


Ever feel like your ideas are a tangled mess?
You’ve got thoughts swirling, notes scattered, and a project deadline looming.
It’s tough to organize everything, right?
You waste time wrestling with software instead of actually brainstorming.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was a tool that just clicked? Well, guess what?
We explore XTiles vs AFFiNE Pro as they battle it out for the “Ultimate Brainstorming Tool” title in 2025.
Let’s break down which one might be your perfect idea organizer.
Overview
We’ve rigorously tested both XTiles and AFFiNE Pro, diving deep into their features and usability.
Our hands-on experience across various project scenarios fuels this detailed comparison, ensuring you get practical insights.

Supercharge your workspace! 92% of AFFiNE Pro users report increased productivity.
Pricing: It has a free plan. The paid plan starts at $6.75/month
Key Features:
- Whiteboard Integration
- Database Blocks
- Markdown Support
What is XTiles?
XTiles. What’s the buzz? It’s a visual workspace.
Think of it as a digital canvas for your ideas.
You can map out projects, brainstorm, and organize your thoughts. It’s flexible.

Our Take

Organize your information visually and simplify your workflow with XTiles. Users report a 45% increase in information clarity. Experience the tile-based revolution today!
Key Benefits
- Visual tile-based interface.
- Easy to organize information.
- Good for visual thinkers.
- Simple and intuitive.
Pricing
- Free: $0
- Starter: $5.75/month
- Plus: $8.25/month
- Team: $24.92/month

Pros
Cons
What is AFFiNE Pro?
AFFiNE Pro. It’s more than just notes.
It’s a workspace that blends notes, databases, and whiteboards.
It’s designed to be an “all-in-one” tool.

Our Take

Build flexible workspaces and collaborate visually with AFFiNE Pro. See a 20% increase in team project clarity. Explore the open-source power today!
Key Benefits
- Combines multiple tools.
- Open-source and customizable.
- Good for visual collaboration.
- Strong focus on flexibility.
Pricing
- FOSS + Basic: Free Forever
- Pro: $6.75/month
- Team: $10/per seat/month

Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
1. Workspace and Layout
XTiles is visual. Think big boards. You drag and drop ideas. AFFiNE Pro mixes notes and databases.
It’s more structured. You build pages and connect them. Both aim for a flexible workspace.
2. Note-Taking
XTiles focuses on quick, visual note-taking. Think sticky notes and mind maps.
AFFiNE Pro has rich text and databases. It’s better for detailed notes.
It is a robust notion alternative.
3. Database Functionality
XTiles has a full database. AFFiNE Pro also does.
You can create tables and link data. It’s a powerful alternative to Notion.

4. Task Management
XTiles lets you add simple tasks. AFFiNE Pro has more robust task management.
You can assign tasks and track progress. Both help with productivity.
5. Knowledge Management
AFFiNE Pro is stronger for knowledge management.
You can link pages and build a knowledge base. XTiles is good for visual brainstorming.
6. Customization
Both are customizable. XTiles lets you change board styles.
AFFiNE Pro enables you to build custom layouts. Both help create a personal workflow.

7. Notion Alternative
AFFiNE Pro is the best notion alternative for its database and linking features.
XTiles is not a direct notion alternative but a tool for visual thinkers.
What to Look For When Choosing a Brainstorming Tool?
- Visual and Intuitive Interface: The app should prioritize visual organization and have an intuitive interface. Tools like xtiles helps you share ideas using different blocks and avoid the steeper learning curve of complex apps.
- Feature Set and Focus: Look for a provider where xtiles offers a true “one-app” solution. It must effectively combine note taking apps features with project management capabilities, allowing you to easily create to do lists and track tasks for different projects.
- Collaboration and Workflow: The tool must support team collaboration with collaboration tools like the mobile app and real time collaboration. It should allow you to leave comments and use meeting notes, so all team members are aligned on the business plan.
- Pricing and Scaling: Review the pricing plans. The free version should offer a generous amount of unlimited blocks and unlimited blocks projects. Check if the plus plan or paid plans offer features like unlimited spaces and unlimited personal spaces pages (unlimited personal spaces), as well as priority support.
- Advanced Utilities: Ensure the tool supports extensive integrations like google calendar and google meet, with zapier integration being a strong plus. Look for more features like timeline view, free templates, and the ability to set deadlines and manage tasks and projects.
- Content and Storage: Check for the platform’s ability to handle content creation and access external youtube videos and google docs. Xtiles review shows the best tools offer unlimited storage and solid network security to manage client work.
Final Verdict
After careful consideration, XTiles takes the crown. Why?
It’s all about visual clarity and simplicity. XTiles’ intuitive, drag-and-drop interface makes brainstorming and project mapping a breeze.
For users who prioritize visual thinking and rapid idea capture, XTiles is unmatched.
While AFFiNE Pro offers robust database features, XTiles excels in its core function: visual organization.
If your work revolves around visual planning and real-time collaboration on a visual level, XTiles is the intuitive tool you need.
In the XTiles vs AFFiNE pro comparison, the visual focus, especially for the price, makes XTiles our pick for 2025.
It is the best for those who want to enhance their visual workflow.


More of XTiles
Let’s see how XTiles stacks up against these other workspace and note-taking apps:
- XTiles vs Notion: XTiles focuses on privacy and interconnected notes and tasks. Notion is a cloud-based all-in-one workspace for notes, projects, and databases.
- XTiles vs Anytype: Both XTiles and Anytype prioritize local-first storage and connecting different types of information privately.
- XTiles vs ClickUp: XTiles helps you manage your own notes and tasks privately. ClickUp is a project management tool for teams with note-taking features.
- XTiles vs Coda: XTiles offers a private space to organize notes and tasks. Coda lets you build flexible documents that can act like mini-apps for various purposes.
- XTiles vs Capacities: XTiles focuses on private organization of notes and tasks. Capacities helps you connect ideas visually through objects and links.
- XTiles vs Craft: XTiles helps you manage your notes and tasks privately. Craft focuses on creating beautifully designed and linked documents.
- XTiles vs AFFiNE pro: Both XTiles and AFFiNE pro aim for private, local-first organization of notes and tasks with interconnectedness. AFFiNE pro also offers block-based editing.
- XTiles vs Obsidian: Both XTiles and Obsidian emphasize local-first storage and connecting your thoughts. Obsidian uses plain text Markdown files with a strong plugin community.
More of AFFiNE pro
Let’s see how AFFiNE pro stacks up against these other workspace apps:
- AFFiNE pro vs Notion: AFFiNE pro tries to put docs, whiteboards, and databases together in one app and keeps your info private. Notion is a cloud-based workspace for notes, projects, and more.
- AFFiNE pro vs ClickUp: AFFiNE pro wants to be an all-in-one workspace. ClickUp is mainly for teams to manage projects with lots of features.
- AFFiNE pro vs Anytype: Both AFFiNE pro and Anytype aim to keep your info private on your computer and help you link different kinds of information.
- AFFiNE pro vs Coda: AFFiNE pro combines different tools in one place. Coda lets you build documents that act like apps with tables and automation.
- AFFiNE pro vs XTiles: Both AFFiNE pro and XTiles focus on keeping your info private and letting you connect notes and tasks.
- AFFiNE pro vs Capacities: AFFiNE pro wants to be an all-in-one workspace. Capacities helps you see connections between your ideas in a visual way.
- AFFiNE pro vs Craft: AFFiNE pro tries to combine different tools for productivity. Craft focuses on making nice-looking documents that you can link.
- AFFiNE pro vs Obsidian: Both AFFiNE pro and Obsidian keep your info on your computer and let you link your thoughts. Obsidian uses plain text files and has many extra tools you can add.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Affine’s unique combination a hyper fused platform?
Affine is an open source hyper fused platform that lets you seamlessly switch between documents, whiteboards and databases. This unique combination of docs whiteboards and advanced databases provides better organization than using different tools.
How does affine ai boost productivity for project planning?
Affine AI provides intelligent assistance to enhance productivity across various tasks. It helps brainstorm ideas, generate content, and refine your drawing, allowing both established organizations and next gen startups to manage projects smarter.
What all the features are included in the latest version that aid creativity?
The latest version features the versatile whiteboard feature for drawing and creativity. It includes all the features to collaborate in real-time, combine documents, and transform your plans into more things to stay organized.
Is Affine an open source project and can the community contribute?
Yes, Affine is an open source project built in public. The active community is encouraged to contribute code, provide feedback, and help develop the platform, making it a robust open source alternative.
How does the affine pro review relate to its multi-platform support?
The affine pro review notes that the platform supports most major devices. This ensures you can access the feature rich tool and collaborate on documents from any operating system, keeping your personal knowledge base available anywhere.













