AppFlowy
Craft
| Feature | AppFlowy | Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $12.5/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-focused-teams, open-source-enthusiasts, notion-alternatives, self-hosters | apple-users, writers, consultants, students, creative-professionals |
| Founded | 2021 | 2019 |
| Documents | ✓ | ✗ |
| Databases | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assistant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self Hostable | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Nested Docs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Export | ✗ | ✓ |
| Deep Links | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offline Access | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ AppFlowy Pros
- Open-source with full self-hosting option
- Familiar Notion-like interface and features
- Local-first with offline support
- AI features powered by multiple models
✗ AppFlowy Cons
- Less mature than Notion with fewer integrations
- Template library is limited
- Collaboration features still developing
✓ Craft Pros
- Stunning native macOS/iOS design
- Offline-first with seamless sync
- Nested documents for organized hierarchies
- Export to Markdown, PDF, Word, and more
✗ Craft Cons
- Best experience limited to Apple ecosystem
- Web app less capable than native apps
- Fewer integrations than Notion
The Verdict
AppFlowy is built for privacy focused teams and open source enthusiasts, with a focus on documents and databases. Craft targets apple users and writers and leads with nested-docs and collaboration.
On pricing, Craft is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $12.5/mo for AppFlowy. That $7.5/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.