AFFiNE vs Heptabase
A side-by-side comparison of AFFiNE and Heptabase, two Productivity tools, drawn from Ignaite's continuously-verified listings.
Compared from listings verified as of
Heptabase
ProductivityVisual, whiteboard-based knowledge base with AI for understanding what you read.
View HeptabaseAt a glance
| Attribute | AFFiNE | Heptabase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing (differs) | FREEMIUM | PAID |
| License (differs) | Open core | Proprietary |
| Deployment (differs) | Hybrid | Local |
| Platforms (differs) | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
| Model support (differs) | Multi-model | Single model (proprietary) |
| Vendor (differs) | AFFiNE (toeverything) | Hepta Platforms |
| Capabilities (differs) |
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The honest brief
AFFiNE
One canvas for docs, whiteboard, and databases — self-hostable, with local-first CRDT sync and offline editing.
- Open-source (MIT editor), self-hostable
- Docs + whiteboard + DB in one canvas
- Offline-capable with CRDT sync
- Desktop, web, and mobile apps
- Self-host caps at 3 users without cloud
- Databases less mature than Notion's
- AI UI rough; lacks find-and-replace
Heptabase
Pairs an infinite visual whiteboard with AI that answers across your own PDFs, videos, and notes — spatial sense-making most PKM apps lack.
- Spatial whiteboards for connecting ideas
- AI Q&A cited across your own sources
- True cross-platform with offline support
- Strong PDF annotation and web clipping
- No free tier — paid plans only
- AI usage capped by monthly credits
- Visual-first approach has a learning curve
When to pick which
Pick AFFiNE if you need Presentation generation, Long-form writing, Editing / grammar, Summarization, and 1 more.
- Presentation generation (secondary capability)
- Long-form writing (primary capability)
- Editing / grammar (primary capability)
- Summarization (secondary capability)
- Knowledge base authoring (primary capability)
Pick Heptabase if you need Chat with documents, Cited answers, Note-taking / PKM, and AI tutoring.
- Chat with documents (primary capability)
- Cited answers (secondary capability)
- Note-taking / PKM (primary capability)
- AI tutoring (secondary capability)
They also differ on:
- Pricing
- FREEMIUM · PAID
- License
- Open core · Proprietary
- Deployment
- Hybrid · Local
- Model support
- Multi-model · Single model (proprietary)