Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Miro · 🧑🏫 whiteboards
Miro vs AFFiNE
An integrated canvas, docs, databases, and planning workspace for teams willing to accept a younger product and real self-hosting chores. Here is how AFFiNE ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Miro ($10/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Miro vs AFFiNE Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Miro (Paid) | AFFiNE (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $10 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $120 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $120) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $600 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $600) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,200) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source MIT |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopwebself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 71k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Miro to AFFiNE
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
AFFiNE has far fewer workshop templates, facilitation controls, integrations, embedded app connectors, and enterprise administration features than Miro.
How to deploy AFFiNE
Hosted signup or desktop app; Docker Compose for self-hosting
What it takes to run
The hosted/desktop app installs cleanly; self-hosting is a multi-service Docker deployment that needs a domain, TLS, secrets, storage, backups, and AI-provider keys for AI features
Where your data lives
Local-first clients keep workspace data locally and sync to AFFiNE Cloud or the operator's server; self-hosting uses PostgreSQL, Redis, and persistent blob storage
Why fork AFFiNE instead of vibe-coding a Miro clone?
A simple multiplayer whiteboard is doable; Miro's value is scale, templates, integrations, facilitation, permissions, and reliability with many users.
Miro vs AFFiNE FAQ
Is AFFiNE a good free alternative to Miro?+
Yes. AFFiNE is a verified open-source (MIT) replacement for Miro. An integrated canvas, docs, databases, and planning workspace for teams willing to accept a younger product and real self-hosting chores.
What is the catch when switching from Miro to AFFiNE?+
AFFiNE has far fewer workshop templates, facilitation controls, integrations, embedded app connectors, and enterprise administration features than Miro.
How much do you save switching from Miro to AFFiNE?+
Miro costs $10/mo ($120/yr) per seat, whereas AFFiNE is $0/mo. Switching saves $120/yr for a solo user, $600/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,200/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host AFFiNE instead of Miro?+
Install: Hosted signup or desktop app; Docker Compose for self-hosting. Setup: The hosted/desktop app installs cleanly; self-hosting is a multi-service Docker deployment that needs a domain, TLS, secrets, storage, backups, and AI-provider keys for AI features
