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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Affine
Application2048MB+ RAM
Privacy-focused Notion alternative with docs, whiteboards, and databases
notesnotion-alternativewhiteboardsdatabasescollaboration
Deploy Affine in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select Affine
Choose from our template library
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Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Affine on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Affine template in Server Compass to deploy the current self-hosted AFFiNE stack with migration, PostgreSQL/pgvector, and Redis on your VPS, then verify the AFFiNE setup UI in a browser.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Affine
Use the template picker search to find Affine in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Affine template
Choose the Affine template. Server Compass fills the AFFiNE server, migration job, PostgreSQL/pgvector, Redis, and persistent storage/config volumes.
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Step 5Review the Affine settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named affine-demo and used host port 3010.
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Step 6Deploy Affine
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Affine image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Affine is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Affine app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Affine in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Affine web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Affine Opens
- Complete the /admin/setup flow to create the first admin user.
- Configure workspaces, HTTPS, email, and user access before production use.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the workspace dashboard to users.
- Back up the Affine PostgreSQL, Redis, config, and storage volumes before relying on it for production workspaces.
Affine deployment questions
What does the Affine template deploy?
It deploys the AFFiNE server, one-shot migration job, PostgreSQL/pgvector database, Redis cache, and persistent storage/config volumes.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3010, which maps to the Affine web server on container port 3010.
Why does the guide stop at the first-run web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean first-run web UI because real workspaces, users, docs, and access rules depend on the production server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Affine template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
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.
Download Server CompassAfter Deployment
After deploying Affine with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Create your account
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Create workspaces
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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.
Ready to Self-Host Affine?
Download Server Compass and deploy Affine to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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