional information where confidentiality and portability matter.

SilverBullet is a programmable personal knowledge management platform that runs in the browser and stores content as Markdown pages in a “space.” It combines a clean editor with wiki-style navigation and a scripting system that can generate pages, automate workflows, and build custom functionality.

Key Features

• Markdown-first editor with live preview and outlining tools
• Wiki-style pages with links and bi-directional linked mentions
• Task management across pages
• Querying and “objects” for structured data and database-like workflows
• Lua-based scripting (Space Lua) to create commands, templates, widgets, and dynamically generated content
• Local-first Progressive Web App behavior with offline access and sync to browser storage
• Distributed as a single server binary or as a container image

Use Cases

• Personal notes and wiki-style knowledge base for research, projects, and documentation
• Task tracking embedded in notes with rollups across a workspace
• Building lightweight, custom productivity systems with scripts, templates, and queries

SilverBullet is well-suited for users who want Markdown ownership and the ability to extend their notes environment with scripting and automation. It can function as both a straightforward editor and a highly customizable knowledge platform as your needs grow.

Colanode is an open-source, local-first collaboration workspace that combines team chat and a Notion-style knowledge base in a single product. It offers offline-first editing with background sync, aiming to keep teams productive while retaining control over their data.

Key Features

• Real-time chat for teams, including direct messages and channels
• Rich text pages for notes, documentation, and wikis
• Structured databases with custom fields and views (table, kanban, calendar)
• Local-first workflow: writes and reads happen from a local SQLite database, then sync to the server
• Real-time collaborative editing using CRDTs (Yjs) for pages and database entries
• File storage and sharing within workspaces
• Self-hosted server that can support multiple workspaces and clients (web and desktop)

Use Cases

• Replace Slack + Notion for small teams with a single integrated workspace
• Maintain an internal wiki and project knowledge base with real-time collaboration
• Run an offline-friendly team workspace for unreliable network environments

Limitations and Considerations

• Concurrent multi-user editing is focused on pages and database records; messages and file operations use simpler non-CRDT models
• The web app may be in early-preview state depending on deployment choice and version

Colanode is a strong fit for teams that want an integrated chat-and-docs workspace with offline-first behavior. It is designed for self-hosting while still providing a modern collaboration experience across web and desktop clients.

Basic Memory is a local-first “memory layer” that lets AI assistants build and reuse long-term context across chats. It stores knowledge as human-editable Markdown files and exposes that knowledge to compatible LLM clients via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Key Features

• Bi-directional read/write memory: AI can create and update notes, and you can edit them with standard tools
• Local Markdown storage with semantic patterns (frontmatter, observations, relations) to form a traversable knowledge graph
• Local indexing and search backed by SQLite for fast retrieval
• MCP server integration to connect with compatible AI clients (for example desktop assistants and editors)
• Multi-project organization for separate knowledge bases
• Optional sync workflows, including real-time syncing and cloud-oriented commands

Use Cases

• Build a personal knowledge base that persists across AI conversations without repeated re-explaining
• Maintain project “working memory” for coding, research, or writing using Markdown and wiki-style linking
• Share consistent prompts, instructions, and structured notes across different AI tools while keeping content editable

Limitations and Considerations

• Effectiveness depends on maintaining consistent note structure (observations/relations) for higher-quality retrieval
• Some cross-device features may depend on optional syncing workflows rather than the core local-only setup

Basic Memory is a practical way to turn conversations into durable, structured notes that both humans and AI can navigate. By keeping the source of truth in plain text Markdown, it aims to stay interoperable with existing editors and workflows while enabling richer, reusable AI context.

Jotty (branded jotty·page) is a lightweight, self-hosted web application for managing personal checklists and rich-text Markdown notes. It stores content in plain Markdown and JSON files, provides optional PGP encryption, and is designed for simple Docker-based deployment.

Key Features

• Checklists with drag-and-drop reordering, progress bars, categories, Kanban-style project boards and time-tracking options.
• Rich-text WYSIWYG notes editor (TipTap) with full Markdown support and syntax highlighting.
• File-based storage: notes and metadata are kept as Markdown and JSON files in a single data directory (no external database required).
• PGP-based encryption and decryption support for user data.
• REST API with authenticated access for programmatic integration and automation.
• User management and admin panel with session tracking, SSO/OIDC support and MFA options.
• Customisable UI: built-in themes, custom themes, and custom emojis/icons.
• Docker-ready packaging and a published container image for straightforward deployment.

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge and task management: local-first notes and checklist management for individuals who prefer file-based storage.
• Small teams or private instances: shared checklists and notes behind an organization-controlled deployment with SSO integration.
• Migration / backup scenarios: users who want readable Markdown files on disk for portability, versioning and backups.

Limitations and Considerations

• File-based storage may be less suitable for very large datasets or high-concurrency multi-tenant deployments compared to a dedicated database-backed system.
• PGP encryption is powerful but requires users to manage keys correctly; losing keys can render data inaccessible.
• No official native mobile apps documented; mobile access relies on the web UI and responsive design.

Jotty is a pragmatic, privacy-conscious option for people and small teams who want readable, file-backed notes and checklists with encryption and easy Docker deployment. It emphasizes simplicity, portability and self-hosting while trading off scalability features found in database-backed platforms.

Alexandrie is a fast, modern web application for taking and organizing notes using an extended Markdown format. It combines a distraction-free editor with structured organization to support personal knowledge bases and technical documentation.

Key Features

• Enhanced Markdown editor with extended syntax for structured notes
• Workspaces, categories, nested documents, and tags for organization
• Instant search across notes
• Sharing via links and a permissions system
• Export and print options including PDF and Markdown
• Offline access via PWA support

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management for students, creators, and knowledge workers
• Team-shared documentation with controlled access and share links
• Building a structured Markdown-based knowledge base with exportable content

Limitations and Considerations

• Some functionality (such as file assets/attachments) depends on configuring S3-compatible object storage

Alexandrie is a strong choice for users who want a Markdown-first notes app with modern UX, flexible organization, and sharing controls. It fits well for both personal note-taking and lightweight knowledge base workflows.

Many Notes is a Markdown note-taking web application focused on a simple writing experience while keeping your content portable. Notes are stored in a database for features and also saved to the filesystem, giving you direct control over your vault structure.

Key Features

• Multi-user authentication to protect notes
• Multiple vaults per user, with flexible organization
• Vault sharing and collaboration with invited users
• Real-time, live-updating interface for changes
• Fast, typo-tolerant full-text search
• Tree view file explorer with context actions
• Advanced Markdown editor with automatic saving
• Templates plus links, backlinks, and tags for organization
• Import/export vaults for backup and restore
• Export Markdown notes to PDF
• Progressive Web App experience with light/dark themes

Use Cases

• Personal or team knowledge base with shared vaults and backlinks
• Lightweight documentation workspace for projects and runbooks
• A private Markdown “vault” alternative with filesystem-backed storage

Limitations and Considerations

• Some features (for example PWA capabilities) work best when served over HTTPS behind a reverse proxy

Many Notes is a practical option for users who want a clean Markdown workflow, collaborative vaults, and strong portability via filesystem-backed storage. It fits well as a personal notes system or a small-team knowledge base with real-time editing and fast search.

Poznote is a lightweight personal note-taking and documentation platform designed for self-hosted deployment. It provides both rich-text and Markdown editing, supports workspaces and public sharing, and ships as a multi-arch Docker image for easy deployment.

Key Features

• Rich text and Markdown editors with task lists, math rendering, Mermaid diagrams and Excalidraw integration
• Full-text search and tag-based organization; file attachments and trash system
• Workspaces, multi-instance support and public note sharing
• Authentication via local username/password and optional OpenID Connect (OIDC) / SSO integration
• Built-in backup/restore, REST API for automation and MCP server support
• Docker Compose multi-arch deployment with default HTTP port 8040 and configurable environment settings

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base and note-taking for individuals or small teams
• Self-hosted documentation portal for projects or internal tools
• Quick deployment of a searchable, shareable documentation site with SSO integration

Limitations and Considerations

• Default deployments use a file-based database (SQLite), which can limit concurrency and scalability for large multi-user installations
• Docker volume permission and SELinux issues are documented; administrators may need to set ownership (UID 82/www-data) or use volume flags to avoid permission errors
• Import limits (number of files per import / ZIP size) are configurable but default values may require adjustment for large migrations

Poznote is focused on simplicity and ease of deployment while providing essential documentation and note-taking features. It is suitable for users who want a lightweight, self-hosted knowledge platform with optional SSO and straightforward Docker-based installation.

Wiki-Go is a modern, databaseless flat-file wiki platform built with Go. It stores content as Markdown in a flat-file structure and offers features for knowledge bases, documentation, and collaboration without requiring an external database.

Key Features

• Full Markdown editing with emoji, Mermaid diagrams, and LaTeX math
• Smart full-text search with highlighting and advanced filters
• Hierarchical page structure with version history
• User management, access control, and private wiki mode
• Comments with moderation and markdown support
• No external database; file-based storage, easy backups
• Instant setup via Docker or prebuilt binaries
• Custom logos, banners, shortcodes, and more
• Link management with automatic metadata fetching and categorization
• Interactive Kanban boards for project management

Use Cases

• Team documentation and internal wikis for product teams
• Public documentation portals and knowledge bases
• Personal knowledge bases and collaborative projects

Limitations and Considerations

• Non-SSL setups require allow_insecure_cookies: true; this reduces security and should only be used in trusted networks; TLS is recommended for production.
• Default admin credentials exist; change them immediately after first login to secure the wiki.

Conclusion

Wiki-Go provides a lightweight, self-contained wiki workflow with Markdown-centric content, easy deployment via Docker or binaries, and no external database dependencies, making it suitable for teams and individuals for knowledge management.

Owlistic is an open-source real-time note-taking and task management application that combines a WYSIWYG editor with structured notebooks and inline todos. It provides synchronized collaboration and role-based access control for teams and individuals.

Key Features

• Real-time sync for notes and tasks, enabling instantaneous updates across clients
• Notebook/notes tree for hierarchical organization
• Rich WYSIWYG editor with inline todo items and Markdown import
• JWT-based authentication and role-based access control for multi-user environments
• Trash (soft-delete) support and dark/light UI themes
• Cross-platform client implemented with Dart/Flutter and a backend in Go
• Container-friendly deployment with Docker artifacts

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base and note organization with hierarchical notebooks
• Team note-taking and collaborative task lists with access controls and real-time updates
• Managing project todos and meeting notes with inline tasks and import/export of Markdown content

Limitations and Considerations

• The project is under active development and may contain bugs or breaking changes; APIs and storage schemas can evolve
• Production readiness depends on deployment choices and configuration; additional hardening and backup strategies may be needed for critical use

Owlistic is suited for users who want a self-hostable, real-time notes and todo solution with collaborative features. It pairs a Flutter client with a Go backend and is oriented toward teams that require access controls and instant sync.