Capacities
FreemiumYour second brain for object-based note-taking
About Capacities
Capacities is a knowledge management app built around object types instead of flat notes — you create People, Books, Projects, and custom object types, each with their own properties and templates. It is the closest thing to a personal Notion without the database setup overhead. Daily notes connect to objects automatically. Backlinks and relations let you build a connected knowledge graph. The app syncs across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android — unusually cross-platform for this category. It is built by a small German team and currently free while in development, with paid plans expected. The interface is clean and thoughtful — block-based editing, calendar integration, and a media library for images and PDFs. Reddit's PKM community has taken a strong interest in Capacities as an Obsidian alternative for people who want sync and collaboration without the plugin ecosystem. The main risk is the same as any small startup: the paid model has not fully launched yet, and long-term sustainability is uncertain. If you invest heavily in building your knowledge base in Capacities and the company folds or changes direction, migration will be painful. Currently the best free option in the structured PKM category.
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Free
- Unlimited objects
- Core types
- Daily notes
- Web clipper
Pro
- Custom types
- Advanced media
- Version history
- Priority support
Pros
- Unique object-based approach to knowledge management
- Beautiful and thoughtful interface design
- Great daily notes and journaling workflow
- Typed objects create structured knowledge bases
- Good graph view for visualizing connections
- Active development with frequent updates
Cons
- Newer tool with a small community
- No collaboration features yet
- Limited integrations and API
- No offline access currently
- Mobile apps are still early
- Export options are limited
Best For
- Knowledge workers building structured personal knowledge bases with object types
- Researchers and writers connecting people, books, projects, and ideas
- Teams or individuals wanting Notion-like structure without database configuration
- People wanting cross-platform PKM (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) in one tool
Not Ideal For
- Teams needing enterprise-grade security, SLAs, or dedicated support
- Users who need the tool to be stable and funded before committing
- Simple note-takers — the object-type model adds complexity that casual users do not need
Potential Deal Breakers
- Business model and long-term sustainability are unproven — paid tier not yet launched
- Small team means slower development and higher risk of feature stalls
- No real-time collaboration — limited for team knowledge management
Data & Privacy
German company with data hosted in Germany. AI features process content but Capacities states user data is not used for model training. Strong GDPR compliance as EU-based product. Data exportable as Markdown. Privacy-conscious approach aligned with German data protection standards.
Who Is This For?
Hands-on tested May 2026
Signup Experience
Email or Google signup with no credit card required. Free tier provides access to core features. Onboarding introduces the object-based model -- notes, books, people, meetings, and tasks are distinct typed objects with their own properties. The approach requires a mental shift from page-based tools but becomes intuitive quickly.
For Home Users
Free tier is genuinely useful for personal knowledge management. The object-based model is particularly strong for people who track reading lists, contacts, and recurring meetings. EU hosting and strong privacy stance are appealing for privacy-conscious users. A compelling alternative to Notion for individuals who want more structure.
For Business Users
Believer plan at $8.99/mo adds AI features, additional object types, and priority support. Still in active development -- the long-term business model and enterprise roadmap are less established than Notion or Obsidian. Best for knowledge workers and researchers who want structured, typed notes rather than freeform pages. Not yet suitable for large team deployments given the early-stage enterprise feature set.
Our Verdict
Capacities is the most interesting personal knowledge management tool to emerge in the last two years — the object-type model solves real problems that flat-note apps like Bear and Obsidian leave on the table. It is currently free, which is suspicious in a good way: either they are building toward a fair paid model or the business fundamentals are uncertain. Use it for personal work now; do not bet critical team knowledge on it until the business model is proven.