> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to AppFlowy

> The open source AI workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data

## What is AppFlowy?

AppFlowy is an AI-powered collaborative workspace that serves as the open source alternative to Notion. Built with privacy, reliability, and extensibility at its core, AppFlowy gives you complete control over your data while providing the functionality and aesthetic appeal of modern productivity tools.

<Info>
  AppFlowy is the workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data
</Info>

## Why AppFlowy?

AppFlowy was built to address the fundamental limitations we encountered with existing collaborative productivity tools:

### Data Privacy First

Your data belongs to you. Unlike cloud-only tools where your information lives on someone else's servers, AppFlowy gives you complete ownership and control. Choose to keep your data local, self-host on your own infrastructure, or use AppFlowy Cloud - the choice is yours.

### Reliable Native Experience

Built with Flutter and Rust, AppFlowy delivers a smooth, native experience across all platforms. Whether you're on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android, you get the same fast, reliable performance with a single, maintainable codebase.

### Community-Driven Extensibility

AppFlowy is open source (AGPLv3) and built by the community. Customize, extend, and modify AppFlowy to suit your specific needs. Whether you're an individual user or an enterprise, you have 100% control over how AppFlowy works for you.

## Key Value Propositions

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Privacy & Control" icon="shield-check">
    Keep your data local, self-host, or use AppFlowy Cloud. You decide where your information lives and who has access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI-Powered Workspace" icon="sparkles">
    Leverage advanced AI features including GPT-5, Claude 3.7, local AI with Ollama, AI search, and AI-generated overviews.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Open Source Freedom" icon="code-branch">
    Licensed under AGPLv3, AppFlowy is fully transparent and customizable. Build on it, extend it, make it yours.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cross-Platform Native" icon="mobile">
    Available on desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux) and mobile (iOS, Android) with a truly native experience.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Getting Started

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Download Desktop App" icon="desktop" href="https://github.com/AppFlowy-IO/AppFlowy/releases">
    Get AppFlowy for macOS, Windows, or Linux
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mobile Apps" icon="mobile-screen" href="https://www.appflowy.com">
    Download from App Store or Play Store
  </Card>

  <Card title="Self-Hosting Guide" icon="server" href="https://appflowy.com/docs/Step-by-step-Self-Hosting-Guide---From-Zero-to-Production">
    Host AppFlowy on your own infrastructure
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build from Source" icon="code" href="https://docs.appflowy.io/docs/documentation/appflowy/from-source">
    Compile and run AppFlowy yourself
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Platform Availability

AppFlowy is available across all major platforms:

* **Desktop**: macOS, Windows, Linux (also available on FlatHub, Snapcraft, Sourceforge)
* **Mobile**: iOS (App Store), Android (Play Store - Android 10+)
* **Web**: AppFlowy Web (Lite) for browser-based access
* **Self-Hosted**: Deploy on your own infrastructure

<Tip>
  AppFlowy works seamlessly across all your devices with real-time synchronization
</Tip>

## Who AppFlowy Is For

### Individuals

Get Notion's functionality with better data security and a native cross-platform experience. Create documents, manage tasks, build databases, and leverage AI - all while keeping your data private.

### Teams & Organizations

Collaborate in real-time with team members, create shared workspaces, manage permissions, and maintain full control over your organization's data. Self-host for complete data sovereignty.

### Developers & Hackers

Build on AppFlowy's open source foundation. With building blocks and collaboration infrastructure written in Flutter and Rust, you can create custom apps tailored to your specific needs.

## Built With Modern Technologies

AppFlowy leverages cutting-edge technologies to deliver a reliable, high-performance experience:

* **Flutter**: Cross-platform UI framework for native experiences
* **Rust**: High-performance backend for reliability and speed

<Note>
  AppFlowy's single codebase supports multiple platforms with long-term maintainability, making it easy to contribute and extend.
</Note>

## Community & Support

Join thousands of users and contributors in the AppFlowy community:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Discord" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/9Q2xaN37tV">
    Chat with the community
  </Card>

  <Card title="GitHub" icon="github" href="https://github.com/AppFlowy-IO/appflowy">
    Contribute to the project
  </Card>

  <Card title="Forum" icon="comments" href="https://forum.appflowy.io/">
    Discussions and support
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What Makes AppFlowy Different?

While many collaborative tools struggle to scale and prioritize different customer segments, AppFlowy takes a different approach. We believe anyone should be able to create apps that suit their needs perfectly.

Our mission is to democratize the knowledge and tools for building complex workplace management software, while enabling people and businesses to create solutions on their own terms with a versatile toolbox of building blocks.

<Warning>
  AppFlowy prioritizes data privacy, native experience, and community-driven extensibility over feature parity with proprietary tools. We're building the foundation for the future of collaborative workspaces.
</Warning>

## Next Steps

Ready to get started with AppFlowy? Here are some helpful resources:

* Explore the [Features](/features) to see what AppFlowy can do
* Check out the [Roadmap](https://github.com/orgs/AppFlowy-IO/projects/5/views/12) to see what's coming next
* Read the [Changelog](https://appflowy.com/what-is-new) to stay updated on new releases
* Learn how to [Contribute](https://docs.appflowy.io/docs/documentation/software-contributions/contributing-to-appflowy) to AppFlowy