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Craft vs Anytype: Which Brainstorming Tool Will Win in 2026

by | Last updated Jul 5, 2026

Winner
craft
4.3
  • Block-Based Docs & Notes
  • Built-in AI Assistant
  • Backlinks Connect Notes
  • Real-Time Collaboration
  • Presentation Mode
  • Free Plan Available
  • Paid Plans from $4.79/month
Runner Up
anytype
4.1
  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Local-First Storage
  • Open Source Software
  • Graph View of Notes
  • Works Offline
  • Generous Free Plan
  • Paid Plans from $4/month

⚡ Quick Verdict:

  • Pricing: Craft paid plans start at $4.79/month. Anytype starts at $4/month. Both offer a free plan.
  • Best for: Craft suits polished docs and simple note taking. Anytype suits privacy and local first storage.
  • Key difference: Anytype uses object based note taking with end to end encryption. Craft focuses on beautiful block-based documents.
  • Our pick: Craft for most users who want fast, good-looking notes with an AI assistant built in.
Craft vs Anytype Comparison

Both Craft and Anytype promise a better home for your notes.

But they solve the problem in very different ways.

Craft is a polished notes and docs app with a built-in AI assistant.

Anytype is a local first, open source app built around privacy.

One prizes design and speed. The other prizes data sovereignty.

This guide helps you pick the right one for your workflow.

Overview

This Craft vs Anytype comparison covers pricing, key features, and ease of use.

We also break down who each app works best for.

Our sources include published specs, documentation, and user reviews.

By the end, you will know which note taking system fits you.

What is Craft?

Craft is a note taking app for notes, docs, and daily writing.

It uses blocks, so every line can become a card, list, or link.

The design is clean and fast on both iOS and Android.

A built-in AI assistant helps you draft, edit, and summarize.

Most people pick Craft for its intuitive design and polish.

Craft even adds a table of contents to long docs.

Your note taking strategy shapes which app fits, so pick with confidence.

Craft 3 Impresses Me: Tasks, Collections & More!

Craft

⭐ 4.3/5 | 💰 From $4.79/month

A fast, good-looking notes app with an AI assistant. Great for docs, personal notes, and simple note taking.

Craft Pricing

Here is what Craft costs in 2026. Let us break it down.

PlanPriceBest For
Free$0 per monthTrying simple note taking
Personal$4.79 per monthSolo writers and personal notes
Friends & Family$8.99 per monthSmall groups and shared docs

Pricing verified January 2026.

Craft Pricing Image

Free trial: The free plan lets you test core features with no credit card needed.

Money-back guarantee: Paid plans are billed monthly or yearly. Cancel before renewal to avoid the next charge.

📌 Note: The Personal plan unlocks unlimited documents and the AI assistant. The free plan caps some blocks and export options.

⚠️ Warning: Yearly billing looks cheaper per month. Check the total upfront cost before you commit.

Key Benefits of Craft

Here is what makes Craft worth considering:

  • Intuitive Design: The interface is clean and user friendly. New users can start creating notes in minutes.
  • AI Assistant: Draft, rewrite, and summarize inside the app. This helps you save time on long documents.
  • Backlinks: Notes connect to each other through backlinks. This helps you connect ideas across your personal knowledge base.
  • Cross-Device Access: Craft works on Mac, Windows, web, and mobile. Your notes sync across every device.
  • Presentation Mode: Turn any document into a slideshow. No need to move content into another tool.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: Share a space and edit together. Team collaboration happens live with comments and feedback.
Craft What is Image

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer signed up for Craft and spent several days exploring the app. Here is what stood out:

Craft Personal Experience Image

Craft Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • Clean, intuitive design that is easy to learn
  • Built-in AI assistant for drafting and editing
  • Backlinks help you connect ideas quickly
  • Presentation mode built into every document
❌ Cons
  • No end to end encryption for your notes
  • Notes are cloud based, not local first
  • Fewer database features than Anytype

What is Anytype?

Anytype is an open source software app for notes and knowledge.

It is local first, so your data is stored locally on your device.

Everything in Anytype is an object, from a page to a task.

This object based note taking style helps notes connect to each other.

Many people call it the best Notion alternative for privacy.

Anytype focuses on privacy and follows strong security practices.

Unlike traditional note taking apps, it keeps a shared vision of one private home for your notes.

Privacy fans love Anytype and see it as the future of note taking.

See how Anytype works, then read our full Anytype review for more detail.

It ranks among the best note taking apps for people who value control.

Anytype

⭐ 4.1/5 | 💰 From $4/month

A local first, encrypted app for personal knowledge management. Your notes stay private, and only you hold the keys.

Anytype Pricing

Here is what Anytype offers in 2026. The tiers scale with network space.

PlanPriceBest For
FreeGet the appPersonal notes and testing
Plus$4/monthMore network space for one user
Pro$8/monthPower users and a shared space
Ultra$16/monthHeavy storage and priority support

Pricing verified January 2026.

Anytype Pricing

Free trial: The free plan is generous. You download Anytype and use it with no credit card.

Money-back guarantee: Paid tiers add more network space. You can stay on the free plan as long as you like.

📌 Note: The free plan includes generous network space, three shared spaces, and three members per shared space. That is enough for most personal notes.

⚠️ Warning: Anytype has a steeper learning curve. Give yourself time to learn how sets and objects work.

Key Benefits of Anytype

Here is what makes Anytype worth considering:

  • End-to-End Encryption: Your data uses on device encryption. Only you hold the encryption keys, so your personal notes stay private.
  • Local First Storage: Notes are stored locally and work offline. You do not need an internet connection to open them.
  • Graph View: A graph view shows how your notes connect. It gives you the big picture of your personal knowledge base.
  • Object Types: Custom object type and templates let you organize ideas your way. This no-code system needs no coding.
  • Database Features: Sets and collections turn objects into grids, galleries, and lists to organize information fast.
  • Data Sovereignty: As open code, Anytype gives you real data sovereignty. You own and store information on your own device.
Anytype homepage

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer set up Anytype and used it for a week of personal notes. Here is what stood out:

Using Anytype

Anytype Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • End to end encryption keeps your data private
  • Local first storage that works offline
  • Open source software with a generous free plan
  • Graph view and strong database features
❌ Cons
  • Steeper learning curve than Craft
  • Mobile app is weaker than the desktop version
  • No built-in AI assistant like Craft

Feature Comparison

Ready to compare Craft and Anytype in detail? We will look at eight key features. This helps you see which platform fits your needs.

Neither app is a full project management tool. Compared to note taking apps built for teams, both handle only light project management.

FeatureCraftAnytype
Starting Price$4.79/month$4/month
Free Plan
End to End Encryption
Local First Storage
Built-in AI Assistant
Graph View
Presentation Mode
Open Source Software
Best ForPolished docsPrivacy and PKM

1. Note Taking & Docs

Craft: Craft uses blocks for simple note taking and long docs. Text, images, and cards live side by side. It reads more like a polished document than a raw outline.

Craft Notes Image

Anytype: Anytype treats each note as an object. This object based note taking model helps notes connect and supports personal knowledge management out of the box.

Anytype

2. Templates & Structure

Craft: Craft ships with ready-made templates for notes, plans, and journals. They help you save time and start creating faster.

Craft Templates Image

Anytype: Anytype lets you define a custom object type with no code. You build your own note taking system and store information exactly how you want.

Anytype Customizable Types

Craft: Craft supports backlinks between documents. This lets you connect ideas and jump between related personal notes with one click.

Craft Backlinks Image

Anytype: Anytype uses sets and bi-directional links. Relations and links define each object and help notes connect into a wider web of ideas.

Anytype Sets and directional linking

4. Graph View

Craft: Craft has no graph view. You navigate through folders, backlinks, and search instead. This keeps the app simple but hides the big picture.

Anytype: Anytype includes a graph view. It shows the real world links between objects, so you see how ideas relate in more detail.

Anytype Graph Based Structures

5. Calendar & Daily Notes

Craft: Craft has a built-in calendar and daily notes. You plan your day and take meeting notes in the same clean space.

Craft Calendar Image

Anytype: Anytype leans on object types like a habit tracker. You can build a daily view yourself, though it takes a little setup.

Anytype

6. Collaboration & Sharing

Craft: Craft offers real-time team collaboration. You share a document, invite viewers, and edit together. Comments let you collect valuable feedback fast. This feedback collection keeps everyone aligned as you track progress.

Craft Collaboration Image

Anytype: Anytype adds a shared space for team collaboration. The free plan supports a few members per shared space, with unlimited viewers on higher tiers.

Anytype

7. AI Assistant

Craft: Craft has a built-in AI assistant. It drafts text, rewrites lines, and summarizes notes without leaving the app.

Craft AI Assistant Image

Anytype: Anytype has no built-in AI assistant today. It focuses on structure and privacy over generative writing tools.

8. Privacy & Encryption

Craft: Craft stores notes in the cloud so you can sync across devices. It does not offer end to end encryption or on device encryption.

Anytype: Anytype protects data with end to end encryption. You hold the encryption keys, so only you can read your notes. A secure data vault guards your most private files.

Anytype End to End Encryption

⚠️ Warning: If privacy is your top need, Anytype wins here. Craft trades some privacy for easy cloud sync.

9. Pricing & Cost

Let us compare the pricing plans side by side.

PlanCraftAnytype
Free$0 per monthGet the app
Entry Paid$4.79/month (Personal)$4/month (Plus)
Mid Tier$8.99/month (Friends & Family)$8/month (Pro)
Top Tier$16/month (Ultra)

Craft: Craft costs a little more at the entry level. You pay for a polished app, an AI assistant, and presentation mode.

Anytype: Anytype starts cheaper and adds more network space as you climb tiers. The generous free plan covers most personal notes for free.

Different Scenarios

If You Need…ChooseWhy
Tight budgetAnytypeCheaper entry plan
Privacy firstAnytypeEnd to end encryption
Polished docsCraftCleaner, intuitive design
Built-in AICraftAI assistant included
Beginner-friendlyCraftEasier learning curve

💰 Your Budget

Anytype starts at $4/month with a generous free plan. Craft costs slightly more but adds an AI assistant.

🔒 Your Privacy

Anytype gives you data sovereignty with on device encryption. Craft keeps notes in the cloud for easy sync.

📝 Your Writing Style

Craft feels great for long, polished docs. Anytype suits people who want to organize ideas as linked objects.

🎓 Your Experience Level

Craft is easier for beginners thanks to its user friendly layout. Anytype has a steeper learning curve.

🆓 Free Trials and Demos

Both have a free plan. Test each app with real personal notes before you pay for a tier.

🛟 Support Options

Anytype adds priority support on higher tiers. Craft offers help docs and email support across its plans.

Switching Guide

Already using one of these apps? Here is what to expect if you switch.

🔄 Switching from Craft to Anytype?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • End to end encryption and data sovereignty
  • Local first storage that works offline
  • Graph view and deeper database features

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • Built-in AI assistant
  • Presentation mode
  • The most polished, intuitive design

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your notes from Craft as Markdown
  2. Download Anytype and create your space
  3. Import notes and rebuild them as objects
🔄 Switching from Anytype to Craft?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • A built-in AI assistant for writing
  • Presentation mode and daily calendar
  • A cleaner, more intuitive design

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • End to end encryption and open code
  • Local first storage stored locally
  • Graph view of how notes connect

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your objects from Anytype
  2. Create a Craft account and space
  3. Paste your notes into Craft documents

What Our Review Didn’t Cover

This comparison focused on individual users and small teams. Neither app targets enterprise buyers, so we did not test large team collaboration at scale or every integration. Our notes are based on the January 2026 versions of each app. If you manage a big company workspace, your priorities may differ from what we covered here.

Final Verdict

CategoryWinner
💰 PricingAnytype
🚀 Core FeaturesCraft
🔒 PrivacyAnytype
🤖 AI ToolsCraft
👶 Ease of UseCraft
🔗 Linking & GraphAnytype
🏆 Overall WinnerCraft

🏆 WINNER: CRAFT

Craft wins the categories that matter most to everyday users.

Best for: Polished docs, simple note taking, and writers who want an AI assistant.

Craft and Anytype are two very different apps.

Craft is about speed, polish, and easy note taking.

Anytype is about privacy, local first storage, and control.

Anytype is excellent if data sovereignty is your top goal.

But for most users who just want great notes fast, Craft is the better pick.

More of Craft Compared

Here is how Craft stacks up against other note taking apps:

Craft vs Notion

Craft wins on: Cleaner design, faster docs, better presentation mode

Notion wins on: Deeper databases, more integrations, larger template library

Craft vs Obsidian

Craft wins on: Intuitive design, built-in AI, easier learning curve

Obsidian wins on: Local storage, graph view, open plugin system

Craft vs Coda

Craft wins on: Better writing feel, mobile polish, quick setup

Coda wins on: Powerful tables, automations, formula-driven docs

More of Anytype Compared

Here is how Anytype stacks up against other tools:

Anytype vs Notion

Anytype wins on: Privacy, offline first use, open source software

Notion wins on: Team features, integrations, polished mobile app

Anytype vs Obsidian

Anytype wins on: Built-in sync, easier objects, cleaner interface

Obsidian wins on: Plugin depth, Markdown files, larger community

Anytype vs Capacities

Anytype wins on: On device encryption, local first storage, open code

Capacities wins on: Daily notes flow, cloud sync speed, onboarding

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Craft used for?

Craft is a note taking app for docs, personal notes, and daily writing. It suits people who want polished notes with a built-in AI assistant.

Is Anytype better than Notion?

Anytype is a strong Notion alternative for privacy. It offers local first storage and end to end encryption. Notion still wins on team features and integrations.

Is Anytype safe to use?

Yes. Anytype uses on device encryption, and only you hold the encryption keys. Your notes are stored locally, so your data stays private.

Can you use Craft for free?

Yes. Craft has a free plan for basic note taking. Paid plans start at $4.79 per month and add the AI assistant.

Which is the best note taking app for privacy?

For privacy, Anytype leads with open source software and data sovereignty. For polished, simple note taking, Craft is the easier pick.

Fahim Joharder, Founder

Fahim Joharder, Founder

Tested 900+ AI tools. 250K+ monthly readers.

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