Anytype vs Notion
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: not directly comparable — Anytype is free tier available, Notion is free tier available.
- How to start: both are free tier available.
- Where they differ: only Anytype has open source / self-hostable and only Notion has public api and sso (saml); both offer mobile app.
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What Anytype is
What Anytype isAnytype is a local-first, encrypted workspace for notes and knowledge run by a Swiss association, and its paid tiers buy two things that are unusual for the category: remote storage on the Anytype network and a shorter ANY ID, the unique handle used for sharing and web publishing. The app itself is not gated behind the subscription — you can self-host your own network and set your own limits without any membership at all, which makes the paid plans closer to hosting-plus-identity than to a feature unlock.
What Notion is
What Notion isNotion is a modular workspace that combines notes, projects, wikis, and databases into a single, highly flexible interface. Its 'block-based' architecture allows you to build a system that fits your exact needs—from a simple personal journal to a complex corporate product roadmap. Notion serves as the 'collective brain' for teams, ensuring knowledge is centralized and accessible. With relational databases, formulas, and custom views (Kanban, Calendar, Timeline), it allows you to build custom software without ever writing code.
Side by side
| Anytype | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| How to start | Free tiernot a monthly price | Free tiernot a monthly price |
| Public API | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Open source / self-hostable | Yes | No |
| SSO (SAML) | No | Yes |
| Visit | Anytype ↗ | Notion ↗ |
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What Anytype is built to do
- Local-first workspace
- Notes, objects and relations stored on device and synced peer to peer.
- ANY ID
- A unique handle in the Anytype network, also usable for web publishing.
- Shared channels
- Collaborative spaces; 10 on the free tier and unlimited on paid plans.
What Notion is built to do
- Relational Databases
- Connect different tables to manage complex data networks like a pro.
- Notion AI
- Summarize notes, draft text, and get insights from your page data automatically.
- Synced Blocks
- Update content in one location and have it reflect across all pages instantly.
- Web Publishing
- Turn any Notion page into a professional-looking website with one click.
Choose Anytype if
- Privacy-first individuals: the free tier gives unlimited private channels and only limits remote storage to 100 MB
- Anyone willing to run their own infrastructure — self-hosting needs no membership and no fee at all
- People who publish from their workspace and want a short handle, since ANY ID length is what the tiers actually shorten
- Students and educators, who get a verified 50% discount on membership
Skip Anytype if
- You need meaningful hosted storage on the free tier — it is 100 MB, and 1 GB costs $4 a month
- You want SSO, an admin panel or team administration; those are the separate Anytype for Business product
- You buy on mobile and want the listed price: App Store and Play Store convert to local currency
- You might lapse: network names are released after a one-month grace period once a membership ends
Choose Notion if
- One person taking notes and building a personal system — the free plan is unlimited for individuals
- Small teams that can live with 5 MB file uploads and 7-day history
- Teams that want docs, wiki and light project tracking in one place
Skip Notion if
- You are a team of two or more — the free plan's block allowance becomes limited the moment you add a member
- You upload real files: the free plan caps uploads at 5 MB each
- You want full Notion AI: it is a limited trial on Free and Plus, included only from Business ($20/member/mo)
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
Anytype: pros & cons
- Self-hosting requires no membership at all
- Local-first and encrypted by design
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 50% education discount
- Free tier is limited to 100 MB of remote storage
- Shorter ANY ID handles cost more
- Team features live in a separate Business product
Notion: pros & cons
- Infinite Flexibility: Build the exact system your team needs from the ground up.
- Aesthetic Design: A clean, minimalist UI that encourages deep focus and organization.
- Massive Community: Thousands of free templates and guides are available for instant setup.
- Advanced Databases: Create intelligent systems by linking different data sets together.
- Learning Curve: Mastering advanced database and formula features can take time.
- Mobile Performance: Large or complex pages may load slowly on mobile devices.
- Offline Mode: Still limited compared to native apps like Evernote or Obsidian.
Our verdict on Anytype
The rare tool where the paid plan is optional in principle: self-host and pay nothing. Subscribe if you want the hosted network, more storage and a short handle.
Our verdict on Notion
Free tier covers personal use; plans step up by member count. Fits teams that want docs, databases and projects on one canvas — skip it for offline-first note keeping.
Published plans, side by side
Every figure below was read from the vendor's own pricing page and is shown with the sentence it came from. Where a vendor publishes no plan prices, we say so rather than guess.
Anytype
- Free$0/mo
Free: 100 MB of remote storage, 10 shared channels, unlimited private channels
- Pro$8/mo
Pro $8 per month: 10 GB of remote storage, ANY ID of 7 or more characters
- Ultra$16/mo
Ultra $16 per month: 100 GB of remote storage, ANY ID of 5 or more characters
Notion
- Free$0/user/mo
Free $0/member/month
- Business$20/user/mo
Plus $10/member/month, Business $20/member/month, Enterprise custom
Anytype vs Notion: common questions
- Does Anytype or Notion have a free plan?
- Both do: Anytype has a free tier with limits, and Notion has a free tier with limits.
- Which is cheaper once you start paying, Anytype or Notion?
- The two are not priced the same way: Anytype's cheapest paid step is Pro at $8/mo, while Notion's is Business at $20/user/mo. One scales with headcount and the other does not, so the cheaper option depends entirely on team size.
- What is the difference between Anytype and Notion?
- On the criteria we check, only Anytype has open source / self-hostable and only Notion has public api and sso (saml); both offer mobile app. The table above lists every criterion side by side.