Modular Editor Anytype Comprehensive Review

With the rapid rise of Notion in the note-taking software track, it has won the favor of many users. However, Notion also has some drawbacks. For mainland Chinese users, a special network is required to use Notion. Otherwise, sometimes logging in is slow, or there are barriers to sharing/collaboration.

In addition, many users expect Notion to be used offline when the network is disconnected . Such usage scenarios include: the user wants to study quietly and does not want to connect to the Internet; the user's company, due to data privacy protection needs, can only use the company's internal network and special equipment, which makes it inconvenient to use Notion.

So, what's the solution?

In " The Most Complete Notion Software Inventory on the Internet ", I listed the advantages, disadvantages and comprehensive evaluation of Notion, FlowUs, Wolai, AnyType, Coda, ClickUp, Craft, AppFlowy, Focalboard and other applications. Among them, AnyType, AppFlowy, and Focalboard can be used offline. While FlowUs is currently improving the core collaboration functions, offline mode/airplane mode is also planned. Attention is recommended.

AnyType

introduce

An online document tool that is different from Notion's All In One.

advantage

• Local offline, no network can be used.
• Privacy is highly valued. AnyType adopts security mechanisms such as IPFS and libp2p, and attaches great importance to users' data privacy security.
• Has a unique design idea. AnyType is not just an offline, encrypted version of Notion. Instead of following Notion, AnyType advocates building an operating system for digital objects. In AnyType, there are different types of objects/Objects. This is not the same as Notion's philosophy of using Page to carry everything.

shortcoming

• The product is not mature enough;
• Missing views such as Database;
• Lack of collaboration and other functions;

Anytype official website

Microsoft Loop and Evernote Verse are also Notion-like applications. For specific in-depth evaluations, see the following articles:

Digital Garden: Which is the best online collaboration product? Microsoft Loop, Notion, FlowUs, Wolai

Digital Garden: How do block editors choose? Evernote Verse, Notion, FlowUs

Notion-like note-taking software is mainly these products. In addition, it is recommended to use specialized offline note-taking software directly. For detailed in-depth evaluation, see this article:

Digital Garden: A comprehensive evaluation of powerful and easy-to-use offline note-taking and cloud note-taking software: advantages, disadvantages, comparison

Finally, it is recommended to use the new generation of productivity tools that I am deeply using - FlowUs. Compared with Notion, FlowUs has the following characteristics:

FlowUs Flow Notes

introduce

A featured, Notion-like All in One productivity tool.

Core functions

• Block editor - supports various Blocks including pages, to-do lists, code blocks, etc. At the same time, it also supports synchronized blocks to facilitate knowledge reuse of Block content. In addition, support page dynamics and comment functions.
• Simple form : supports simple forms to meet users' lightweight requirements for forms.
• Database, the multidimensional table , supports seven views including tables, kanbans, galleries, catalogs, timelines, calendars, collection tables , etc.
• Multidimensional table function : support basic functions such as grouping, filtering, sorting, etc. At the same time, it also supports advanced functions such as formulas, associations, and summaries , which is convenient for multi-dimensional tables to realize automatic data summarization and presentation . In addition, it supports the function of referencing multi-dimensional tables , which is convenient for users to share Database in multiple pages.
• Template function : template button + template market. Powerful, diverse and personalized templates can meet the needs of different users.
• Collaboration function : Supports multiple collaboration permission functions such as viewing, editing, commenting, and copying .

Reference and Embedding of Multidimensional Tables

special function

• Compared with Notion, FlowUs supports Chinese interface and optimizes the details for Chinese users' usage habits.
• It supports native development and solves the input problem of the mobile terminal . For most users, the requirements for the mobile terminal are real-time synchronization of content and support for quick input . FlowUs as a cloud note, there is no problem with natural content cross-platform. The native application can bring users a good mobile terminal experience, realize open and write, and quickly collect various knowledge and content.
• Support folder page: integrate the network disk into your note-taking system
• What is a folder page? Like a network disk application , FlowUs allows users to upload their frequently used office files to the note space in the form of a folder or multiple files with one click. And, FlowUs allows users to preview office files in folder pages online for free .
• In similar software like Notion, files can only exist as attachments . For Notion, you need to use a browser jump to view the attachment content. For other similar software, you need to upgrade to the personal Pro version before you can preview it online.
• The folder page has three views : title view, card view, and preview view, which are convenient for users to preview different forms of file content.

Folder page: integrate the network disk into your note-taking system

• It is very friendly to individual users and has a high cost performance .
• As in the article " Notion Software Horizontal Evaluation: Notion, FlowUs, Wolai ", FlowUs is cost-effective based on the specific functions and price comparisons of these three software.
• In many of the same functions, FlowUs provides users with more benefits. For example, the group version of less than five people is free , and this feature is charged in software such as Notion. In addition, with core functions such as file upload and word limit per block , FlowUs provides more storage space and fewer functional limitations.
• Of course, FlowUs also supports educational discounts .
• Rich software linkage ecosystem : FlowUs forms software linkage with many excellent third-party services such as whiteboards, mind maps, flowcharts, and design collaboration . Specifically, FlowUs supports Figma, Airtable, Sketch, Moknife, Ike, Excalidraw, ProcessOn, Canva, Bilibili, Tencent Video, Youku Video, NetEase Cloud Music, Codepen.

View and edit mind maps, whiteboards, flowcharts directly inside FlowUs

FlowUs Flow Notes Template

Homepage Dashboard Template

FlowUs Dashboard Template Sharing

Self-media operation template

We Media Operation · Template Sharing

Progress bar comprehensive template

• FlowUs Dashboard Template
• FlowUs self-media operation template
• Strengthen memory spaced repetition template
• Progress bar comprehensive template
• Pomodoro Technique Template
• Time management: time block, four quadrant management method template
• Time Management: Interstitial Log Templates

The above template parts are made using the domestic widget library NotionPet . For more widgets, it is recommended to visit the official website:

• NotionPet official website - rich widget library, dynamic icon library - provides a large number of beautiful and practical widgets, which can assist in time management, task management, note taking, information management, creative writing and other usage scenarios. Among them, the number of widgets is constantly enriched and the service is stable . Moreover, NotionPet provides powerful customization services to meet your individual configuration needs .
• Domestic Component Library NotionPet: Embedding Visualization Modules for Notes - Special Article Evaluation on NotionPet

Use tutorials and learning resources summary

• FlowUs Zhihu Homepage
• FlowUs Educational Offers
• FlowUs Help Center
• FlowUs Sync Block: Flowus Notes Major Update Formulas and Sync Blocks
• FlowUs Multidimensional Table·Association and Summarization: Guidelines for Using the Association and Summarization Functions
• FlowUs - the next generation productivity tool

Related Productivity Tool Evaluation and Methodology Introduction

• History, selection strategy and in-depth evaluation of note-taking software
• Digital Garden: Notion Like note-taking software tutorial · Learning resource summary · Knowledge management scheme: in-depth evaluation, auxiliary tools, information management, time management, task management, thinking management, project management, file management, note-taking method, memory method, writing method ——In this article, I take Notion-like tools as an example to introduce various usage scenarios of note-taking software and related productivity methodologies such as reading methods, note-taking methods, and writing methods .
• Comprehensive evaluation of domestic mainstream productivity tools - In this article, I summarize the detailed evaluation articles of common productivity tools, including lightweight note-taking software, Markdown editor, cloud Office, offline notes, cloud notes, open source note-taking software, outline editing Content on topics such as browsers, collaborative office note-taking software, knowledge base management tools, low-code/no-code platforms, writing software, productivity methodology , etc.
• Productivity Tools - In-depth Evaluation of Note-taking Software FlowUs
• FlowUs - the next generation productivity tool