Loading…
Anytype vs Notion
Which is the better note-taking for Mac in 2026?
We compared Anytype and Notion across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Both Anytype and Notion are excellent note-taking. Read our full breakdown below.
Anytype
Local-first and end-to-end encrypted notes app
Free
VS
Notion
All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and databases
Free
Visual Comparison
Notion
Notion — Official Website
Our Verdict
Both Anytype and Notion are excellent note-taking. Anytype is better for users who prefer polished experiences, while Notion excels for those who value established ecosystems.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Anytype | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
Quick Install
Anytype
brew install --cask anytypeNotion
brew install --cask notionLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Anytype?
Anytype is an innovative, local-first workspace application that aims to give users complete ownership of their data while providing Notion-like functionality for organizing every aspect of their digital lives. Built on an 'everything is an object' philosophy, Anytype organizes information using a graph-based data model where notes, tasks, bookmarks, people, projects, and custom types are all interconnected objects with typed relationships and properties — conceptually similar to how the human brain forms associations between concepts. Unlike cloud-based tools that store your data on corporate servers, Anytype stores all data locally on your device and uses the Anysync protocol for peer-to-peer encrypted synchronization between devices — your data never passes through centralized servers, and the encryption keys never leave your devices. This approach provides a level of data sovereignty that cloud-native tools like Notion fundamentally cannot match. Anytype is fully open-source and built by a Swiss company (Any Association) focused on digital privacy, data sovereignty, and the belief that software should serve users rather than extract value from them. The application supports custom types — you can create your own object schemas with custom properties and relations, effectively building your own personal data model. Sets and collections function similarly to Notion's database views, allowing you to filter, sort, and display objects in list, gallery, grid, or Kanban layouts. Templates speed up object creation, and a growing library of pre-built structures covers common use cases like project management, recipe collections, reading lists, and CRM. Anytype runs natively on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android with consistent cross-platform performance. In 2026, Anytype has matured significantly with improved performance, better real-time collaboration via its decentralized sync protocol, multiplayer spaces for team work, a more polished interface with smoother animations, and an expanding marketplace of community-created types and templates. However, it remains younger than Notion and lacks the extensive integration ecosystem, API access, and team management features that make Notion dominant in professional and enterprise settings. Anytype is free for personal use with no data limits, with premium features planned for teams and organizations.
What is Notion?
Notion is the dominant all-in-one workspace application used by millions of individuals and organizations worldwide to organize information, manage projects, and collaborate in real time. Founded by Ivan Zhao and Simon Last, Notion combines the flexibility of a freeform document editor with the structural power of a relational database system, creating a platform where virtually any workflow can be designed from modular building blocks. Notion's relational database system is its defining feature — users can create tables, Kanban boards, calendars, timelines, and galleries with custom properties including text, numbers, dates, select tags, formulas, relations between databases, and rollup calculations that aggregate data across linked entries. This architectural flexibility allows Notion to serve as a project tracker, content calendar, CRM, company wiki, meeting notes hub, and personal knowledge base — all within the same workspace with data flowing between different views. The block-based editor supports rich content types including text with inline formatting, embeds from hundreds of services, code blocks, callouts, toggles, synced blocks for reusable content, and inline databases for embedding structured data anywhere. Notion is cloud-native, with all data stored on Notion's infrastructure and accessible from any device via web, desktop (macOS, Windows), or mobile (iOS, Android). Real-time collaboration with commenting, mentions, team spaces, and granular permissions makes it particularly strong for teams. The public API enables integrations with hundreds of tools, and the template marketplace hosts thousands of community-created workflows. In 2026, Notion has expanded with AI-powered features for writing, summarization, and data analysis, alongside Notion Calendar and Notion Mail. Pricing includes a generous free tier for individuals, Plus at $8/user/month, Business at $15/user/month, and Enterprise plans with advanced security, compliance, and admin controls. Notion's synced blocks feature allows content to be mirrored across multiple pages, updating everywhere simultaneously when edited in one location. The Notion Clipper browser extension enables quick saving of web content directly into your workspace with automatic formatting preservation.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Data Privacy and Sovereignty
CriticalAnytypeExcellent
All data stored locally on your device. Sync uses peer-to-peer encryption — data never touches centralized servers. Open-source codebase for full transparency. Zero-knowledge architecture means even Anytype's team cannot access your data.
NotionFair
All data stored on Notion's cloud servers. While encrypted in transit and at rest, Notion has theoretical access to your content. Subject to US data regulations. No local-first option available.
Verdict: Anytype is vastly superior for data privacy with its local-first, peer-to-peer encrypted architecture.
Database and Structured Data
CriticalAnytypeGood
Anytype uses 'Sets' and 'Collections' to create database-like views of objects. You can filter, sort, and display objects in grid, list, gallery, and Kanban views. Custom types allow creating structured schemas. While capable, it's less mature than Notion's relational database system.
NotionExcellent
Notion's database system is the most powerful in its category. Relational databases, rollups, formulas, advanced filtering, and multiple views (table, board, calendar, timeline, gallery) enable complex data management. This is Notion's core competitive advantage.
Verdict: Notion's mature, relational database system remains significantly more powerful and flexible.
Team Collaboration
HighAnytypeFair
Anytype has introduced basic collaboration features including shared spaces and multiplayer editing. However, team features are still maturing — permissions, commenting, and team management are less developed than Notion's offerings.
NotionExcellent
Notion provides robust team collaboration with workspaces, team spaces, granular permissions, real-time co-editing, commenting, mentions, and integrations with Slack and other team tools. It's built for teams from the ground up.
Verdict: Notion is the clear winner for team collaboration with mature permissions, real-time editing, and integrations.
Offline Functionality
HighAnytypeExcellent
Anytype works fully offline because all data is stored locally. There is no dependency on internet connectivity for any feature. Sync happens automatically when devices are online and can find each other.
NotionFair
Notion has limited offline support — recently viewed pages are cached, but you cannot access your entire workspace offline. Creating new pages and searching across all content requires internet connectivity.
Verdict: Anytype's local-first architecture provides complete offline functionality that Notion cannot match.
API and Integrations
HighAnytypeLimited
Anytype has a developing API and limited third-party integrations. The ecosystem is young and growing but cannot compete with Notion's extensive integration network.
NotionExcellent
Notion's public API enables deep integrations with hundreds of tools via Zapier, Make, and direct API connections. Integrations with Slack, GitHub, Jira, Figma, and many more are available.
Verdict: Notion's mature API and integration ecosystem is vastly more developed.
Open Source and Transparency
MediumAnytypeExcellent
Anytype is open-source with the codebase available on GitHub. Users can inspect, modify, and self-host the application. This provides maximum transparency and trust.
NotionLimited
Notion is proprietary closed-source software. Users must trust the company with their data and have no ability to inspect the code or self-host.
Verdict: Anytype wins decisively for open-source advocates.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Privacy-First Researcher
Anytype
Academic researchers working with sensitive data — unpublished papers, grant proposals, or confidential interview transcripts — benefit enormously from Anytype's local-first architecture. All data stays on-device and syncs peer-to-peer without touching a corporate cloud. This eliminates compliance concerns around GDPR, HIPAA, or institutional data policies that frequently restrict cloud-based tools like Notion.
2The Startup Team Lead
Notion
Startups running at speed need a shared workspace that the entire team can access instantly. Notion's real-time collaboration, inline comments, database relations, and polished sharing permissions make it the default choice for product roadmaps, meeting notes, sprint boards, and wikis that 5-50 people touch daily. The network effect matters here — most new hires already know Notion.
3The Personal Knowledge Builder
Anytype
Individual knowledge workers building a long-term personal knowledge base — connecting notes, bookmarks, reading highlights, and project ideas over years — find Anytype's object-graph model more natural than Notion's database-page paradigm. The ability to create custom object types and link everything bidirectionally mirrors how human memory actually works, producing a richer, more navigable personal wiki.
4The Content Marketing Team
Notion
Content teams managing editorial calendars, writer assignments, SEO briefs, and publishing workflows thrive in Notion's database views. Kanban boards for content status, gallery views for visual content, and timeline views for scheduling are all built in. Notion's API also integrates with tools like Zapier and Make for automated publishing pipelines that Anytype cannot currently match.
5The Digital Minimalist
Anytype
Users who are uncomfortable with their notes and personal data living on corporate servers appreciate Anytype's self-sovereign approach. There are no ads, no upselling, and no risk of a company pivoting away from your use case. Your data is yours to export, move, or delete at any time — a level of ownership that SaaS tools like Notion fundamentally cannot offer.
6The Cross-Functional Project Manager
Notion
When managing projects that span engineering, design, marketing, and sales, Notion's strength is acting as the single source of truth everyone can edit simultaneously. Linked databases let you create a master task list that appears differently in each department's view. Combined with Notion AI for summarizing long documents and meeting notes, it reduces the overhead of cross-team communication significantly.
Migration Guide
Anytype → Notion
Export Anytype objects as Markdown files. Import into Notion using the Markdown importer. Custom types and relations will need manual recreation as Notion databases. Object graph connections will be lost and need to be rebuilt as Notion page links or database relations.
Notion → Anytype
Export Notion workspace as Markdown/CSV. Import files into Anytype. Database structures will need to be recreated using Anytype's type and relation system. Notion formulas and rollups have no direct equivalent. Team collaboration features will be limited.
Pro Tips
Consider your primary needs: if data privacy is paramount, Anytype is worth the migration effort. If team collaboration and integrations are critical, Notion is difficult to replace.
Final Verdict
Overall Winner
Notion
9.0/10
Winner
7.5/10
Runner-up
Notion wins for most users due to its mature feature set, team collaboration capabilities, and extensive ecosystem. However, Anytype represents an important alternative for users who prioritize data privacy and ownership above all else. As Anytype matures, the gap may narrow, but in 2026, Notion remains the more capable and practical choice for most workflows.
Bottom Line: Choose Notion for team collaboration, databases, and integrations. Choose Anytype for data privacy, offline use, and open-source values.
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with Notion - Easy Tutorial for Beginners
Howfinity • 85.1K views
Notion Tutorial for Beginners
Kevin Stratvert • 1.6M views
MacBook Widgets and My Notion Keep Me Productive
Productivity Headquarters • 75.0K views
How to Get Started with Notion (without losing your mind)
Jeff Su • 1.2M views
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for individual use with a focus on privacy. Anytype offers similar block editing, databases (sets/collections), and linking capabilities. However, it lacks Notion's team collaboration maturity, API ecosystem, and template marketplace. It's best for privacy-focused individuals rather than teams.
About the Author
Explore More on Bundl
Browse note-taking apps, read our complete guide, or discover curated bundles.
Related Technologies & Concepts
Peer-to-Peer EncryptionAnysyncObject GraphNotion APIElectronZapierLocal-First SoftwareData Sovereignty
Peer-to-Peer Encryption (Anytype's sync mechanism for encrypted data exchange.), Anysync (Anytype's proprietary P2P sync protocol.), Object Graph (Anytype's data model where everything is an interconnected object.), Notion API (Notion's public API for third-party integrations.), Electron (The framework both desktop apps are built on.), Zapier (Automation platform with deep Notion integration.), Local-First Software (The architectural philosophy behind Anytype.), Data Sovereignty (The principle that users should own and control their data.)
Related Topics
All-in-One Workspaces
Platforms combining notes, databases, and project management.
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Anytype uses peer-to-peer encryption for synchronization.[cite-anytype-official]
- Anytype is open-source.[cite-anytype-github]
- Notion Plus plan costs $8/user/month.[cite-notion-pricing]
- 1Anytype - For those who celebrate trust and autonomy
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 2Anytype GitHub Repository
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 3Notion - Your connected workspace
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 4Notion Pricing
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 5Anytype Privacy and Security
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: Anytype vs Notion 2026 comparison; Anytype privacy features; Anytype open-source workspace