Anytype
Anytype is a privacy-focused, open-source, note-taking application for notes & PKM.
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Our Rating
Last Updated:
Highly Recommended!
This tool stands in the top 5% of tools on Tool Finder. Our ratings for tools factor in design, features, performance, practicality and value to help determine the tool's overall score.
Things we like
Powerful object note-taking types
Comes with a PKM style and feel
Local-first storage of notes
Great offline modes for on-device saving
Open-sourced and markdown note-taking
Things we don't like
Can be harder to learn the features and the best use of the application for managing notes
For some people object based note-taking might be too much upfront work to setup and implement
What we think about the Design of Anytype?
Compared to other PKM apps on the market, Anytype has one of the better designs. The clean, minimal feel feels lightweight and easy to use. Opening Anytype is nice because you can pin widgets on the left-hand sidebar allowing you to save time accessing things that a lot of people like about Anytype. One of the things that people also like is Anytype has a bottom bar that is omnipresent and allows people to quickly open graph view and create new...
Design
Compared to other PKM apps on the...More
Features
Anytype has a decent set of...More
Performance
Offline speed and performance are...More
Practicality
Anytype is available on iOS,...More
Value
The access to 1GB for free in...More
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Is Anytype worth it? Our Review
Top Features, Pros, Cons, Pricing & Reviews
What is Anytype?
Anytype is an open-source, local-first note-taking application for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It also has a Chrome extension for clipping notes.
Anytype creates notes as objects to save notes with a structure—e.g., meeting, person, book. It also has E2E security on notes and a growing community.
It is a popular Notion alternative in the local-first note-taking community with an ethos and focus on secure note-taking. Anytype uses object-based note-taking to help organize your notes with more structure.
A studio for your mind | A place to make sense of the world and create amazing things.
Best For
It's free. No credit card required.
How does Anytype work?
Anytype is a note-taking app that uses object-based note-taking as a system.
This allows you to create notes in the form of objects. These objects can be used to build out notes and create interconnecting relationships between notes. Here's an example of how a note might look like inside of Anytype for taking notes on books:
- Book —This allows you to add the book details, including the author, cover image, and even who recommended it.
- Author — Creating an author as an object might allow you to add future book notes and books to their note profile.
- People — This allows you to connect notes like "who recommended me this book" to the properties, perfect for later, and see what note relationships are made.
A structure like this can help build connections between notes more organically than considering how each note is connected.
Anytype also works as an open-source, local-first, markdown note-taking app, which is a compelling selling point for those who want to secure their notes and use something fast, reliable, and focused on security.
Here's a good beginner's guide on Anytype we've made.
What is Object-Based Note-Taking?
Object-based notes are simple but provide people taking notes with the structure to build more accurate templates for each note. Apps like Anytype and Capacities are some examples of tools that have implemented object-based note-taking into their note apps.
Many people find benefits from object-based note-taking as it helps them save time building a note without worrying about using database templates each time.
Examples of object-based notes and properties:
- Book - Author, ISBN, categories & notes
- Meeting - People, date, type of meeting & meeting notes
- Person - where you met them, relationship & last contacted
These are just some of the primary examples of how object-based note-taking works.
What features do Anytype have?
The main features that are inside of Anytype:
Features | Helpful for |
---|---|
Advanced Note-Taking | Connect notes in Anytype and bring a sense of brain-like organization to your vault. Many people like how Anytype balances the traditional feel of note-taking apps with the more modern PKM-style tools that can help you organize ideas and thoughts in one place. |
Object-Based Note-Taking | Organize your notes as objects before you begin them; this allows you to save templates and replicate them as you use them throughout your account. It will also allow the Anytype system to be aware you are adding a person, book notes, ideas, bugs, etc. This gives you more customization to your account and speed the more you use it. |
Graph View | See the way your notes connect with graph view in Anytype and also the abilities like flow that allow you to see the relationship and knock-on effect of the notes in your workspaces. |
Anytype Pros
- Open-source note-taking
- Local-first and peer-to-peer networking
- Works with markdown and native on desktop
- It comes with sets and collections for set-ups
- Good-rated iOS, and Android on respective App Stores
- Privacy-focused notes with E2E secure notes
- Good community and audience
Anytype Cons
- It can be overwhelming to use
- Limited database abilities compared to Notion
- Still developing features
Video: Anytype Review
Here's some of how Anytype looks in action to get a better idea of how it works:
How much does Anytype cost per month?
Here's all the Anytype pricing updated for you:
Plans | Pricing ($) | Included |
---|---|---|
Basic | Free | 1GB storage |
Builder | $99 per year | More storage & limits |
Is Anytype free?
Anytype is free, with a limit of 1GB for the network.
A studio for your mind | A place to make sense of the world and create amazing things.
Best For
It's free. No credit card required.
Is Anytype like Notion?
Notion is an all-in-one productivity tool, whereas Anytype is more of a note-taking application. However, many features, such as sets, notes, and the ability to change database views, are similar to those in Notion.
Should I get Anytype?
Okay, time to see whether it is right for you.
Anytype is a challenging app to recommend. It straddles the line between being a personal knowledge management (PKM) tool and a new note-taking system. It offers a unique approach by organizing notes with "objects," a relatively new concept.
If you're open to exploring this approach, Anytype is worth considering as you evaluate note-taking applications. Many users choose Anytype for its offline capabilities, local-first storage, and open-source nature. The company seems committed to building a solid product with features beyond essential note-taking. Its availability across various devices and a generous free plan make it accessible to most users.
The free plan's 1 GB storage limit should be sufficient for those who don't frequently attach files or documents to their notes.
While Anytype is a strong contender, we recommend exploring all the note-taking applications available on Tool Finder as you research your options.
Common Questions
Community sourced questions from you about Anytype:
Is Anytype Russian?
The Anytype founders were based in Russia, their home state. However, Anytype Labs is a remote company, with their local GmbH, a subsidiary of the Swiss Association, now based in Berlin.
How does Anytype work?
Anytype works by allowing you to take notes. Notes are stored locally on your Anytype vault and can be accessed locally first, making them more secure and faster.
983 people downloaded Anytype this month
Anytype Learning Effort
Intermediate
Best For
Open Source Note-TakingFounded Date
2019
HQ Location
Germany
Last Updated
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Anytype: Notion Like Workspace
Let's Explore Anytype
Why is Anytype.io different?
They want to be like Notion but private, offline-first and customizable beyond what Notion can offer with blocks.
Is Anytype secure?
Yes, according to their site, they are E2E by design and mainly offline-first.
Is Anytype a good Capacities alternative?
These are the closest tools to compare to, Capacities offers a similar experience than Anytype. Anytype presents a privacy focused benefit, but both are object-first note-taking experiences trying to make block making in their apps easier to consume.
Is Anytype a good Notion Alternative?
Anytype can be considered a Notion alternative, offering a range of features and capabilities that overlap with Notion's functionalities.
What is object-based note-taking inside Anytype?
Object-based note-taking in Anytype refers to organizing information into individual objects, each representing a piece of content. These objects can be customized and structured based on your needs.