AFFiNE vs Inbox Zero
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. AFFiNE has the lower starting price: about $7 a month, against $20 for Inbox Zero.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Docs and whiteboards
- Databases
- AFFiNE AI
- Local-first storage
- Self-hosting
- Plain-English email rules
- Reply drafting
- Bulk unsubscriber
- Cold email blocker
- Email analytics
| Feature | AFFiNE | Inbox Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source workspace mixing docs, whiteboards and databases with AI | Open-source AI email assistant for sorting, replies and unsubscribing |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $6.75/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Toeverything | Inbox Zero |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
AFFiNE has the lower starting price: about $7 a month, against $20 for Inbox Zero.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
FOSS + Cloud Basic
Free
- Local editor, MIT license
- Basic cloud sync
Pro
$6.75/mo
- 100 GB cloud storage
- Up to 10 members per workspace
- 30-day version history
Team
$10/mo
- Per seat
- 100 GB + 20 GB per seat storage
- Multiple admin roles
- Priority support
Believer
$499.99 one-time
- Lifetime personal usage
- 1TB cloud storage
4 plans
Free
Free
- Email app free to use
Starter
$20/mo
- Per user
- AI sorting and labels
- Drafts replies in your voice
- Cold email blocker, bulk unsubscribe
Plus
$35/mo
- Per user
- 2 email accounts per user
- AI meeting notetaker
- Slack and app integrations
Professional
$50/mo
- Per user
- Team-wide analytics
- Priority support
- Dedicated onboarding manager
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
AFFiNE
- Open source and self-hostable
- Docs and whiteboard in one
- Local-first data
- Less mature than Notion
- AI is a paid add-on
Inbox Zero
- Open source and self-hostable
- Flexible natural-language rules
- Handy cleanup tools
- Rules need tuning
- Smaller team behind it
Which one should you choose?
Choose AFFiNE if you want:
- Open source and self-hostable
- Docs and whiteboard in one
- Local-first data
Watch out: less mature than notion.
Choose Inbox Zero if you want:
- Open source and self-hostable
- Flexible natural-language rules
- Handy cleanup tools
Watch out: rules need tuning.
AFFiNE vs Inbox Zero FAQ
What is the difference between AFFiNE and Inbox Zero?
AFFiNE: Open-source workspace mixing docs, whiteboards and databases with AI. Inbox Zero: Open-source AI email assistant for sorting, replies and unsubscribing. Both are productivity tools.
Is AFFiNE or Inbox Zero cheaper?
AFFiNE has the lower starting price: about $7 a month, against $20 for Inbox Zero.
Do AFFiNE and Inbox Zero have free plans?
AFFiNE: Yes. Inbox Zero: Yes.
Who makes AFFiNE?
AFFiNE is made by Toeverything.
Who makes Inbox Zero?
Inbox Zero is made by Inbox Zero.
Which should I choose, AFFiNE or Inbox Zero?
Choose AFFiNE if you value open source and self-hostable and docs and whiteboard in one. Choose Inbox Zero if you value open source and self-hostable and flexible natural-language rules.