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SiYuan

An open-source, local-first notes app with block references, databases and encrypted sync.

Open sourceSelf-hostableNote-taking apps
Visit SiYuanSee 6 alternatives
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About SiYuan

SiYuan is an open-source, local-first knowledge app built around blocks. Every paragraph, heading or list item is a block you can reference, embed or zoom into, and documents support bidirectional links, Markdown-style WYSIWYG editing, flashcards, PDF annotation and databases with relations and rollups. Data is stored on your device, and SiYuan can run as a Docker server so you can open it in a browser or self-host it. The app is free to use; a paid membership adds SiYuan's own end-to-end encrypted cloud sync, though you can also sync through S3 or WebDAV storage. It runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and through the server on the web. It is developed by a small company in China and its community is largely Chinese-speaking, so some documentation and plugins are less polished in English. It suits people who want Notion-like blocks and databases with Obsidian-like local ownership.

Best for: People who want block-level linking and databases with local data they control.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Block references and embeds at any level
  • Databases with relations and rollups
  • Local-first, with Docker self-hosting
  • End-to-end encrypted sync option

Why people leave

  • Official cloud sync needs a paid membership
  • English docs and community are thinner
  • Busy interface with many settings

Top SiYuan alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Obsidian logo
    Obsidian

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

    74.7
  2. 2Anytype logo
    Anytype

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

    73.3
  3. 3Logseq logo
    Logseq

    Open-source outliner with block references and local files.

    72.8
  4. 4AppFlowy logo
    AppFlowy

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

    66.7
  5. 5Notion logo
    Notion

    Hosted blocks and databases with easy team sharing.

    58.4

Why people left SiYuan

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from SiYuan, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

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SiYuan: common questions

Is SiYuan free?

Yes. SiYuan is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is SiYuan open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at siyuan-note/siyuan. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does SiYuan run on?

SiYuan is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to SiYuan?

The highest-ranked SiYuan alternatives right now are Obsidian, Anytype and Logseq. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 SiYuan alternatives