# Baalda vs Anytype

> Baalda vs Anytype: both are open source and local-first. Anytype uses an encrypted object model; Baalda keeps notes as plain markdown files and adds live team editing.

Source: https://baalda.com/compare/anytype
Site: Baalda, https://baalda.com

Pick Anytype if you want an open-source, encrypted, object-based personal knowledge base with peer-to-peer sync. Pick Baalda if you want your notes to stay as plain markdown files on disk, edited by a team in real time, with per-file permissions and AI over MCP.

## Side by side

| | Baalda | Anytype |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time multi-user editing | Yes · CRDT, keystroke-level | Partial · multiplayer spaces |
| Notes are plain markdown files on your disk | Yes | No · own object format |
| Local-first (works offline, you own the files) | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes · Apache-2.0 | Yes |
| AI reads & writes your files (MCP) | Yes | No |
| Per-file permissions | Yes | Partial · space-level |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Partial · self-host backend |
| Price | Free + Team plan | Free |

## Where Anytype wins

- Encrypted, object-based model with peer-to-peer sync.
- Open source with strong privacy defaults.
- Flexible object types and relations.

## Where Baalda wins

- Notes are plain markdown files on disk, not a bespoke object format.
- Keystroke-level real-time collaboration via CRDT, with per-file permissions.
- AI over MCP writing to the same markdown files.

## Moving over

Export from Anytype to markdown and copy the files into a Baalda vault, where your knowledge becomes plain files your team edits live.

## FAQ

### Anytype is open source too, so how is Baalda different?

Anytype stores knowledge in an encrypted object database; Baalda keeps everything as plain markdown files on disk. Baalda also centers real-time team editing and AI-over-MCP on those files.

### Which is more team-focused, Anytype or Baalda?

Baalda is built around a shared team vault with per-file permissions and keystroke-level collaboration, while Anytype leans toward private, encrypted personal spaces.