Coda
Docs, tables, and apps combined into one collaborative workspace
Anytype
Local-first, encrypted knowledge base for your digital brain
Personal knowledge OS that lets you create pages, databases, and custom apps with offline-first storage, peer-to-peer sync, and zero-knowledge encryption across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Overview
Your Private, Offline-First Knowledge OS
Anytype is a personal knowledge base designed for users who demand privacy, flexibility, and control. Built on local-first principles, it functions as your digital brain—gathering, connecting, and remixing information without relying on cloud servers. Every note, task, wiki, or custom database stays encrypted on your device, with optional peer-to-peer synchronization that never exposes your data to third parties.
Composable and Extensible
Unlike rigid note-taking apps, Anytype offers composable blocks—text, kanban boards, calendars, and relational databases—that let you define your own data model. Whether you're building a personal CRM, project tracker, or research repository, the cross-platform desktop client (Electron + TypeScript) adapts to your workflow. Developers can extend functionality through a gRPC API and AI agent integrations.
Built for Sovereignty
Targeting privacy-conscious individuals, researchers, and teams who refuse to compromise on data ownership, Anytype combines zero-knowledge encryption (powered by any-sync) with a transparent, source-available codebase. Deploy it on macOS, Windows, or Linux, sync across devices peer-to-peer, and rest assured your knowledge remains yours—offline, encrypted, and under your control.
Highlights
Offline-first local storage with optional peer-to-peer sync—no cloud dependency
Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption ensures complete data privacy
Composable blocks: text, databases, kanban, calendar, and custom Types
Extensible via gRPC API and AI agent integrations for advanced workflows
Pros
- True data sovereignty with local-first architecture and encryption
- Flexible data modeling lets you build custom apps and workflows
- Cross-platform desktop support (macOS, Windows, Linux) with consistent UX
- Active community and transparent development under source-available license
Considerations
- Any Source Available License 1.0 is not a standard open-source license
- Building from source requires Go, Node.js, and multiple manual steps
- No official mobile clients mentioned in desktop repository documentation
- Peer-to-peer sync setup may be less intuitive than traditional cloud services
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Fit guide
Great for
- Privacy-focused individuals who need encrypted, offline-first knowledge management
- Researchers and writers building interconnected notes, wikis, and databases
- Teams requiring self-hosted, peer-to-peer collaboration without cloud vendors
- Developers seeking extensible knowledge tools with gRPC and AI agent support
Not ideal when
- Users expecting plug-and-play cloud sync without peer-to-peer configuration
- Organizations requiring OSI-approved open-source licensing for compliance
- Non-technical users uncomfortable with manual builds or command-line setup
- Teams needing native mobile apps as primary access points
How teams use it
Personal Research Repository
Academics and writers organize literature, notes, and citations in a private, encrypted knowledge graph that syncs peer-to-peer across devices without cloud exposure.
Custom Project Management System
Freelancers and small teams build tailored kanban boards, calendars, and relational databases to track clients, tasks, and deliverables—all stored locally and encrypted.
Privacy-First Journaling
Individuals maintain daily journals, habit trackers, and personal wikis with zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring thoughts and data remain completely private and offline-accessible.
Developer Knowledge Base
Engineering teams document APIs, architecture decisions, and runbooks in a self-hosted, extensible system that integrates with existing workflows via gRPC and AI agents.
Tech snapshot
TypeScript82%
SCSS16%
JavaScript2%
Go1%
Shell1%
Nix1%
Frequently asked questions
Is Anytype truly open source?
Anytype is released under the Any Source Available License 1.0, which allows code inspection and modification but is not an OSI-approved open-source license. Review the license terms for commercial use and redistribution details.
How does peer-to-peer sync work?
Anytype uses the any-sync protocol for optional peer-to-peer synchronization with zero-knowledge encryption. Your devices communicate directly or via relay nodes, ensuring no third party can access your data.
Can I self-host Anytype?
Yes. The desktop client stores data locally by default. For peer-to-peer sync across devices, you can configure your own sync nodes using the any-sync infrastructure, though setup requires technical expertise.
What platforms are supported?
The desktop client runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Building from source requires Node.js ≥20, Go ≥1.22, and platform-specific dependencies like libsecret on Linux.
How do I extend Anytype with custom features?
Anytype exposes a gRPC API for programmatic access and supports AI agent integrations (see AGENTS.md in the repository). Developers can build custom workflows, automations, and integrations on top of the core engine.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 6,861
- Watchers
- 6,861
- Forks
- 425
Repo age2 years old
Last commit54 minutes ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 51 minutes ago