SiYuan

Open source alternative to Notion, Roam Research and Capacities

46.9K stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit 1 day ago

Last verified Oct 21, 2026

SiYuan is a local-first, block-based personal knowledge management system with bidirectional links, full-text search, and end-to-end encrypted cloud sync. AGPL-3.0 licensed.

Visit website GitHub46.9K 1-click deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ

who it's for

Who SiYuan is for#

Researchers building a private knowledge graph

Use block references, PDFs, flashcards, and queries to connect long-running research notes.

Skip if:

You want the simplest possible folder of Markdown files.

Self-hosters replacing Notion for personal PKM

Run a richer knowledge system with local or self-controlled sync options.

Skip if:

You need polished real-time team collaboration more than personal knowledge depth.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Hosted knowledge tools make notes convenient, but they also centralize private research, documents, and personal workflows in someone else’s workspace. Power users who rely on backlinks, PDFs, flashcards, and structured queries need a local-first system that still supports rich editing.

how SiYuan solves it

How it solves it#

Block-level knowledge graph

SiYuan supports block references, embeds, and two-way links, giving PKM users a more granular model than page-only notes.

Markdown WYSIWYG editor

The editor keeps Markdown compatibility while supporting outlines, block zoom, math, charts, flowcharts, and large documents.

Self-controlled sync options

Docker deployment, WebDAV, and S3 support help users keep notes under their own storage plan.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

More structured than plain Markdown notesSiYuan combines Markdown with block references, SQL query embeds, flashcards, and PDF annotation.
Privacy-first personal knowledge baseThe local and self-hosted options fit users who do not want a hosted workspace to own their knowledge graph.

Trade-offs

-More complex than Obsidian for simple notesSiYuan’s block model and feature set can feel heavy if you only want Markdown files and folders.
-Some capabilities require paid membershipThe README says most features are free but some features are paid, so users should check membership boundaries.

versus alternatives

SiYuan vs alternatives#

SiYuan vs Notion and Obsidian

SiYuan is better when block-level references, local storage, Docker deployment, and privacy-first knowledge management matter. Notion is stronger for hosted team workspaces, while Obsidian is simpler for local Markdown vaults and plugin-heavy personal notes. SiYuan fits users who want granular blocks plus self-controlled sync options.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: C++GoJavaScriptPythonTypeScript
Tooling: Webpack

frequently asked

FAQ#

Can SiYuan replace Notion?

SiYuan can replace Notion for personal knowledge management when block references, local control, and privacy matter. Notion is stronger for hosted team workspaces.

How is SiYuan different from Obsidian?

SiYuan has a block-based model, WYSIWYG editing, SQL query embeds, flashcards, and built-in PDF annotation. Obsidian is simpler for Markdown vaults and plugin-driven workflows.

Can SiYuan be self-hosted?

Yes. The README lists Docker deployment and self-controlled sync options such as WebDAV and S3.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Notion, Roam Research and Capacities#

AppFlowy

#1 in the Notion guide

Full Notion replacement for small teams

77,613

AFFiNE

#2 in the Notion guide

Docs, whiteboards, and databases in one workspace

73,684

Outline

#3 in the Notion guide

Polished team wiki and internal knowledge base

40,988

Macro Docs

#4 in the Notion guide

Markdown-native docs that agents and teammates edit together

4,782

All 21 Notion alternatives 9 open source Notion alternatives, ranked

by category

Open source tools in these categories#

191

Hostinger

Run SiYuan on your own server

Hostinger sets SiYuan up as a one-click app on a VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

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Who SiYuan is for#

Researchers building a private knowledge graph

Use block references, PDFs, flashcards, and queries to connect long-running research notes.

Skip if:

You want the simplest possible folder of Markdown files.

Self-hosters replacing Notion for personal PKM

Run a richer knowledge system with local or self-controlled sync options.

Skip if:

You need polished real-time team collaboration more than personal knowledge depth.

How it solves it#

Block-level knowledge graph

SiYuan supports block references, embeds, and two-way links, giving PKM users a more granular model than page-only notes.

Markdown WYSIWYG editor

The editor keeps Markdown compatibility while supporting outlines, block zoom, math, charts, flowcharts, and large documents.

Self-controlled sync options

Docker deployment, WebDAV, and S3 support help users keep notes under their own storage plan.

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

More structured than plain Markdown notesSiYuan combines Markdown with block references, SQL query embeds, flashcards, and PDF annotation.
Privacy-first personal knowledge baseThe local and self-hosted options fit users who do not want a hosted workspace to own their knowledge graph.

Trade-offs

-More complex than Obsidian for simple notesSiYuan’s block model and feature set can feel heavy if you only want Markdown files and folders.
-Some capabilities require paid membershipThe README says most features are free but some features are paid, so users should check membership boundaries.

SiYuan vs alternatives#

SiYuan vs Notion and Obsidian

FAQ#

Can SiYuan replace Notion?

SiYuan can replace Notion for personal knowledge management when block references, local control, and privacy matter. Notion is stronger for hosted team workspaces.

How is SiYuan different from Obsidian?

SiYuan has a block-based model, WYSIWYG editing, SQL query embeds, flashcards, and built-in PDF annotation. Obsidian is simpler for Markdown vaults and plugin-driven workflows.

Can SiYuan be self-hosted?

Yes. The README lists Docker deployment and self-controlled sync options such as WebDAV and S3.

Other ways to replace Notion, Roam Research and Capacities#

AppFlowy

#1 in the Notion guide

Full Notion replacement for small teams

77,613

AFFiNE

#2 in the Notion guide

Docs, whiteboards, and databases in one workspace

73,684

Outline

#3 in the Notion guide

Polished team wiki and internal knowledge base

40,988

Macro Docs

#4 in the Notion guide

Markdown-native docs that agents and teammates edit together

4,782

All 21 Notion alternatives 9 open source Notion alternatives, ranked

Who SiYuan is for#

Researchers building a private knowledge graph

Skip if:

Self-hosters replacing Notion for personal PKM

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Block-level knowledge graph

Markdown WYSIWYG editor

Self-controlled sync options

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

SiYuan vs alternatives#

SiYuan vs Notion and Obsidian

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Notion, Roam Research and Capacities#

Open source tools in these categories#

Business & Productivity

Data & Analytics

IT Management

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who SiYuan is for#

Researchers building a private knowledge graph

Skip if:

Self-hosters replacing Notion for personal PKM

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Block-level knowledge graph

Markdown WYSIWYG editor

Self-controlled sync options

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

SiYuan vs alternatives#

SiYuan vs Notion and Obsidian

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Notion, Roam Research and Capacities#

Open source tools in these categories#

Business & Productivity

Data & Analytics

IT Management

Find open source alternatives to paid software