Finding the right Capacities alternative
So you're seeking Capacities alternatives, wondering what application is most similar when it comes to managing your notes, daily notes, objects, AI chats, and more. Maybe Capacities wasn't quite right for you, or maybe you're just exploring what else is out there before committing.
We've put together a comprehensive list of Capacities alternatives that we believe are easy, approachable, and will make moving away from Capacities much easier if you're not gelling with it for some reason. Each option brings something different to the table, whether that's better privacy, more flexibility, or just a different approach to organizing your knowledge.
Why people look for Capacities alternatives
Common frustrations and limitations
Before we jump into alternatives, let's talk about why people leave Capacities in the first place. Understanding this helps narrow down what you actually need.
Object-Based Note-Taking Isn't For Everyone: This is probably the biggest reason. Capacities built their whole system around objects (people, companies, books, etc.), which is powerful but also pretty opinionated. If you just want to write notes without thinking about taxonomies and object types, it can feel like overhead. Some people love the structure, others find it restrictive.
Learning Curve: Capacities has a steeper learning curve than something like Notion or Apple Notes. You need to understand how objects work, how to create types, and how everything connects. For some users, this is too much friction when they just want to jot down thoughts.
Pricing Concerns: While Capacities does have a free tier, the limits can feel constraining if you're a heavy user. And once you hit those limits, you're looking at a subscription. Some people want more generous free plans or one-time purchase options.
Data Portability Worries: Capacities is cloud-based and somewhat proprietary in how it structures data. If the company shuts down or changes direction, getting your data out in a usable format could be tricky. This makes some users nervous, especially those who've been burned before.
Feature Gaps: Maybe you need better task management, or more robust databases, or offline access, or collaboration features. Capacities is great at what it does, but it doesn't try to be everything to everyone.
The Clean Look vs Flexibility Trade-off: Capacities is beautiful and clean, which is part of its appeal. But that polish sometimes comes at the cost of customization. Power users who want to tweak everything might feel constrained.
AI Features: While Capacities has AI integration, it's not as deep as some alternatives. If AI-powered features are central to your workflow, you might want something with more capabilities.
The good news? There are solid alternatives that address each of these pain points. Let's dig in.
What to look for in a Capacities alternative
Key criteria for choosing
When you're looking for a Capacities alternative, what should you actually prioritize? Here's what matters based on real user needs:
Structure Philosophy: First, decide if you want to stick with object-based note-taking or try something different. Tools like Anytype keep that structured approach, while others like Reflect Notes or Obsidian are more free-form. Neither is better, just different workflows.
Data Ownership and Privacy: If you're leaving Capacities partly due to data concerns, prioritize tools that offer local-first storage or end-to-end encryption. Anytype and Obsidian are strong here. Cloud-based tools like Reflect and Mem are convenient but mean your data lives on their servers.
Learning Curve: Be honest about how much time you want to invest. Anytype has a steeper learning curve than Capacities. Reflect Notes is much simpler. Obsidian is infinitely customizable but requires plugin knowledge to unlock its potential.
AI Capabilities: If you want AI features, look at how deeply they're integrated. Kortex and Mem are AI-first. Reflect has solid AI but it's more of an assistant than the core experience. Anytype and Obsidian require plugins or third-party integration for AI.
Cross-Platform Support: Capacities works everywhere, so make sure your alternative does too if you use multiple devices. Check that sync actually works well, because some tools (looking at you, Obsidian with third-party sync) can be finicky.
Pricing Model: Decide what you're willing to pay. One-time purchases (Obsidian sync is optional), affordable subscriptions (Reflect at $10/month), or free with limits (Anytype, Kortex). Factor in the long-term cost.
Collaboration Needs: Capacities is pretty solo-focused. If you need team features, look at Notion or similar tools. Most Capacities alternatives are also individual-focused, which is fine for personal knowledge management.
Migration Path: How easy is it to get your Capacities data into the new tool? Most can import markdown, but if you've heavily used objects and custom types, that structure might not translate cleanly. Plan for some manual reorganization.
The ideal alternative depends entirely on which Capacities features you actually use and which limitations frustrated you most. There's no one-size-fits-all replacement.
Anytype
Best Like for Like Alternative
Anytype is probably the closest alternative to Capacities in terms of philosophy and features. If you liked the object-based note-taking concept but want something different, this is where you start.
Anytype supports object-based note-taking just like Capacities, which means you can create templates for different types of notes (people, books, meetings, whatever). This helps structure your account and makes it easier to find things later. The learning curve is similar to Capacities, maybe even a bit steeper, but once you get it, it's powerful.
Here's where Anytype diverges: it's obsessively focused on privacy, security, and local-first storage. Your data lives on your device, syncs peer-to-peer, and is encrypted. If the company disappeared tomorrow, you'd still have all your notes. That's a big deal for people who worry about cloud services shutting down.
Anytype also has more database functionality than people initially realize. You get 6-7 different database views (grid, gallery, list, etc.), which makes it feel more like Notion in terms of flexibility. You can build pretty sophisticated systems for tracking projects, habits, or research.
The comparison with Capacities: Anytype has a steeper learning curve. The UI isn't quite as polished (though it's getting better). But you get way more security, better local support, and honestly better build quality in terms of performance and reliability.
The mobile apps work offline, which is clutch if you're often in places without internet. Sync happens automatically when you're back online.
One thing that's both a pro and con: Anytype is extremely customizable. You can create complex object types and relations, but this also means you can overcomplicate things if you're not careful. Capacities is more opinionated and thus simpler in some ways.
Downsides? The onboarding experience assumes you already understand object-based note-taking. If you struggled with Capacities' concepts, Anytype won't magically be easier. Also, the AI features are more limited, since everything is local-first and encrypted.
Anytype is free and open-source, though they're working on a sustainable business model (likely optional paid features for syncing across many devices or team collaboration).
Verdict: Choose Anytype if you liked Capacities' object-based approach but want local-first privacy and don't mind a learning investment. Skip it if you found Capacities too complex and want something simpler.
Reflect Notes
Best for Premium Simplicity
Reflect Notes is basically the anti-Anytype. It's simple, beautiful, and doesn't ask you to think about object types or complex structures. If you found Capacities too complicated, Reflect might be perfect.
Reflect has that same balance Capacities tries to strike: it's a PKM tool but approachable. The interface is clean and minimal. You just write notes, use backlinks to connect them, and that's mostly it. No objects, no databases, no overwhelming customization.
The AI features are actually really good. Reflect has custom prompts and abilities throughout the app. You can ask AI to summarize notes, generate ideas, or help with writing. It feels more integrated than Capacities' AI, which sometimes feels like an afterthought.
Reflect also integrates beautifully with Kindle and Readwise, which is great if you're a reader. Your highlights automatically flow into Reflect, and you can connect them to your notes. This is similar to what Capacities offers but arguably smoother.
The big catch: Reflect is premium-only. There's no free tier. You're looking at $10/month, which isn't crazy expensive but it's a commitment. If you were using Capacities' free plan, this is a step up in cost.
Reflect uses tags instead of object-based note-taking. Tags feel much more relaxed and less intense. You can structure your notes without the overhead of creating object types and managing schemas. For many people, this is exactly what they want.
End-to-end encryption is built-in, so your notes are private. Everything syncs through the cloud, which means it works seamlessly across devices without the complexity of local-first sync.
The calendar feature is interesting. Each day automatically gets a note, kind of like Roam Research's daily notes. It's a good system for journaling or capturing fleeting thoughts that you can organize later.
Downsides? No free tier is a barrier to trying it out (though they have a trial). The simplicity is great but means less flexibility than Capacities for power users who want to build complex systems. And the mobile apps are good but not quite as feature-rich as desktop.
Pricing is $10/month or $100/year.
Verdict: Choose Reflect if you want a premium, polished, AI-enhanced note-taking experience without the complexity of objects. Skip it if you're on a tight budget or need the free tier to be substantial.
Reflect Notes is a networked thought note-taking tool for notes, daily notes & tasks.
Kortex AI
Best for AI-Powered Knowledge Management
Kortex AI is something we checked out more recently. It's developed by Dan Koe (a productivity YouTuber), and it's really similar in style and look to Capacities. It calls itself the AI-powered second brain, which is basically what Capacities is going for too.
The app is easy to use and has similar features like chat-based AI that helps you narrow down and interact with your notes. The interface feels familiar if you're coming from Capacities, with that clean, modern aesthetic.
Here's where Kortex differs: you can switch between different large language models. Want to use Claude for some tasks and GPT-4 for others? You can do that. Capacities technically lets you use your own OpenAI API key, but Kortex makes model-switching much more accessible and built-in.
Kortex doesn't have object-based note-taking, which might be a relief or a downside depending on your perspective. Instead, it has tags and a more traditional note-linking system. You can still create structure, but it's less formal than Capacities' object types.
The AI focus is real. Kortex uses AI for note creation, summarization, ideation, and even helping you make connections between notes you might have missed. If you wish Capacities had stronger AI, Kortex delivers.
The free tier is actually usable, which is nice. You get access to the core features but with limits on how many AI requests you can make. If you decide you love it, there's premium pricing that unlocks unlimited AI usage and extra features.
One thing people are liking about Kortex: the balance between structure and simplicity. It's more flexible than Capacities in some ways, less rigid in terms of how you organize things, but still gives you tools to build systems.
The knowledge graph view is solid for visualizing connections between notes, similar to what you get in Capacities or Obsidian.
Downsides? It's relatively new, so the feature set is still evolving. The community is smaller than established tools like Obsidian or Notion. And while the AI features are strong, they're only as good as the underlying models, which keep changing.
Free tier available, premium pricing varies based on AI usage.
Verdict: Try Kortex if you want an AI-first note-taking experience with more flexibility in choosing models. It's good for people who found Capacities' AI lacking but liked the overall vibe of the app.
Amplenote
Best for Notes + Tasks + Calendar
Amplenote is really easy to use and lets you manage notes alongside tasks and calendar events. It's not the most attractive compared to Capacities' sleek interface, but it's incredibly functional.
Here's the key difference: Amplenote is equally focused on notes and tasks. Capacities is primarily a note-taking tool with some basic task features. Amplenote treats both as first-class citizens, which is great if you found yourself wishing Capacities had better task management.
The task scoring system is unique. Amplenote automatically calculates which tasks are most important based on urgency, importance, and other factors. It's kind of like having a built-in assistant helping you prioritize. For people with ADHD or decision fatigue, this is genuinely helpful.
Amplenote works well offline, which is a plus if you're often in situations without reliable internet. The sync is solid across all devices (web, desktop, mobile).
The note-taking itself is more traditional than Capacities. No object-based system, just notes organized in notebooks with tags. But the integration with tasks is seamless. You can write a note about a project and inline create tasks that show up in your task manager.
The calendar integration is also better than Capacities. You can time-block tasks directly onto your calendar, which helps with actually getting things done rather than just collecting ideas.
Downsides? The interface is functional but not beautiful. If you care about aesthetics, Capacities wins hands down. The learning curve for the task scoring system takes a minute to understand. And if you're primarily interested in pure note-taking without tasks, Amplenote might feel like overkill.
Pricing is reasonable with a free tier that's actually usable for light users, and premium plans that unlock more advanced features.
Verdict: Choose Amplenote if you want notes, tasks, and calendar in one place with a system that helps you prioritize. Skip it if you care mainly about notes and don't need the task management features.
Obsidian
Best for Local-First Flexibility
Obsidian is the 800-pound gorilla of local-first note-taking. It's incredibly powerful, completely customizable, and fundamentally different from Capacities in its approach.
Obsidian stores everything as plain markdown files in a folder on your device. This means your notes are future-proof. Even if Obsidian disappeared tomorrow, you'd have all your notes in a format that works everywhere. For people worried about lock-in, this is the ultimate solution.
The graph view shows bidirectional links between notes, very similar to Capacities but often more detailed. You can see how your knowledge connects in ways that surprise you.
Here's the thing about Obsidian: it's essentially a blank canvas. Out of the box, it's pretty basic. But with plugins (there are hundreds), you can make it do almost anything. Want daily notes? Plugin. Want tasks integrated? Plugin. Want AI features? Plugin. Want to make it look like Capacities? There's probably a theme for that.
This flexibility is both the best and worst thing about Obsidian. Best because you can create your perfect setup. Worst because it takes time and learning to get there. If you struggled with Capacities' learning curve, Obsidian's might feel even steeper.
Obsidian is completely free for personal use. Sync is $4/month if you want their official service, but you can also use iCloud, Dropbox, or other solutions for free. Publish (for sharing notes publicly) is extra, but most people don't need it.
The community is massive and helpful. Whatever problem you're having, someone has solved it and probably made a plugin or written a guide.
Obsidian works great offline since everything is local. The mobile apps are solid, though some plugins don't work on mobile which can be frustrating.
Downsides? The initial setup is overwhelming. You have to make a lot of decisions about structure, plugins, and workflow. There's no AI built-in, you'd need to use community plugins which vary in quality. And while the sync options are flexible, they're not as seamless as Capacities' automatic cloud sync.
Free for personal use, optional $4/month for official sync.
Verdict: Choose Obsidian if you want maximum flexibility, data ownership, and don't mind investing time in setup. Skip it if you want something that works great out of the box without configuration.
Mem
Best for AI-Powered Auto-Organization
Mem is a note-taking application designed for teams, though it works great for individuals too. It helps you take notes and chat with them using AI, see related notes automatically, and bring together collections.
The AI is really the centerpiece of Mem. It's not just a feature, it's how the app is designed. Mem uses AI to automatically organize notes, suggest connections, and help you find information. You don't spend time organizing, the AI does it for you.
This is very different from Capacities, where you manually create objects and structure. Mem is almost the opposite philosophy: dump everything in, let AI make sense of it. For some people, this is liberating. For others who like manual control, it feels chaotic.
The collaboration features are more developed than Capacities. You can share notes with team members, work on docs together in real-time, and have conversations within notes. If you found Capacities too solo-focused, Mem addresses that.
Mem is trying to be both a personal knowledge base and a team document tool, which is an interesting balance. It works better than you'd expect, though it's not quite as good at either extreme as specialized tools.
The search is AI-powered and works really well. You can use natural language to find things, like "notes about the product launch from last quarter," and it understands context.
Downsides? The AI-first approach means you're trusting the system to organize things well. If it misses connections or miscategorizes something, you have less manual control than in Capacities. The pricing is on the higher side for what you get. And the mobile experience isn't as polished as some alternatives.
Pricing starts around $8-15/month depending on plan.
Verdict: Try Mem if you want AI to handle organization automatically and need team collaboration. Skip it if you prefer manual control over structure or are on a tight budget.
How to switch from Capacities
Migration tips and best practices
Okay, you've picked an alternative. Now comes the fun part: actually moving your notes over. Here's how to do it without losing your mind:
Export from Capacities First: Capacities lets you export as markdown, which is good news. Export everything before you cancel any subscriptions. Make sure you have a complete backup that you can access outside the app.
Understand What Won't Transfer: The object relationships in Capacities won't translate perfectly to most alternatives. Backlinks will mostly work, but object types, custom properties, and structured data will need to be recreated manually in systems that support it.
Start with a Trial System: Don't try to move everything at once. Pick 10-20 notes that represent your typical usage and migrate those first. See if the new system works for your workflow before committing fully.
Reorganize, Don't Just Copy: This is actually an opportunity. That note structure you built in Capacities might not be optimal for your new tool. Think about how you actually use your notes and reorganize accordingly.
For Anytype Users: The object system is similar to Capacities, so you can recreate your object types. It'll take time but the concepts translate. Focus on getting the structure right before importing all your content.
For Obsidian Users: Capacities markdown exports work great in Obsidian. The folder structure is up to you. Many people use a flat structure with heavy linking, others prefer hierarchical folders. Experiment to find what works.
For Reflect/Kortex Users: These are more freeform, so you'll lose the object structure. That's fine. Use tags generously to maintain some organization. The search in both tools is good enough that you don't need perfect organization.
Rebuild Your Daily Practice: If you had a daily notes routine in Capacities, set that up in your new tool immediately. The specific features might differ, but the habit is what matters.
Don't Migrate Everything: Be honest about what notes you actually reference. If you haven't looked at a note in 6 months and don't plan to, maybe leave it archived in Capacities export rather than cluttering your new system.
Give It Two Weeks: The new tool will feel wrong at first. Everything does. Give yourself at least two weeks before deciding it doesn't work. Most people adjust faster than they expect.
The migration is annoying but rarely as bad as you think it'll be. Most of your value is in recent notes anyway.
Which Capacities alternative should you choose?
Matching alternatives to your needs
Alright, time to actually make a decision. Here's my honest take on which alternative fits which situation:
If you want like-for-like with better privacy: Go with Anytype. The object-based note-taking is similar, but you get local-first storage and better security. Just be ready for a learning curve that's at least as steep as Capacities.
If you found Capacities too complex: Try Reflect Notes. It's simpler, cleaner, and just works without making you think about object types. The AI features are solid too. Downside is the cost, but if you value your time, it's worth it.
If you want AI to do the heavy lifting: Check out Kortex or Mem. Both are AI-first in ways Capacities isn't. Kortex gives you more control over which AI models to use. Mem automates organization completely. Pick based on how much control you want.
If you need notes + tasks together: Amplenote is your best bet. It does both well, which Capacities doesn't really attempt. The task scoring feature is genuinely useful for prioritization.
If you want maximum flexibility and data ownership: Obsidian, hands down. You'll need to invest time in setup, but you get complete control and your data never leaves your device (unless you want it to).
If you care about privacy above all else: It's a tie between Anytype (peer-to-peer, encrypted) and Obsidian (local-first, plain text). Both are excellent for keeping your notes private and under your control.
If you're on a tight budget: Anytype is free and open-source. Obsidian is free for personal use (sync is optional and $4/month). Kortex has a usable free tier. Those are your best options if money is a constraint.
My personal take? If you're coming from Capacities, you probably value clean design and some structure. That makes Anytype or Reflect your best bets, depending on whether you want to stick with object-based note-taking or try something simpler.
But honestly, the best way to decide is to try 2-3 of these for a week each. They all have free trials or free tiers. Your actual usage will tell you more than any recommendation.