How to Migrate from Notion to AppFlowy

Notion's free plan limits block storage and guest collaborators. Paid plans start at $10/user/month. AppFlowy gives you a Notion-like experience — block editor, databases, kanban boards — fully open source and self-hosted. Here's how to migrate.

What Transfers (and What Doesn't)

Content	Status
✅ Pages and sub-pages	Markdown export → import
✅ Text content	Full formatting preserved
✅ Headings, lists, toggles	Supported
✅ Code blocks	Supported
✅ Tables	Basic tables transfer
⚠️ Databases	Partial — export as CSV, recreate views
⚠️ Images	Need to be re-added or linked
❌ Database relations	Not supported
❌ Formulas	Not supported
❌ Integrations/API automations	Rebuild separately
❌ Comments and activity	Not preserved

Step 1: Export from Notion

1. Go to Settings & Members → Settings
2. Scroll to Export all workspace content
3. Choose Markdown & CSV format
4. Choose to include sub-pages
5. Click Export → Download the ZIP

For individual pages:

1. Open the page → click ⋯ menu → Export
2. Choose Markdown & CSV

Step 2: Install AppFlowy

Desktop (recommended for migration):

• Download from appflowy.io for Mac, Windows, or Linux
• Or use the AppFlowy Cloud for hosted option

Self-hosted (Docker):

git clone https://github.com/AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy-Cloud.git
cd AppFlowy-Cloud
cp deploy.env .env
# Edit .env with your configuration
docker compose up -d

Step 3: Import Content

AppFlowy supports Markdown import:

1. Open AppFlowy
2. Click + New Page
3. Click ⋯ → Import → Markdown
4. Select your exported .md files

For bulk import:

• Import pages one at a time (AppFlowy doesn't support bulk ZIP import yet)
• Organize into spaces/folders after import
• Priority: Start with your most-used pages

Step 4: Recreate Databases

Notion databases export as CSV files. In AppFlowy:

1. Create a new Grid or Board view
2. Define columns matching your Notion database
3. Import CSV data (or recreate entries manually)
4. Set up Kanban view if needed

Tip: AppFlowy's database views support Grid, Board (Kanban), and Calendar — similar to Notion but without relations and rollups.

Step 5: Reorganize Your Workspace

Notion's workspace structure → AppFlowy equivalent:

Notion	AppFlowy
Workspace	Workspace
Team spaces	Spaces
Pages	Documents
Sub-pages	Nested documents
Databases	Grid/Board views
Templates	Document templates
Favorites	Favorites

Step 6: Set Up Your Team

If self-hosted:

1. Share your AppFlowy Cloud instance URL with your team
2. Create user accounts
3. Set up spaces with appropriate permissions

If using AppFlowy Cloud:

1. Invite team members via email
2. Organize shared spaces
3. Set up workspace permissions

What You'll Miss (and Workarounds)

Notion Feature	AppFlowy Status	Workaround
Database relations	Not available	Use links between pages
Formulas	Not available	Use external spreadsheet
API/Integrations	Limited	AppFlowy has a growing plugin system
Web clipper	Not available	Copy-paste content
Synced blocks	Not available	Duplicate content manually
Comments	Available	✅
Real-time collaboration	Available	✅

What You'll Gain

• Full data ownership — your data stays on your machine or server
• No block limits — Notion's free plan limits storage
• Offline-first — works without internet (desktop app)
• No per-user pricing — self-hosted is free for unlimited users
• Privacy — no data sent to third parties
• Customizable — open source, extensible with plugins

Migration Timeline

Day	Task
Day 1	Export Notion workspace, install AppFlowy
Day 2-3	Import priority pages, recreate key databases
Day 4-5	Organize workspace structure, invite team
Week 2	Run both platforms in parallel
Week 3-4	Full transition, cancel Notion subscription

Tips for a Smooth Migration

1. Don't migrate everything at once — Start with your 10 most-used pages
2. Recreate databases manually — It's often faster than importing CSV and reformatting
3. Keep Notion as read-only archive — Downgrade to free plan instead of deleting
4. Use the desktop app — Better performance for large imports
5. Embrace differences — AppFlowy isn't Notion; some workflows will change

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