AppBreakup
Submit an app

SiYuan alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SiYuan: official cloud sync needs a paid membership, and english docs and community are thinner. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SiYuan, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Obsidian currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1AppFlowy logoAppFlowyOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 464.7
2Trilium Notes logoTrilium NotesOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 455.3
  1. AppFlowy logo

    1. AppFlowyTop pick

    Best for: Teams and individuals who want Notion-style docs and databases on their own servers

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    64.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from SiYuan

    Open-source Notion-style databases with stronger team features.

    Pros

    • Open source and self-hostable, even air-gapped
    • Databases with grid, board and calendar views
    • Can use self-hosted AI models
    • Free personal plan

    Cons

    • Fewer integrations and templates than Notion
    • AGPL licence can be a hurdle for some companies
    • Sync and collaboration still less polished
    Visit AppFlowy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1550
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AppFlowy a good SiYuan alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $12 per member/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, including air-gapped
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appflowy.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Trilium Notes logo

    2. Trilium Notes

    Best for: Tinkerers who want a large, scriptable knowledge base on their own server

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Web, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from SiYuan

    Free, self-hosted knowledge base with no paid sync tier at all.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no paid tiers
    • Handles very large hierarchical note trees
    • Scripting, templates and relations
    • Works offline with no account

    Cons

    • No official mobile app
    • You host your own sync server
    • Interface feels dated
    Visit Trilium Notes Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Trilium Notes a good SiYuan alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free, no paid tiers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026triliumnotes.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026triliumnotes.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Official mobile app
    No
    Checked Oct 25, 2026triliumnotes.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best SiYuan alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Obsidian logo

Best SiYuan alternative for most people

Obsidian

Local Markdown files with a much larger English-speaking plugin community.

Logseq logo

Best SiYuan alternative for a free option

Logseq

Open-source outliner with block references and local files.

Anytype logo

Best SiYuan alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Anytype

Local-first objects and databases with peer-to-peer encrypted sync.

AppFlowy logo

Best SiYuan alternative for open source

AppFlowy

Open-source Notion-style databases with stronger team features.

Trilium Notes logo

Best SiYuan alternative for self-hosting

Trilium Notes

Free, self-hosted knowledge base with no paid sync tier at all.

Notion logo

Best SiYuan alternative for Mac

Notion

Hosted blocks and databases with easy team sharing.

Obsidian logo

Best SiYuan alternative for Windows

Obsidian

Local Markdown files with a much larger English-speaking plugin community.

Obsidian logo

Best SiYuan alternative for Linux

Obsidian

Local Markdown files with a much larger English-speaking plugin community.

Obsidian logo

Best SiYuan alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

Local Markdown files with a much larger English-speaking plugin community.

AppFlowy logo

Best SiYuan alternative for working in the browser

AppFlowy

Open-source Notion-style databases with stronger team features.

SiYuan alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SiYuan?

Obsidian ranks first right now. Local Markdown files with a much larger English-speaking plugin community. Anytype and Logseq follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SiYuan?

Yes. Obsidian (free plan + paid), Anytype (free plan + paid), Logseq (open source) and AppFlowy (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SiYuan?

Yes: Logseq, AppFlowy and Trilium Notes. AppFlowy and Trilium Notes can also be self-hosted.

Which SiYuan alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian, Anytype, Logseq, AppFlowy and Trilium Notes run on Linux.

Why do people switch from SiYuan?

The complaints we hear most: official cloud sync needs a paid membership; english docs and community are thinner; busy interface with many settings.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces SiYuan, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.