SiYuan icon
SiYuan icon

SiYuan

SiYuan is a desktop Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application. Support fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.

SiYuan screenshot 1

Cost / License

  • Freemium (Pay once)
  • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Android
  • iPhone
  • Android Tablet
  • iPad
  • Self-Hosted
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Google Chrome
  • Flathub
  • Docker
  • Docker Hub
  • F-Droid
5.0
Excellent12 reviews
82likes
11comments
0articles

Features

Properties

  1.  Privacy focused
  2.  Lightweight
  3.  Support for Themes
  4.  Customizable

Features

  1.  Local Storage
  2.  Block reference
  3.  Bidirectional links
  4.  WYSIWYG Support
  5.  Graph view
  6.  Works Offline
  7.  Web Clipper
  8.  Support for MarkDown
  9.  Multiplatform
  10.  End-to-End Encryption
  11. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
  12.  Tagging
  13.  No registration required
  14.  Cloud Sync
  15.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
  16.  Dark Mode
  17.  Hierarchical Structure
  18.  No Tracking
  19.  Syntax Highlighting
  20.  Knowledge Base
  21.  Ad-free
  22.  Encrypted Backup
  23. Docker icon  Support for Docker
  24.  WebDAV Sync
  25. Amazon Simple Storage Service icon  Support for Amazon S3

SiYuan News & Activities

Highlights All activities

Recent News

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Recent activities

  • Exsut icon
    Exsut added SiYuan as alternative to Exsut
  • LightNote for Windows icon
    nglczr added SiYuan as alternative to LightNote for Windows
  • FocusAI icon
    surenkotian added SiYuan as alternative to FocusAI
  • NoteGod icon
    SixtoDev added SiYuan as alternative to NoteGod
  • OpenKnowledge icon
    POX added SiYuan as alternative to OpenKnowledge
  • sabo3 reviewed SiYuan  

    Lightweight alternative to Logseq. Easier to learn and use than TiddlyWiki, supports right-to-left languages, and support bidirectional (BiDi) writing like Arabic mixed with English

  • sabo3 liked SiYuan
  • Xenith icon
    codebybryant added SiYuan as alternative to Xenith
  • PANACHES icon
    panaches-app added SiYuan as alternative to PANACHES
  • StashSync.app icon
    jaironlanda added SiYuan as alternative to StashSync.app

Comments and Reviews

   
Comment summary: SiYuan receives highly positive feedback for its robust PKM and note-taking capabilities, open-source and local-first approach, and advanced features like E2EE, SQL support, block-level linking, and a powerful WYSIWYG editor. Users praise its hybrid functionality (comparable to Obsidian, Notion, and OneNote), cross-platform support, and suitability for multilingual and right-to-left languages. Language localization and communication are noted areas for improvement.
Top Positive Comment
Clouder 0
10

Impressive PKM tool. All local features are free. Block Information System provides users with the capability of making block-level links, embedding blocks and even real-time SQL queries, as well as custom attributes which may be useful for those advanced users who would like to build their own knowledge system. E2EE backup and incremental sync are supported. Self-hosting via docker or your mobile phone is handy. Not to mention API and embedded programmable widget blocks to enhance the views inside the app. The writing experience is enjoyable. Despite the markdown format in which data is actually stored, it features WYSIWYG editor like Typora. Math formula(KaTeX) is supported too.

sabo3
0

Lightweight alternative to Logseq. Easier to learn and use than TiddlyWiki, supports right-to-left languages, and support bidirectional (BiDi) writing like Arabic mixed with English

TBayAreaPat
0

From AI: Free account (logged in): 5 Pro Searches per day. Basic (non‑Pro) searches are described as “practically unlimited,” 1 research query per month. 3 file uploads per day in threads. Access to basic models only, no advanced models or image generation.

aryluneix
1

Pretty much the best and most functional personal note taking app I really want to use! Lots of editing features, flexible block settings, database, very powerful graph and so on... And my favorite thing is that it's open source! A real treasure for those who value organizing their thoughts.

alternatom
1

You must try it, it's really fantastic.

For Linux user that installed via flatpak version, you might allow user files to launch it properly.

Obsidian + Onenote + Notion all in one.

Cross platform and open source are priceless.

464803712
3

With the fact that there hasn't been an official English communication for Siyuan, you can use this Discord server as an alternative. The author and some users are trying to make Siyuan more friendly to other languages besides Chinese, but it still needs some time to improve.

https://discord.com/channels/808152298789666826/882960466991779875

winkler-daniel1

There is now also https://liuyun.io/ which is the official English platform

Review by a new / low-activity user.
Guest
4

Opensource, E2EE, Local-first.

Review by a new / low-activity user.
7 of 11 comments

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What is SiYuan?

SiYuan is a Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application, supports Windows, Mac and Linux, can be used directly on the browser, and supports mobile-end adaptation.

SiYuan information

  • Developed by

    CN flagYunnan Liandi Technology Co., Ltd.
  • Licensing

    Open Source (AGPL-3.0) and Freemium product.
  • Pricing

    One time purchase (perpetual license) that costs up to $148 + free version with limited functionality.
  • Written in

  • Rating

    Average rating of 5 (12 ratings)
  • Alternatives

    109 alternatives listed
  • Supported Languages

    • English
    • Chinese

AlternativeTo Categories

Office & ProductivityDevelopmentBackup & SyncSecurity & PrivacyBusiness & Commerce

Apple AppStore

  •   Updated 
  •   3.91 avg rating
View in AppStore

GitHub repository

  •  42,973 Stars
  •  2,721 Forks
  •  360 Open Issues
  •   Updated  
View on GitHub

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Our users have written 11 comments and reviews about SiYuan, and it has gotten 82 likes

SiYuan was added to AlternativeTo by jchalifour on and this page was last updated .