AppFlowy is an incredibly powerful, and more importantly, highly flexible, productivity platform for anyone who wants more than the standard features offered by most mainstream tools. It is not about one tool being better than another, but about finding the one that fits your personality, your workflow, and the way your mind organizes information. If you have specific needs for lists, tables, to‑dos, kanban boards, or dashboards, AppFlowy gives you the freedom to build things exactly the way you want them. That flexibility comes from the wide range of building blocks available in the editor. If you’re new to AppFlowy or simply want a clear overview of what each block can do, this guide walks you through every block type, grouped by category, with short and practical explanations.
Content of the article
- About AppFlowy
- An overview of all available AppFlowy blocks
- An explanation of all available AppFlowy blocks
- Basic blocks
- AI blocks
- Media blocks
- Database blocks
- Advanced blocks
- Inline blocks
- Color blocks
- Final words
About AppFlowy
Before diving into all the block types AppFlowy offers, for some of you first timers it is helpful to understand what AppFlowy actually is. In one of my earlier articles, “AppFlowy is a good Notion alternative for Open Source and data privacy enthusiasts”, I already explained the platform in detail, so I will not repeat everything here. In short, AppFlowy is like a box of LEGO for people who prefer not to rely on separate applications for every different task or goal, but prefer to shape their own workspace exactly the way they want it. It doesn not matter if you want to manage tasks, lists, journals, summaries, dashboards, or more complex databases, AppFlowy provides a platform to build your own setup using a wide range of flexible building blocks. You can add, edit, move, convert, or remove blocks as you go, and these blocks cover everything from tables, boards, timelines, calendars, lists, galleries, headings, quotes, dividers, links, callouts, images, videos, audio, code, files, and database views.
For even more information, you can also read my other AppFlowy Basics articles:
So let’s have a look at all currently available blocks in AppFlowy. And expect to have even more new block types available in the future.
An overview of all available AppFlowy blocks
As already mentioned, almost everything you do and create in AppFlowy is based on a block. You can add, edit, move, convert, or delete blocks. You can add a block by typing “/”, which will bring up a pop-up where you can scroll through all available blocks and select one if you wish. Below you will find a complete list of all available (at the moment of writing this article) blocks in AppFlowy.
An explanation of all available AppFlowy blocks
As already mentioned, almost everything you do and create in AppFlowy is based on a block. You can add, edit, move, convert, or delete blocks. You can add a block by typing “/”, which will bring up a pop-up where you can scroll through all available blocks and select one if you wish. Below you will find a complete list of all available (at the moment of writing this article) blocks in AppFlowy, and a high level description.
Basic Blocks
Text
The Text block is your go‑to building block for writing normal content. It supports rich formatting, inline styling, and behaves like a flexible paragraph. Use it for notes, explanations, or any free‑form writing.
Heading 1
Heading 1 creates a large, prominent title for major sections. It helps readers quickly understand the structure of your page. Ideal for top‑level topics.
Heading 2
Heading 2 is slightly smaller and perfect for subsections. It keeps your content organized without overwhelming the page. Great for breaking down complex topics.
Heading 3
Heading 3 is a compact section header used for finer structure. It’s helpful when you want hierarchy without visual clutter. Perfect for detailed guides or technical notes.
Bulleted list
Bulleted lists help you present information in quick, scannable points. They support nesting for multi‑level lists. Bulleted lists work well for ideas, notes, or unordered collections.
Numbered list
Numbered lists are ideal for step‑by‑step instructions or ordered information. AppFlowy automatically handles numbering and supports nested levels. Numbered lists are perfect for tutorials or processes.
To‑do list
A To‑do list adds a checkbox to each item so you can track tasks. Items can be nested and formatted like normal text. Great for personal planning or project tracking.
Toggle list
Toggle lists let you hide content under a collapsible heading. The toggle list block is good for FAQs, long explanations, or keeping pages tidy. Each toggle remembers its open/closed state.
Document
The Document block is the root container of a page. It holds all other blocks and defines the overall structure. When you add a page within a page, it will show up in your navigation as a hierarchical structure.
Callout
Callouts highlight important information inside a colored box with an icon. Callouts can be useed for tips, warnings, or reminders. You can customize the emoji.
Quote
Quote blocks visually emphasize quoted text or key statements. They come in different sizes and support rich formatting. Ideal for citations or memorable lines.
Code
The Code block displays syntax‑highlighted code snippets. It preserves spacing and supports multiple languages, which can be recognized automatically or set manually. This is essential for developers documenting scripts or commands.
Simple Table
A Simple Table lets you organize information into rows and columns. It’s lightweight and easy to edit. Useful for quick comparisons or structured data.
Divider
The Divider block inserts a horizontal line to separate content. It is a simple way to visually break sections.
Link to page
This block creates a direct link to another AppFlowy page or database. It helps you build connected knowledge structures.
Breadcrumb
Breadcrumbs show the navigation path of the current page. They help readers understand where they are in your workspace. This is useful in deep hierarchies.
AI Blocks
Continue writing
This AI block expands your text based on context. It is useful when you want to keep writing but need inspiration. This works well for drafting articles or brainstorming.
Ask AI
With the Ask AI block, you can query the assistant directly inside your document. You can request summaries, explanations, or rewrites. It’s a powerful tool for research and editing. It offers an option to browse preformatted prompts that you can use or adapt to your requirements.
AI Transcript
The AI Transcript block type captures and displays conversations with AI. It keeps your prompts and responses organized in one place. You can transcribe from audio files or paste a YouTube URL. It supports mp3, mp4, mpeg, mpga, m4a, wav and webm.
Media Blocks
Image
The Image block displays a picture from a file, URL, or from Unsplash. You can resize, align, and add captions. Perfect for visual explanations or illustrations.
Photo Gallery
A Photo Gallery shows multiple images in a grid layout, but you can also choose the browser option for horizontal presentation. This block type is great for showcasing collections or project snapshots.
File
The File block attaches downloadable files to your page. Useful for sharing documents, archives, or resources. AppFlowy displays file metadata for quick reference.
PDF Embed
PDF Embed lets you attach a PDF directly inside your page. Readers can download the PDF.
Video
The Video block embeds playable video content. It supports direct uploads of video files and external links.
Audio
Audio blocks embed sound files or recordings. It supports direct uploads of video files and external links.
Web bookmark
A Web Bookmark creates a nice preview of a URL. It shows the title, description, and thumbnail. Perfect for saving references or external resources.
Database Blocks
Grid (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
A Grid block is a table‑style database for structured information. Inline grids sit inside a document, while full‑page grids act as standalone databases. Linked views let you reuse the same data with different filters or layouts.
Board (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
The board block displays items as cards grouped into columns, similar to Kanban. Inline boards fit inside documents, while full‑page boards are dedicated views. Linked boards reuse existing data for alternative workflows.
Calendar (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
Calendar shows items by date. Inline calendars help visualize schedules inside documents, while full‑page calendars focus entirely on time‑based planning. Linked calendars let you create multiple calendar views of the same database.
List (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
List presents database items in a simple vertical layout. Inline lists are great for quick overviews, while full‑page lists offer full database controls. Linked lists let you filter and sort the same data differently.
Gallery (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
Gallery blocks display items as visual cards, which is ideal for image‑heavy content. Inline galleries enrich your documents, while full‑page galleries provide full database features. Linked galleries reuse data with custom layouts.
Chart (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
Chart visualizes database data using graphs. Inline charts help illustrate trends inside documents, while full‑page charts focus on analytics. Linked charts allow multiple visualizations of the same dataset.
Feed (Inline / Full page / Linked view)
Feed shows items in a timeline‑style layout. Inline feeds are great for updates or logs, while full‑page feeds provide a dedicated chronological view. Linked feeds reuse the same data with different filters.
Advanced Blocks
Table of contents
This block automatically generates a list of headings in your document. It helps readers navigate long pages. It updates instantly when you add or change headings.
Block quotation
Block quotation is a larger, more stylized quote block. It can be used for highlighting long excerpts or important statements. They add visual emphasis to key content.
Toggle H1 / H2 / H3
These blocks combine headings with collapsible toggles. They help you hide detailed content under structured sections. Great for technical documentation or long guides.
2 / 3 / 4 / 5 Columns
Column blocks split your page into multiple vertical sections. They are very useful for layouts, comparisons, or side‑by‑side content. Each column can hold any block type.
Code – Mermaid
This block renders Mermaid diagrams from text. You can create flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and more. This works great for visualizing processes or architecture.
Inline Blocks
Mention a person
It enables you to tag a person inside your text. This block helps with collaboration and referencing team members in a multi-member AppFlowy environment. Clicking a mention shows related details.
Mention a page
This inline mention block links directly to another page. It works great for cross‑referencing ideas or building a knowledge structure. It helps to make the items in your workspace interconnected.
Data & Reminder
This block inserts a date with optional reminders. It works great for sharing deadlines, events, or schedules.
Emoji
Emoji blocks add the well known expressive icons to your content.
Inline equation
Inline equations let you insert math formulas directly inside text. They use LaTeX‑style syntax for precision. Perfect for scientific or technical writing.
Color Blocks
Text color
Text color lets you highlight or categorize content using color. It is useful for emphasis or visual organization. This works on any text block.
Background color
Background color adds a colored highlight behind text. It helps to draw attention or group related ideas. handy for callouts or marking important notes.
Final words
After the above explanation of all the available block types AppFlowy has to offer, it becomes clear why this platform stands out for people who want full control over how they organize their digital life. AppFlowy does not force you into a predefined structure or a fixed way of working. It provides you an extensive set of building blocks and lets you shape your own environment, exactly the way your mind prefers to work. Whether you build simple lists or complex dashboards, the flexibility you get from these blocks is what makes AppFlowy such a powerful alternative to mainstream productivity tools. I hope that this simple guide helps you understand what you can do and inspires you to experiment, combine, and customize these blocks to create a workspace that truly fits you. In the end, the real strength of AppFlowy lies in the freedom it gives you to build your own system, block by block. See you in my next AppFlowy article, in which we are going to build together a full fledged book reading tracker.
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