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The open-source, self-hostable Notion alternative
Last updated June 30, 2026
Notion is a strong all-round workspace, but your pages live in a proprietary block database, it is cloud-only, and nothing in it writes your docs from your code. tela is markdown-native, self-hostable, and agent-native — and Atlas generates a cited wiki straight from your git repos and Jira.
tela vs Notion, at a glance
| Feature | tela | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Canonical markdown you own | Proprietary block database |
| Self-hostable | Yes — self-host free, plus a free cloud tier | No — cloud only |
| Ask your docs (AI) | Built in — semantic + full-text, answers with citations | "Ask Notion" — on the Business tier |
| Agents read & write (MCP) | Built in — agents read & write (39 scoped tools) | Official MCP server (behind paid AI) |
| Generate docs from your code | Yes — Atlas builds a cited, coverage-checked wiki from git + Jira | No |
Why teams switch to tela
- Your docs write themselves — point Atlas at a repo or Jira project and it generates a cited, coverage-checked wiki.
- Own your content as portable markdown — export is a no-op, not a lossy converter out of a block store.
- Self-host on your own infrastructure, or use the free cloud tier.
When Notion is the better choice
Notion is years ahead on databases, templates, and all-round polish. If you want a relational workspace — trackers, project boards, lightweight apps — rather than a wiki, Notion is the better tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is tela a good Notion alternative?
Yes. Your docs write themselves — point Atlas at a repo or Jira project and it generates a cited, coverage-checked wiki. tela is open-source (AGPL-3.0), self-hostable, and markdown-native, with a built-in MCP server so AI agents read and write your docs.
Can I self-host tela and connect AI agents to it?
Yes. Self-host tela for free (AGPL-3.0) or start on the free cloud tier. Its built-in MCP server exposes 39 scoped tools, so agents like Claude read and write your wiki directly.
When is Notion the better choice?
Notion is years ahead on databases, templates, and all-round polish. If you want a relational workspace — trackers, project boards, lightweight apps — rather than a wiki, Notion is the better tool.
Try tela
tela is an open-source (AGPL), self-hostable team wiki. Self-host it, or start on the free cloud tier at telawiki.com. See the MCP server docs for connecting your agents, or compare tela with other tools.
Notion pricing + Notion MCP server (verified 2026). tela facts current as of June 2026.