Affine

Application2048MB+ RAM

Privacy-focused Notion alternative with docs, whiteboards, and databases

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Deploy Affine in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Affine

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Why Self-Host Affine?

Affine is a privacy-focused workspace combining documents, whiteboards, and databases — like Notion but self-hosted. Self-hosting means your team's knowledge base, meeting notes, and project plans stay on your server. No third-party company can read, mine, or monetize your organizational knowledge.

Docs, whiteboards, and databases in one privacy-focused workspace

Your team's knowledge base stays entirely on your infrastructure

Block-based editor with offline-first architecture

Real-time collaboration without sending data to external servers

No per-seat pricing — add unlimited team members

Affine vs Alternatives

Affine vs Notion

Notion stores all data on their servers and charges per seat. Self-hosted Affine keeps data local with unlimited users.

Affine vs AppFlowy

Both are Notion alternatives. Affine uniquely combines document editing with whiteboard and database features in one tool.

Affine vs Outline

Outline is wiki-focused. Affine offers a richer workspace with whiteboards and databases alongside docs.

Why Deploy Affine with Server Compass?

Server Compass deploys Affine with PostgreSQL backend and persistent storage for your workspaces, attachments, and collaboration data — all configured automatically with a single click.

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After Deployment

After deploying Affine with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Create your account

Create workspaces

Start creating docs and whiteboards

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Affine FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Affine

How do I deploy Affine with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Affine from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for Affine?

Affine requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Affine data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Affine backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Affine to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Affine image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Affine free to self-host?

Affine is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.