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 |
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