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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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AppFlowy
Application2048MB+ RAM
Open-source Notion alternative with AI capabilities
notesnotion-alternativeaicollaboration
Deploy AppFlowy in 3 Steps
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Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
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Select AppFlowy
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 AppFlowy on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the AppFlowy template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted open-source workspace cloud stack with PostgreSQL, Redis, GoTrue, and MinIO on your VPS, then verify the AppFlowy web 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 AppFlowy
Use the template picker search to find AppFlowy in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the AppFlowy template
Choose the AppFlowy template. Server Compass fills the current AppFlowy Cloud services, host port, generated secrets, PostgreSQL, Redis, GoTrue, MinIO, Nginx, and persistent workspace volumes.
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Step 5Review the AppFlowy settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named appflowy-demo and used host port 4315.
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Step 6Deploy AppFlowy
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, clones the AppFlowy Cloud config, pulls the AppFlowy images, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm AppFlowy is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the AppFlowy app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open AppFlowy in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The AppFlowy web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After AppFlowy Opens
- Create an account or connect an AppFlowy client before production use.
- Configure HTTPS, email, storage, and user access before production use.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the AppFlowy Cloud service to users.
- Back up the AppFlowy PostgreSQL, Redis, and MinIO volumes before relying on it for production workspaces.
AppFlowy deployment questions
What does the AppFlowy template deploy?
It deploys the AppFlowy Cloud core stack with Nginx, AppFlowy Cloud, AppFlowy Web, GoTrue, PostgreSQL with pgvector, Redis, MinIO, background worker, search, and admin frontend services.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 4315, which maps to the AppFlowy Nginx proxy on container port 80.
Why does the guide stop at the first-run web UI?
The tutorial verifies the clean first-run web UI because real clients, users, workspaces, and access rules depend on the production server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the AppFlowy template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Why Self-Host AppFlowy?
AppFlowy is an open-source Notion alternative with AI capabilities built in. Self-hosting ensures your notes, tasks, and databases stay on your server while still benefiting from AI-powered features. Unlike Notion, AppFlowy gives you the source code and full data ownership.
Full Notion-like experience with self-hosted data ownership
Built-in AI features that work with your choice of LLM provider
Rich document editor with databases, kanban boards, and calendars
Cross-platform apps that sync through your own server
Open-source with active development and community plugins
AppFlowy vs Alternatives
AppFlowy vs Notion
Notion is cloud-only with per-seat pricing. AppFlowy is self-hosted, open-source, and free for unlimited users.
AppFlowy vs Affine
Affine focuses on whiteboards. AppFlowy provides a more traditional Notion-like experience with databases and kanban boards.
AppFlowy vs Obsidian
Obsidian is local-first markdown. AppFlowy offers richer block-based editing and database features similar to Notion.
Why Deploy AppFlowy with Server Compass?
Server Compass deploys AppFlowy Cloud with all required services — API server, Gotrue auth, and PostgreSQL — pre-wired and ready to accept connections from AppFlowy desktop and mobile apps.
Download Server CompassAfter Deployment
After deploying AppFlowy with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Create your account
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Create workspaces and pages
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Configure AI features
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
AppFlowy FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting AppFlowy
How do I deploy AppFlowy with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select AppFlowy 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 AppFlowy?
AppFlowy 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 AppFlowy data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard AppFlowy backup and restore procedures.
How do I update AppFlowy to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest AppFlowy image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is AppFlowy free to self-host?
AppFlowy 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 AppFlowy?
Download Server Compass and deploy AppFlowy to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass