Anytype: A Comprehensive Review of the Everything App

Last Updated: November 4, 2026

Anytype is a free, local-first workspace app for notes, tasks, databases and chats, made by Any, a Swiss association, that stores your data encrypted on your own devices instead of in a company cloud. As of November 4, 2026, the Anytype app runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, is free to start with paid memberships for more backup storage, and syncs through Any-Sync, an open protocol released under the MIT license. Anytype is one of the strongest private alternatives to Notion and Obsidian, but it has no browser version, its desktop client is source-available rather than OSI open source, and losing your 12-word Key means losing your data for good.

This Anytype review checks Anytype’s own documentation, blog and GitHub repositories, its App Store and Google Play listings, and the pricing pages of Notion and Obsidian, all as of November 4, 2026.

Key Takeaways:

• Anytype is built by Any, a Swiss association, and published on the App Store and Google Play by Any Association
• Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android; there is no browser version of the main app
• Pricing: free with 100 MB of backup storage; Plus, Pro and Ultra cost $5, $10 and $20 a month ($4, $8 and $16 billed yearly) for 1 GB, 10 GB and 100 GB; Anytype for Business costs €20 per editor per month, or 20% less billed annually
• Privacy: data is encrypted on your device with AES, keys never leave the device, and backup nodes in EU data centers store only encrypted data
• Sync: the Any-Sync protocol (MIT license) syncs through encrypted backup nodes, directly between devices on a local network, through your own self-hosted nodes, or not at all in local-only mode
• Latest stable desktop release: v0.57.4, published on GitHub on October 3, 2026

What is Anytype?

Anytype is an “everything app” for personal knowledge and team collaboration: one place for notes, documents, task lists, databases, wikis and group chats. Everything in Anytype is an object (a page, a task, a book, a person) with a type and properties, and objects can be linked to each other, filtered into views and shown on a graph.

The defining idea of Anytype is that it is local-first. The Anytype app keeps your data on your device and works offline, and sync is an add-on rather than the place your data lives. Anytype accounts need no email address: when you create a Vault, the app generates a Key, a 12-word phrase that follows the BIP-39 standard used by crypto wallets. The Key is your login and your decryption key, and Anytype’s documentation says it is never sent over the internet or stored on Anytype’s servers. Readers who use crypto wallets will recognise the model from a seed phrase: whoever holds the 12 words controls the data, and nobody, including Anytype, can recover a lost Key.

Anytype is developed by Any, which describes itself on GitHub as a Swiss association. The team announced a $13.4 million funding round on its blog in August 2023. The mobile apps are listed under the developer name Any Association, and the Android app had more than 100,000 downloads on Google Play on November 4, 2026.

Anytype Review 2026: Verdict, Pros and Cons

Anytype is the most complete private, local-first alternative to Notion available in 2026: it combines Notion-style databases and Obsidian-style linked notes with end-to-end encrypted sync and built-in chat. It suits privacy-conscious individuals and small teams who accept a learning curve and the responsibility of keeping a 12-word Key safe. Blockchainreporter’s scorecard below rates Anytype on the points readers ask about most.

Pros:

• Local-first: the Anytype app works offline and keeps a full copy of your data on your device
• End-to-end encryption, with keys that never leave your devices
• Databases with list, grid, calendar, kanban, gallery and graph views
• Real-time collaboration and chat in shared spaces
• Option to self-host the sync network or use Anytype entirely offline
• Import from Notion, Obsidian and Evernote, and export of your data

Cons:

• No browser version, so every device needs the app installed
• Lose the 12-word Key and the data cannot be recovered by anyone
• Desktop client is source-available, not OSI-approved open source
• Learning curve: objects, types, properties and queries take time to master
• Free backup storage is limited, and files stop syncing between devices past the limit
• Version numbers are still below 1.0, and some features, such as web publishing, are still in development

Why Choose Anytype?

Anytype’s case rests on three points: privacy, autonomy and openness. Each is real, but each comes with details worth knowing before you move your notes.

1. True Privacy

Anytype encrypts your data on your device before it is synced. Anytype’s privacy and encryption documentation says it uses AES stream encryption in CFB mode, with two layers of encryption and different keys for every change to an object. Backup nodes hold only the first-layer key, which they use to group the changes that belong to one object, so they cannot read the content itself. In Anytype’s words, “not even Anytype can see your content.”

This differs from cloud-first apps such as Notion or Evernote, where the provider stores your workspace on its servers in a form the service itself can process. Anytype does collect anonymized telemetry, which it says never includes object titles, document contents, chat messages or files. The App Store privacy label lists identifiers, usage data and diagnostics as data not linked to you, and the Google Play data safety section says data is encrypted in transit.

2. Autonomy

With Anytype, you choose where your data lives. The app keeps a full local copy and works offline, and Anytype’s documentation lists three ways to sync:

1. Anytype Network (default): sync through Anytype’s encrypted backup nodes, hosted in data centers in the European Union, plus direct sync between your devices on the same local network
2. Self-hosted: run your own Any-Sync nodes and sync through your own infrastructure
3. Local-only: no server at all, so your data stays on your device and you are responsible for your own backups

Because Anytype holds no keys, it cannot reset your password or recover your account. That is the price of autonomy: the 12-word Key, a recovery phrase in the same format as a crypto wallet’s, is the only way into your Vault.

3. Open-Source and Customizable

Anytype publishes its code on GitHub under the anyproto organization, and it is more precise to call Anytype “open code” than fully open source. The Any-Sync protocol is released under the MIT license, an OSI-approved open-source license. The desktop client, anytype-ts, is licensed under the Any Source Available License 1.0, which lets anyone read the code but is not an OSI-approved open-source license.

For customization, Anytype offers custom types and properties, templates, formulas, custom CSS, a Raycast extension and a Local API built into the desktop app. The Local API runs on localhost, works offline and supports community tools including Python and Go clients and an MCP server, which can connect Anytype to AI assistants. This makes Anytype flexible enough for a personal journal, a reading list, a team wiki or a project tracker.

Key Features of Anytype

Anytype’s features center on objects that can be written like documents, organized like databases and shared like a group chat. The main features, as described in Anytype’s documentation on November 4, 2026:

1. Block-based Editor

Every Anytype object is built from blocks: text, headings, toggled headings, checklists, tables, code, inline LaTeX, files, media, bookmarks, embeds and links to other objects. Blocks can be dragged and rearranged, and links between objects create backlinks automatically, so notes can grow into a connected knowledge base or a set of relational trackers.

2. Templates and Widgets

Templates set the starting layout and properties for each object type, for example a meeting note, a book or a project. Users can create their own templates for any type. The sidebar holds widgets for pinned objects, favorites, recent items and object types, and the community-run ANY Experience Gallery offers ready-made setups to import.

3. Decentralized Synchronization with Any-Sync

Anytype syncs through Any-Sync, which its GitHub page describes as an open-source protocol for “local-first, peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted collaborative apps.” Each space is an encrypted, user-owned unit of data, and every change is signed and merged with a CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Type) mechanism, so devices reach the same state without a central server deciding the order of edits.

The Any-Sync network has four node types: sync nodes store spaces and objects, file nodes store files, consensus nodes validate access control changes, and a coordinator node manages the network configuration. On the default Anytype Network, these nodes are run by Anytype and only ever see encrypted data. Devices on the same local network also sync with each other directly, peer-to-peer, and anyone can run the nodes themselves to replace Anytype’s backup network.

The approach shares ideas with decentralized storage networks, but Anytype uses no blockchain or token for storing content: sync and backup are handled by Any-Sync nodes.

4. Offline-first Operation

The Anytype app works without an internet connection. Changes are saved locally and sync with your other devices and the backup node when you reconnect. Media is not fully downloaded during normal sync: images, video and audio are streamed from the backup node or your other devices when you open them and then cached. In local-only mode, your device holds the only copy of your data, so Anytype’s documentation recommends regular backups.

5. Personal and Group Use

Anytype works for personal use, such as daily notes, habit trackers, study notes and reading lists, and for groups, such as team wikis, shared calendars and project boards. Shared spaces support real-time collaboration with editors and viewers, built-in chats, direct channels and discussions on objects.

For organizations, Anytype for Business is a separate Anytype app for teams with its own accounts. Anytype’s business documentation lists sign-in with Google, custom single sign-on through OIDC (including Microsoft Entra ID) or an email code, a web Admin Console, and owner, admin and member roles.

6. Visual Database and Graph Views

Anytype’s databases are built from queries and collections. A query collects every object that matches its filters, such as all tasks due this week, while a collection is a hand-picked list. Both can be shown in six layouts: list, grid, calendar, kanban, gallery and graph. Advanced filters with AND and OR logic and dynamic filter values such as “Current User” arrived in the February 2026 desktop release, and formula properties can calculate values from other properties. The global graph view maps how every object links to every other.

Anytype Pricing, Plans and Platforms in 2026

Anytype is free to start: the free plan includes the full app, unlimited local use and 100 MB of encrypted backup storage on the Anytype Network. Only files count toward the storage limit; objects and other content do not. Past the limit, Anytype shows a warning and new files stop syncing between devices, but the app keeps working.

Paid memberships, according to Anytype’s membership documentation checked November 4, 2026, add:

• More backup storage on the Anytype Network
• Unlimited shared channels
• A custom ANY ID, a unique name used in web publishing addresses
• 50% off for students and faculty, and 50% off for active contributors

Memberships are priced in US dollars. Desktop purchases are converted to local currency through Stripe, and iOS and Android purchases go through the App Store and Google Play. If a membership lapses, backups are deleted from the backup node 30 days later, while local data stays on your devices. Personal plan prices below are from Anytype’s pricing page, checked November 4, 2026; yearly billing saves 20%.

Which Platforms Does Anytype Support?

The Anytype app is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, according to Anytype’s install guide, with downloads at download.anytype.io and in the App Store and Google Play. The iPhone and iPad apps need iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later and also run on Apple Vision Pro. The App Store listing showed a 4.5 rating from 215 ratings and Google Play a 4.1 rating from 1,200 reviews on November 4, 2026. There is no browser version of the main app, although a web clipper extension exists for Firefox and Chromium browsers, and published pages can be viewed by anyone in a browser.

What Changed in Anytype Since 2025

• Anytype for Business: a separate team app with SSO and per-editor billing at €20 per editor per month
• Desktop 0.54.0 (February 2026): tabs, advanced AND/OR filters, dynamic filter values and toggled headings, announced in Anytype’s February 19, 2026 community update
• Release cadence: Anytype moved to a roughly two-month cycle with about six releases a year, per the same update
• Local API: introduced in release 0.46, with community clients, a Raycast extension and an MCP server
• AI plans: Anytype says it will let users choose no AI, local AI, cloud AI or a hybrid; a local agent prototype was described as experimental in February 2026
• Latest stable release: v0.57.4 on October 3, 2026, after v0.57.0 on September 22

Anytype vs Notion vs Obsidian

Anytype sits between Notion and Obsidian: it has Notion’s databases and collaboration, Obsidian’s local storage, and end-to-end encrypted sync that neither offers by default. Blockchainreporter’s comparison uses each app’s official pricing page and documentation as of November 4, 2026.

Choose Anytype if privacy, offline access and collaboration all matter and you are comfortable managing a Key. Choose Notion if you need the most mature team features, a browser version and built-in AI, and are fine with cloud storage. Choose Obsidian if you want plain Markdown files you fully control and mostly work alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Anytype?
Anytype is a local-first app for notes, tasks, databases and chats, made by Any, a Swiss association. It stores your data encrypted on your own devices, works offline and syncs between devices through the Any-Sync protocol. Anytype is often described as a private alternative to Notion and Obsidian, combining databases, linked notes and real-time collaboration in one app.

Is Anytype free?
Yes, Anytype is free to start. The free plan includes the full app, unlimited local use and 100 MB of encrypted backup storage. Plus ($5 a month), Pro ($10) and Ultra ($20) add more backup storage, unlimited shared channels and a custom ANY ID, and Anytype for Business costs 20 euros per editor per month. Students and faculty can get 50% off.

Is Anytype open source?
Partly. The Any-Sync protocol that handles sync and encryption is released under the MIT license, which is open source. The desktop client is published on GitHub under the Any Source Available License 1.0, so anyone can read and audit the code, but it is not an OSI-approved open-source license. Anytype calls this approach open code.

Is Anytype safe and private?
Anytype encrypts data on your device with AES before it syncs, and the keys never leave your devices, so backup nodes store only encrypted data. Anytype collects anonymized telemetry that it says excludes titles, content, messages and files. The main risk is losing your 12-word Key, because Anytype cannot recover an account without it.

How does Anytype sync between devices?
Anytype syncs through Any-Sync, a protocol that merges signed, encrypted changes using a CRDT mechanism. By default, devices sync through Anytype’s encrypted backup nodes in European Union data centers and directly with each other on the same local network. Users can also self-host their own nodes or switch to local-only mode with no server.

Which platforms does the Anytype app support?
The Anytype app is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. The iPhone and iPad apps require version 17.0 or later and also run on Apple Vision Pro. There is no browser version of the main app, but a web clipper extension is available for Firefox and Chromium browsers, and published pages open in any browser.

Is Anytype better than Notion?
Anytype is better for privacy and offline work, because data is stored encrypted on your devices instead of in Notion’s cloud. Notion is better for mature team features, browser access and built-in AI. Notion’s Plus plan is listed at $10 per seat per month, while Anytype is free to start and charges mainly for extra backup storage.

Is Anytype better than Obsidian?
It depends on how you work. Obsidian stores plain Markdown files and suits solo writers who want full control of their files. Anytype adds built-in databases, real-time collaboration, chat and end-to-end encrypted sync without a paid add-on. Obsidian’s app is free, while its official Sync service costs $4 per month billed annually.

What happens if I lose my Anytype Key?
If you lose your 12-word Key and are logged out of every device, nobody can recover your Vault, including Anytype, because the Key is generated on your device and never stored on Anytype’s servers. If you are still logged in on another device, you can copy the Key from its settings. Store the Key offline, like a crypto seed phrase.

Can I use Anytype offline or without the cloud?
Yes. The Anytype app works fully offline and saves changes locally, then syncs when you reconnect. For no cloud at all, local-only mode stops syncing through any server and keeps data only on your device, so regular backups become your responsibility. Self-hosting is a middle option that syncs through servers you run yourself.

Conclusion

Anytype delivers on its main promise in 2026: a capable all-in-one workspace where your notes, databases and chats stay encrypted on your own devices, with sync you can run through Anytype’s backup nodes, your own servers or not at all. Free use covers most individuals, paid memberships mainly buy backup storage, and Anytype for Business now gives teams SSO and admin controls. The trade-offs are a learning curve, no browser version, a client that is source-available rather than fully open source, and a 12-word Key that must never be lost. For privacy-minded users weighing Notion or Obsidian, Anytype is one of the strongest alternatives available.

Data sources: anytype.io, doc.anytype.io (install, key, sync and backup, storage, privacy and encryption, memberships, Anytype for Business, views, publish, local API), blog.anytype.io (February 19, 2026 and August 23, 2023 posts), github.com/anyproto (any-sync, anytype-ts and its releases), Apple App Store and Google Play listings, notion.com/pricing and obsidian.md/pricing, all checked November 4, 2026.