⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: Capacities starts at $9.99/month. AFFiNE Pro starts at $6.75/month. Both offer a free version.
- Best for: Capacities for a personal knowledge base and note taking. AFFiNE Pro for docs, whiteboards and databases in one workspace.
- Key difference: Capacities builds hidden connections between objects. AFFiNE Pro is a local first, open source project with real time collaboration.
- Our pick: Capacities for most solo thinkers, thanks to its object based note taking app design and powerful search.
Both apps promise to help you create amazing things with your notes.
But Capacities and AFFiNE Pro solve two very different problems.
Capacities is a note taking app built around objects and links.
AFFiNE Pro is an all in one workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases.
One wants to be your second brain. The other wants to be your team hub.
This guide breaks down the key features so you can pick with confidence.
Overview
This Capacities vs Affine Pro comparison covers pricing, features, and ease of use.
We also look at how each app handles knowledge management and daily notes.
Our writers spent hands-on time with both apps on desktop and mobile.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end, you will know which platform fits your specific needs.
What is Capacities?
Capacities is an object-based note taking application for building a personal knowledge base.
It calls itself a “studio for your mind,” a place to collect and connect ideas.
Instead of loose folders, you create objects for people, meetings, and books.
These objects link together, so you can see hidden connections between your notes.
The result feels less like a filing cabinet and more like a mind map.
Many people use it as a second brain for research, journaling, and daily notes.
Capacities
A note taking app that turns your ideas into linked objects. Great for creative thinking and a growing knowledge base.
Capacities Pricing
Here is what Capacities costs in 2026. Let us break it down.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Testing objects and basic notes |
| Pro | $9.99/month | Daily note taking with AI features |
| Believer | $12.49/month | Power users who want everything |
Pricing verified January 2026.
Free trial: The free version works forever. Paid plans add an AI assistant and higher limits.
Money-back guarantee: You can cancel a paid plan anytime and keep your data on the free tier.
📌 Note: The Pro plan bills yearly at a lower rate than a single month of month-to-month billing. Check the current rate before you buy.
⚠️ Warning: The free version limits how much you can upload each single month. Heavy users will hit that cap fast.
Key Benefits of Capacities
Here is what makes Capacities worth considering:
- Object-based notes: You create notes as objects, not files. This helps you spot new ideas and links between topics.
- Powerful search: The powerful search tool helps you find any note, tag, or object in seconds.
- Quick capture: Save a thought fast on the mobile app. The share sheet lets you save content from web pages too.
- AI assistant: The built-in AI assistant can summarize notes and suggest links. These AI features come on paid plans.
- Calendar and daily notes: A calendar view keeps your daily notes and log in one place.
- Works everywhere: Use the desktop app, web app, iOS app, or Android build with dark mode and offline access.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for Capacities and used it for a few weeks of research and journaling. Here is what stood out:
Capacities Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Object-based note taking builds a real personal knowledge base
- Contextual backlinking surfaces hidden connections between notes
- Clean design that many users find easy to learn
- Fast, responsive performance across devices with a free version
❌ Cons
- No whiteboard or drawing tools for visual work
- The object model takes time to learn for new users
- Weak team and collaboration features compared to rivals
What is AFFiNE Pro?
AFFiNE Pro is an open source note taking app and all in one workspace.
It combines documents, whiteboards and databases into one platform.
You can write, draw, and plan in the same place without different tools.
A whiteboard feature lets you brainstorm ideas and visualize them in real time.
It is a local first, privacy focused app that stores your data on your device.
AFFiNE is trusted by users from next gen startups to established organizations.
AFFiNE Pro
An open source workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases. Built to enhance productivity and help teams collaborate.
AFFiNE Pro Pricing
Here is what AFFiNE Pro costs in 2026. The pricing is simple.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| FOSS + Basic | Free forever | Solo users and open source fans |
| Pro | $6.75/month | Individuals who want AFFiNE AI |
| Team | $10/seat/month | Teams who manage projects together |
Pricing verified January 2026.
Free trial: The FOSS and Basic plan is free forever. You can self-host the source code at no cost.
Money-back guarantee: Paid plans can be cancelled anytime. Your local data stays on your operating system.
📌 Note: Because AFFiNE is an open source project, developers can contribute to the code and shape new features.
⚠️ Warning: The Team plan is billed per seat. Costs grow fast as you add people to your workspace.
Key Benefits of AFFiNE Pro
Here is what makes AFFiNE Pro worth considering:
- One platform: Combine documents, boards, and advanced databases in a single hyper fused platform. This unique combination cuts app-switching.
- Real-time teamwork: Real time collaboration lets your team edit the same page at once for better organization.
- Two modes: Switch between Page Mode for structured content and Edgeless Mode for a whiteboard. You can move between them in one click.
- Kanban boards: Plan projects and track progress with Kanban boards. Good for project planning and various tasks.
- AI help: AFFiNE AI adds intelligent assistance for writing, drawing, and planning.
- Open and private: A local first, privacy focused, feature rich build that a community of developers keeps improving.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer installed AFFiNE Pro and used it to combine documents and plan a small project. Here is what stood out:
AFFiNE Pro Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Combines docs, whiteboards and databases in one workspace
- Real time collaboration for teams and shared projects
- Open source and local first for privacy and control
- Free forever plan with the option to self-host
❌ Cons
- So many features can overwhelm solo note-takers
- Fewer object-linking tools than Capacities offers
- Self-hosting the latest version needs technical skill
Feature Comparison
Ready to dive into a detailed comparison of Capacities vs AFFiNE Pro? We will look at eight key features that matter most for note taking and knowledge work.
| Feature | Capacities | AFFiNE Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9.99/month | $6.75/month |
| Free Version | ✅ | ✅ |
| Object-Based Notes | ✅ | ❌ |
| Whiteboard Feature | ❌ | ✅ |
| Real Time Collaboration | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Assistant | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ |
| Advanced Databases | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best For | Personal knowledge base | All in one workspace |
1. Note Taking and Objects
Capacities: You create notes as objects like books, people, or meetings. This object model turns simple note taking into a linked web of knowledge. It is built for a personal knowledge base, not just plain markdown notes.
AFFiNE Pro: Notes use a familiar page and block structure, close to Notion. You combine documents, tables, and media inside one doc. It is flexible for writing but does not link objects the way Capacities does.
2. AI Assistant and AI Features
Capacities: The AI assistant lives inside your notes. It can summarize, expand, and suggest links between objects. These AI features help you spark new ideas without leaving the app.
AFFiNE Pro: AFFiNE AI offers intelligent assistance for writing, drawing, and planning. It works across docs and the whiteboard. This powerful assistant is right there when you brainstorm or draft.
3. Links and Hidden Connections
Capacities: Contextual backlinking is the core strength here. Every link shows you hidden connections and helps ideas grow like a mind map. This is what makes it feel like a second brain.
AFFiNE Pro: Links work at the block level, so you can reference blocks across pages. It is solid for knowledge management, but the linking is less about surfacing connections and more about reuse.
4. Whiteboards and Visual Thinking
Capacities: There is no whiteboard or drawing canvas. Capacities keeps its focus on text, objects, and links. If you need visual brainstorming, this is a real gap.
AFFiNE Pro: The Edgeless Canvas is a full whiteboard feature. You can sketch, doodle, and map ideas, then jump back to structured writing in Page Mode.
5. Powerful Search
Capacities: The powerful search tool helps you find any object, tag, or note in seconds. This powerful search find feature scales well as your knowledge base grows.
AFFiNE Pro: Search covers docs, whiteboards, and databases across your workspace. It is fast and helps you stay organized when you juggle many documents and projects.
6. Quick Capture and Daily Notes
Capacities: Quick capture on the mobile app is fast. The share sheet save content flow lets you send web pages and text straight into your notes. Daily notes and a calendar keep your log tidy.
AFFiNE Pro: Capture is more document-first. You open a doc and start writing. It is great for longer work, but less built for grabbing a quick thought on the go.
7. Databases and Project Planning
Capacities: Object types act like light databases. They are simple and quick, but they are not built to manage projects or track progress across a team.
AFFiNE Pro: Advanced databases and Kanban boards make project planning easy. You can track progress, manage projects, and handle various tasks in one place.
8. Templates and Structured Content
Capacities: Templates speed up repeat notes. You can set a structure for each object type, which keeps your structured content consistent across the app.
AFFiNE Pro: Pre-loaded frames and templates help you start fast. The intuitive interface makes it easy to combine documents and blocks into a clean workflow.
9. Pricing & Cost
Let us compare the pricing plans side by side.
| Plan | Capacities | AFFiNE Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free ($0) | Free forever |
| Individual Paid | Pro $9.99/month | Pro $6.75/month |
| Top Tier | Believer $12.49/month | Team $10/seat/month |
Capacities: You pay for a single-user personal knowledge base. The Pro plan unlocks the AI assistant. There is no per-seat cost because it is built for solo use.
AFFiNE Pro: The individual Pro plan is cheaper than Capacities. But the Team plan bills per seat, so cost climbs for bigger groups. The free version is generous for solo users.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest paid price | AFFiNE Pro | Pro plan is cheaper monthly |
| Personal knowledge base | Capacities | Object-based note taking |
| Whiteboards and databases | AFFiNE Pro | All in one workspace |
| Second brain for research | Capacities | Hidden connections and links |
| Team collaboration | AFFiNE Pro | Real time collaboration |
💰 Your Budget
AFFiNE Pro wins on price for solo users. Both apps have a free version, so you can test before you pay.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Both run on any operating system through desktop and web. AFFiNE Pro also lets developers self-host the source code.
📝 Your Writing Style
Pick Capacities for creative thinking and linked notes. Pick AFFiNE Pro if you write long documents with tables and boards.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Capacities has a learning curve because of objects. AFFiNE Pro feels familiar if you already know Notion.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Test both free plans on a real project first. This is the fastest way to see which app fits your workflow.
🛟 Support Options
AFFiNE has an active open source community that can respond to issues. Capacities offers detailed docs and steady support.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these tools? Here is what to expect if you switch.
🔄 Switching from Capacities to AFFiNE Pro?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- A whiteboard and drawing canvas for visual work
- Real time collaboration and advanced databases
- Open source code you can self-host and contribute to
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Object-based note taking and its hidden connections
- The mind-map feel of a linked knowledge base
- Fast quick capture built for daily notes
📋 How to switch:
- Export your notes from Capacities as markdown
- Create a free AFFiNE Pro account or workspace
- Import your files and rebuild key pages as blocks
🔄 Switching from AFFiNE Pro to Capacities?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- A true personal knowledge base built on objects
- Contextual backlinking that surfaces new ideas
- A cleaner focus on note taking and daily notes
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Whiteboards, drawing, and the Edgeless Canvas
- Real time collaboration for your team
- Advanced databases and Kanban project planning
📋 How to switch:
- Export your documents from AFFiNE Pro
- Create a free Capacities account
- Rebuild your notes as objects and link them
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on solo users and small teams. We did not test large enterprise setups, custom API workflows, or bulk seat licensing. Our notes are based on the January 2026 versions of each app, so features may change with the latest version. If you manage a big team, your needs may differ from what we cover here.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | AFFiNE Pro |
| 🧠 Personal Knowledge Base | Capacities |
| 🎨 Whiteboards & Visual | AFFiNE Pro |
| 🔗 Links & Connections | Capacities |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Capacities |
| 👥 Team Collaboration | AFFiNE Pro |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | Capacities |
🏆 WINNER: CAPACITIES
Capacities wins the head-to-head for most solo note-takers.
Best for: Personal knowledge base, research, daily notes, creative thinking
Capacities and AFFiNE Pro are two different apps for two different people. Capacities is a note taking app that builds a personal knowledge base from linked objects.
AFFiNE Pro is an all in one workspace that combines documents, whiteboards and databases. It shines for teams who plan projects and collaborate in real time.
AFFiNE Pro is excellent for visual work and shared workflows. If you want whiteboards, databases, and open source freedom, it is the better pick.
But if you want a second brain that connects your ideas, Capacities is the app that helps you create amazing things from your notes.
More of Capacities Compared
Here is how Capacities stacks up against other note taking apps:
Capacities wins on: object-based note taking, hidden connections between notes, a cleaner focus for a second brain
Notion wins on: team collaboration, flexible databases, a huge template library and wider integrations
Capacities wins on: a friendlier interface, built-in objects, and cross-device sync that just works
Obsidian wins on: local markdown files, a large plugin community, and full offline control of your data
Capacities vs Anytype
Capacities wins on: a smoother learning path, its calendar and daily notes, and steady updates from the developer
Anytype wins on: local-first storage, end-to-end encryption, and a fully offline knowledge base
More of AFFiNE Pro Compared
Here is how AFFiNE Pro stacks up against other apps:
AFFiNE Pro wins on: the open source project model, a local first design for privacy, and a built-in whiteboard feature
Notion wins on: a bigger app marketplace, more polished sharing, and deeper third-party integrations
AFFiNE Pro vs ClickUp
AFFiNE Pro wins on: its unique combination of docs, whiteboards and databases, plus free self-hosting for data control
ClickUp wins on: mature project planning, time tracking, and dozens of ready-made workflow views
AFFiNE Pro wins on: real time collaboration, a visual canvas for brainstorming, and databases in the same workspace
Obsidian wins on: a lighter footprint, a massive plugin library, and pure local markdown notes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Notion and Capacities?
Notion uses pages and databases for structured content. Capacities uses objects that link together to build a personal knowledge base. Capacities feels more like a second brain.
Is Capacities.io free?
Yes. Capacities has a free version that works forever. Paid Pro and Believer plans add an AI assistant, higher limits, and more features for power users.
Does Capacities use AI?
Yes. Capacities offers an AI assistant on paid plans. It can summarize notes, expand ideas, and suggest links between your objects to spark new ideas.
Is AFFiNE Pro open source?
Yes. AFFiNE Pro is an open source project. A community of developers can contribute to the source code, and you can self-host the app for free.
Does AFFiNE work offline?
Yes. AFFiNE Pro is a local first app. Your data stays on your device, so you can write and edit offline, then sync later.
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