Capacities costs $11.99/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to Capacities, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Capacities vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $11.99/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiYuan | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 46k | Capacities vs SiYuan → |
| Trilium Notes | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 37k | Capacities vs Trilium Notes → |
| Anytype | free | Any Source Available-1.0 | Local or hosted | ★ $0 forever | Capacities vs Anytype → |
The picks
2 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
SiYuan
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted46kaug 2026Typed blocks, relations and database views for people who enjoy seeing the machinery.
The catch vs CapacitiesSiYuan exposes blocks, attributes, and database mechanics more directly, so creating and browsing coherent object types is less elegant than in Capacities.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobileself-hostedextensionone-click install
- install
- Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
- setup
- The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
- engines
- Built-in AI features connect to OpenAI-compatible APIs using a configured endpoint and key
- your data
- A workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Trilium Notes
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted37kaug 2026Notes become objects through attributes, relations and reusable templates.
The catch vs CapacitiesTrilium remains fundamentally tree-first, making typed objects and cross-cutting collections feel bolted on compared with Capacities' object-native design.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopwebself-hostedextensionone-click install
- install
- Desktop release package, or Docker Compose/image for a server and browser client
- setup
- The desktop app is straightforward, but cross-device sync and browser access require operating a Trilium server, persisting document.db, and handling backups and upgrades
- your data
- Notes, hierarchy, attributes, revisions, and most attachments live in a local or server-side SQLite database named document.db; notes can be exported to HTML, Markdown, or OPML
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Anytype
freeAny Source Available-1.0Local or hostedCapacities with the same object obsession, local data and only 100 MB of free relay storage.
The catch vs CapacitiesAnytype's typed-object graph is rougher to navigate and gives up Capacities' polished calendar integrations, object workflows, and built-in AI experience.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobileone-click install
- install
- Official desktop or mobile installer; optional self-hosted Any-Sync network for advanced deployments
- setup
- The recovery Key must be saved because Anytype cannot recover it; local-only users must manage backups, while synced use is subject to the included network-storage allowance
- your data
- Objects are encrypted and stored locally in Anytype's object store; optional encrypted peer/backup-node copies use Any-Sync, and exports are available as Markdown or Any-Block JSON
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Capacities open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Capacities?+
The top free alternative to Capacities is SiYuan (open source, AGPL-3.0). Typed blocks, relations and database views for people who enjoy seeing the machinery. Other popular Capacities replacements include Trilium Notes, Anytype.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Capacities?+
Yes. Of the 3 free alternatives to Capacities, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: SiYuan (AGPL-3.0), Trilium Notes (AGPL-3.0+), Anytype (Any Source Available-1.0).
How much does switching from Capacities to a free alternative save?+
Capacities starts at $11.99/month per seat ($144/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like SiYuan saves $719 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Capacities clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Capacities is YES (the core loop fits in a weekend). The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Capacities, organize linked notes as typed objects such as people, books, meetings, and ideas. The hard boundary is object-model polish, mobile capture, sync, calendar integration, and ai features, plus sync, collaboration, and capture polish.
What is the catch when switching from Capacities to SiYuan?+
SiYuan exposes blocks, attributes, and database mechanics more directly, so creating and browsing coherent object types is less elegant than in Capacities.
